How To File a Personal Injury Case in San Diego

by Randy Collins on Jan. 16, 2017

Accident & Injury Wrongful Death Accident & Injury  Car Accident Accident & Injury  Personal Injury 

Summary: In San Diego, traffic accidents occur every day and unfortunately they have debilitating effects including injury and in extreme scenarios, death. In the event of a traffic accident, one of the best and most sensible steps an individual can take is hiring an accident lawyer.

Although a large number of traffic accidents are preventable most of the time, much as you may try, it is impossible to avoid them. In San Diego, traffic accidents occur every day and unfortunately they have debilitating effects including injury and in extreme scenarios, death.  In the event of a traffic accident, one of the best and most sensible steps an individual can take is hiring an accident lawyer. 

When car accidents occur, legal issues are bound to arise and when this happens, having a professional on hand that can help you understand your legal rights is essential.  Expert and respected injury attorneys are necessary for explaining and handling the workings and particulars involved in filing a claim properly.  To understand how claims are filed in San Diego, here are a few steps to explain the process:

Identify the defendant/s.

To add legitimacy to your claim, it is crucial for you to identify a defendant or the defendants involved before you file a claim. Since every accident is different, the particulars may vary.  However, there is always another driver involved in an accident, who acts as the defendant. Once you identify the driver, you will need to understand whether they were driving as an individual or operating a company vehicle in which case, you might need to include the other driver’s insurance company in the claim. The initial filing must be done before the statute of limitations runs to avoid the dismissal of your case.

Start the process of discovery

Before any legal case goes to trial, the court allows for a discovery process where parties discover and exchange evidence in an equitable way. The process of discovery can unearth crucial information such as medical records, police reports, witness statement and affidavits. Without the help of a qualified San Diego injury attorney, discovery is often challenging and when done incorrectly, it could tank your case.

Prepare for a trial

After the process of discovery, where all the necessary information about your case is collected, the next logical step is to start the process of preparing for trial. Before a trial, you need to prepare your witnesses, the evidence amassed, the opening and closing statements as well as the questioning of both the defense’s witness line as well as yours.  A personal injury lawyer is trained to help the jury understand your perspective and opinions as well as handle the defense's witnesses. Consequently, if you live in San Diego and you need to ensure that your legal rights are well protected and represented, your best bet would be to hire a personal injury attorney.

 

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