What Does A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Workday Look Like?

News stories about personal injury cases often focus on what goes on in the courtroom, such as the arguments that the lawyers presented at trial and the decision that the court issued.  In other words, what the public finds out about is only the final scene in a long story.  In fact, most cases do not even go to trial.  This is not because personal injury lawyers are not tough enough and do not have enough fighting spirit.  It is often because the lawyer is able to present such a convincing case to the defendant that the defendant agrees to pay what the injured person is asking without a judge having to order them to do so.  A Columbia personal injury lawyer can help you get the money you need to cover your accident-related losses with less drama than you might expect.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

If the money that the insurance company offers you after a car accident is not to cover your vehicle repairs and accident-related medical bills, you should contact a personal injury lawyer, and your lawyer might be able to resolve matters quickly.  With a little bit of research and negotiation, your lawyer may be able to get you an adequate settlement from one or more insurance companies, such that the courts will not need to get involved at all.

Depositions and Pretrial Discovery

If your injuries are so severe that the insurance policy limits are not enough to cover all your accident-related medical expenses, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit.  Before and after you formally file the lawsuit, your lawyer must do a lot of research and request information from the defendant in order to decide which arguments to present at trial, if a trial is necessary.  Your lawyer may take depositions from you, your doctors, and other witnesses who may have relevant information that could strengthen your case.  A deposition is sworn testimony, just like when a witness testifies at trial; lawyers for both the plaintiff and the defendant are present at the deposition, and they may both ask the witness questions.

Court Appearances

At a trial, the only people who are surprised by what they hear are the jurors.  The lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant have communicated with each other so much that they can predict what each other will say at trial, and witnesses are unlikely to be caught off guard during cross examination.  Before the trial, your lawyer may go to court multiple times to persuade the judge to permit or forbid one of the lawyers from presenting certain pieces of evidence at the trial.  Regarding expert witness testimony in injury cases, the Daubert standard requires judges to review all of the information that the expert witness plans to present, and the judge must approve the testimony before the jurors hear it.

Let Us Help You Today

The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you file an insurance claim or lawsuit to get the money you need after an accident.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

law.uw.edu/news-events/news/2022/preparing-for-a-deposition