Even though many car accidents occur yearly, not all result in legal action; generally speaking, there are two main reasons why the injured party and the at-fault party do not favor appearing in court. They do not want to spend additional funds on court cases and hearings. Aside from that, a settlement reached outside of court is almost always more advantageous than the verdict reached by a judge or jury.
The matter is further discussed in court because the two parties cannot agree on settlement terms. In such cases, an experienced car accident attorney is crucial to ensure your win. If you are in a similar situation and your car accident case has reached court, you must visit robertkinglawfirm.com to get an appointment today!
Tips for dealing with a car accident case when it goes to trials
1. Your lawyer must be convincing to the jury
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Picking an experienced lawyer is essential because the final decision of a car accident case depends on a jury. While in some states, it might be a judge, in others, a jury will determine everything about your case. Depending on this decision, you lose or win your issue, which will evolve into getting compensation for your losses.
In most car accident cases, it is preferred to settle outside court because of the risks and expenses involved. Nevertheless, if two parties cannot come to common ground with each other terms and conditions, they must face the trials and rely on their lawyer to get their claim approved by the court.
This is why you must have an experienced car accident lawyer by you, as they have dealt with similar cases and know how to win them.
Remember that the expenses after your car accident can include medical treatment bills that can cost you a fortune. You will pay them from your pocket if the insurance doesn’t cover them.
2. Have ample evidence
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Most car accident cases are lost because the plaintiffs fail to provide enough evidence against the at-fault party in court. So ensure that you do not make such mistakes in your case. Although an expert car accident attorney will know all the correct evidence to present in court, you can help them significantly by collecting pictures and videos of the accident scene.
The accident scene itself can determine the at-fault party instantly. For example, depending on the damage faced by you, your lawyer can judge how fast the other party was driving, whether they were being negligent, etc.
You must also get a copy of the official police report as it will have every detail of your accident, including the severity of injuries and damages sustained by both parties.
3. Know about the court procedures
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One of the essential things to know is the courtroom procedures; in a car accident case, there are several legalities involved that you have to face once your case goes to court. However, if you have a lawyer by your side, dealing with the trial will be much easier as they will guide you through the process.
When you learn about the proceedings of a courtroom, there is much less room for surprise. Additionally, everything in the courtroom has to be pre-planned to win the car accident case. In a car accident case, it is vital to prove your losses in front of the jury, or they might reject the compensation appeal.
More importantly, you must know how to behave in court so you are always in good books. Even if you have faced severe losses, you must remain calm and patient and ensure you do not repost the authorities in any way.
4. Prepare your testimony beforehand
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Your testimony in your court case is crucial. Everything you say in court can be held for or against you. Hence it would be best if you prepared your testimony beforehand and practiced it well, so there is no room for mistakes.
Your testimony must include everything about the accident in detail. For example, the time and place the accident occurred, how it took place, and the injuries and damages you sustained. One crucial aspect to remember is that your testimony should match the evidence you present in court.
If the testimony you give in court puts any of the evidence in question, the jury might decide to reject your plea and not grant you any benefits for your losses. When practicing to testify in court, you must be prepared for the question even your attorney will ask you.
To ensure you do not want to fumble, do a few practice rounds with your lawyer before speaking before the court. Your attorney will also prepare for the question the opposite party’s lawyer asks.
5. Evaluate your losses
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You need to evaluate your losses first to ask for an estimated compensation amount in court. Calculating all the damages will make you aware of what you deserve as compensation. Whether the claim is paid by the at-fault pry or their insurance company, you must ensure you are asking for a fair price as to the damages you have sustained.
Calculate all the repair charges you bared for your car, like replacing certain parts. Since you will have all your losses covered, take your vehicle to a reputable shop that provides bills for all the services.
The bills you get from the mechanic can be evidence of the losses you faced and be beneficial to present in court. Lastly, include all our medical bills from the treatments, medication, and other therapies you have taken to heal your injuries from the accident.
When calculating your medical expenses, you must include the future costs of treatments as well—most car injuries require post-surgery therapy or medication to heal the wound completely.
Hence you need to have shoe calculations in your compensation amount as well.
Nevertheless, the loss you sustained due to your injuries, like staying away from work or losing the ability to perform your daily tasks, is also eligible for compensation. Talk to your lawyer about all the damages and losses faced to get an estimated value of the compensation.
