How Does A Personal Injury Lawyer In Fontana Helps In Getting Injury Claims

Every personal injury case is different but each case has to go through the same basic steps. In this article, we will discuss the steps of a personal injury case, and how a personal injury lawyer in Fontana can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Hiring the attorney

Personal injury claim cases are filed because the plaintiff is injured. If the injuries are minor and the plaintiff resides in a no-fault state, a personal injury lawyer may not be needed to represent the plaintiff’s case. If the plaintiff’s losses seem to be more than the limit of the local small claims court (the claim amount is usually $5,000-$10,000), the plaintiff must talk with an injury lawyer in Fontana. The initial consultation given by a lawyer is free. During the consultation the lawyer will go through the case details and assess its worth. The lawyer will also discuss how to proceed about the case and may agree to do an exploratory investigation if the plaintiff has a case. The exploratory investigation includes whether the defendant has insurance coverage and/or enough assets to cover the claim settlement or verdict. After the consultation and investigation, if the injury lawyer in Fontana feels that the case is viable, a free agreement is signed between the plaintiff and the attorney.

Filing of complaint

After accepting your case, the personal injury lawyer in Fontana will file a personal injury complaint in the civil court. This complaint has the detailed account of how the plaintiff was harmed due to the negligence or recklessness of the defendant. After filing the complaint in the court, within a certain time limit, the complaint must be served on the defendant. The complaint is physically delivered to the defendant so that later on defendant cannot claim that he or she do not know about the lawsuit.

Pre-trial and discovery phase

During the discovery phase, both plaintiff and defendant will ask each other for witness information and evidence. In the early stages of the trial process, both defendant and plaintiff have to appear in the court to-

•    Inform the judge about the case’s progress
•    Agree or not agree to the arbitration or mediation
•    Set a trial date

The pre-trial and discovery phase may take several months or even a year or more.

Trial phase

The trial phase may last for several days. The judge or jury determines if the defendant is liable for the accident and the plaintiff’s losses. During the trial phase, the amount the defendant will give have to give to the plaintiff is also determined.

Most personal injury cases settle before the trial phase. It is always better to hire an expert personal injury lawyer in Fontana to ensure your personal injury claim is proceeding in the right path and you get the best compensation for your losses. For more information visit here: Braff Law Firm