Filing a personal injury claim is often a laborious and time-consuming process. Many claimants expect to get a quick resolution and are frustrated by the amount of time it takes just to get a response from the insurer. Your Taylorville personal injury lawyer will explain to you what the process will include and what kind of timeframe you can expect, but here is a very basic overview of how personal injury cases typically proceed.
The First Steps
Your case begins when you decide to retain a Taylorville personal injury attorney for your case. You will visit the attorney’s office and have an interview, during which he will ask you questions about your case and give you several forms to fill out. The Taylorville personal injury lawyer will also:
• Explain how contingency fee agreements work and present one to you;
• Give your intake and authorization forms to sign so that your Taylorville personal injury lawyer has access to your medical and employment records, etc.;
• Give you instruction sheets and information pertaining to your case; and
• Prepare a file for your case.
Next Steps
About two to four weeks after your initial meeting with your Taylorville personal injury lawyer, he will begin working on other preliminary aspects of your case:
• Your Taylorville personal injury attorney will begin investigating your claim either by himself or with the help of a private investigator. During the investigation:
o Your lawyer may visit the scene of the incident to obtain photos or other evidence;
o Your Taylorville personal injury lawyer might contact witnesses and others involved with the case to ask them questions; and
o Your lawyer will obtain relevant medical and police reports.
• Your attorney will also send a representation letter to relevant insurers to let them know you have retained counsel.
Later Steps
Within four to eight weeks of the start of your case, your Taylorville personal injury lawyer will conduct further research for your case. This might include obtaining more medical reports and bills, especially if your treatment is ongoing, and obtaining the most recent contact information for any witnesses. Additionally,
• Your Taylorville personal injury attorney will send the required information to the insurer handling your claim and discuss any relevant facts with them; and
• Your attorney will meet with you to see how your recovery is going.
Get the expert help you need for your personal injury claim from a Taylorville personal injury lawyer. Call McCarthy Rowden & Baker at 800-373-6050.