How Do Car Accident Court Proceedings Go?

After a car wreck, many people are injured and worried about how they will pay their medical expenses and repair costs. If you’ve never filed a personal injury claim for a car accident, you’re probably wondering how car accident court proceedings go. We’re here to make the process clear to you.

 

The First Step

The first step toward recovering your losses with a personal injury claim is to keep accurate and prompt documentation. Following your crash, you will want your doctors to document your injuries and link them to your accident. That way, there will be no confusion as to where your injuries came from.

You should continue to document your injuries and recovery until you are fully recovered from your accident so you can add all your medical expenses to your injury claim.


The Second Step

The next step is contacting a personal injury attorney. Your attorney will assist you with filing your personal injury claim paperwork and negotiating with the involved insurance companies on your behalf. In many cases, this will mean negotiating with both your insurance company and the insurer of the at-fault driver.

 

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Most of the time, your personal injury claim can be resolved outside of the courtroom, which means you’ll never have to attend court at all. However, if the insurance companies refuse to offer you fair compensation for your losses, that’s when a lawsuit should be filed. You can be compensated for the following:

  • All accident-related medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Damaged property
  • Pain and suffering

 

The Courtroom

Your attorney will gather evidence like witness statements, medical bills, and police reports to prove fault in your case. Court proceedings for a car accident case are just like other types of court proceedings. They tend to go like this:

  • Jury selection
  • Opening statements
  • Presentation of evidence
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury deliberation
  • Verdict and award

 

Get in Touch with a California Vehicle Collision Attorney

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how car accident court proceedings go. If you have further questions or would like to discuss your case for free during an initial consultation, call a California car crash lawyer with Golden State Lawyers, APC. We can be reached at 408-279-4222 or via the online contact form below.