You could be just days removed from a bad accident that left you with a serious injury. The medical costs may already add up to totals well beyond what you have in savings.
You will likely need to file a claim for damages against the insurance company representing the person or company responsible for your accident. This claim could end up being your only chance at securing a comprehensive financial recovery.
The prospect of filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit might be a new experience for you, but you shouldn’t be nervous. A Hagens Berman legal representative stands with you through the entire litigation process. Our attorneys make sure you know what to expect each step of the way. We never want our clients to feel anxious or overwhelmed during a personal injury claim.
FREE CONSULTATION WITH A SEATTLE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
Starting a personal injury case begins when you take Hagens Berman up on a free, no-obligation case evaluation to decide whether you need to hire a personal injury attorney. This is a chance for you to tell us what happened. We listen and determine if we can help you earn more in compensation for your injury than if you were to handle the claim yourself. If we can’t improve your outcome by a substantial amount, we will let you know.
The free consultation is also an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and answer additional questions that you may have about Hagens Berman’s experience, successes record, and the legal process.
If you feel we are a good match for your personal injury case, we will sign a contingency agreement with you to officially represent your interests in your claims. This agreement ensures that you are not charged for our services unless we win your case.
INVESTIGATION AND EVIDENCE GATHERING
Once you sign on with us, the Hagens Berman legal team begins investigating the circumstances of your accident. We comb through the scene for any missed evidence. We acquire accident and incident reports once they become available.
Hagens Berman also secures medical documents, and we may suggest other check-ups and medical tests to make sure that every aspect of your injury is thoroughly documented. This information is vital when determining what your injury is worth and how much you’ll need in compensation for any care required in the years to come.
During this process, we will also ask for photos and video you took at the scene of your accident. You should also provide any contact information for witnesses you spoke with.
NEGOTIATING A SETTLEMENT OR FILING A LAWSUIT
After we evaluate the circumstances of your accident and resulting injury, we will review how the opposing insurance company has handled your case so far. If they have offered a settlement, we will closely examine the details of the offer and help you decide if your claim is worth more. If it falls short of what you and your family needs, we will reject the offer and let them know where it was lacking.
If the insurance provider refuses to make a better offer, then a lawsuit can be necessary to compel them to provide adequate coverage. The threat of going to court can be enough to get most insurance companies to dig deeper and offer much better settlement terms.
Only a small fraction of personal injury cases is decided in court, but your Hagens Berman attorney will have already prepared a strong case to present to a judge.
DISCOVERY PERIOD AND MEDIATION
During the discovery phase, your lawyer will provide details regarding the argument against the defendant and reveal what witness testimony and evidence will be presented. Your lawyer will also present any expert witnesses taking part in your case.
You and the defendant will give a deposition about what happened on the day of the accident.
Legal representatives for the two sides can then meet and try to come to an agreement in an effort avoid a trial. When they can’t agree, a third-party mediator may enter the negotiations to try to broker a deal.
TRIAL DATE ARRIVES
If no agreement is worked out, the case will go to trial. The trial date is usually a year or more from when the lawsuit was filed. However, a settlement can still be reached at any moment before or during a trial.
The trial begins with your Hagens Berman lawyer making an opening statement. Trials can last anywhere from a few days to beyond a week. At some point, your attorney will likely call you to testify about what happened on the day of the accident.
Once closing arguments are made, the judge or jury deliberates and returns their verdict deciding if you will receive compensation and how much.
CONTACT A HAGENS BERMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER SERVING SEATTLE
During each phase of your claim, Hagens Berman will strive to keep you informed while allowing you the time to focus on your physical recovery. Your attorney will be working to secure the best settlement agreement possible for you.
Contact the attorneys at Hagens Berman in Seattle for your free and confidential case evaluation. We are happy to answer any questions you have and stand ready to take action if you choose our team to represent your case.
