6 Steps of a Personal Injury Case

Understanding Your Personal Injury Claim

Navigating medical treatment and the claims process after a car accident can be daunting and confusing. If you decide to seek legal representation, there are a few things you can expect.

Just because you retain legal representation for personal injuries related to a car accident doesn’t automatically mean your case will go to trial or even into a lawsuit. Nine times out of ten, our firm is able to settle a case without litigation.

If you want to pursue a personal injury claim, you must receive medical treatment.

If you want to pursue a personal injury claim, you must receive medical treatment. There needs to be documented proof of injuries and the treatment you received.

Steps in a Personal Injury Case

Here are the typical steps you can expect when you have a personal injury case:

1. The Intake Stage

During the intake stage, a firm representative will meet with you to gather all information about your injuries and treatment. You will sign medical authorizations, so the firm can access your records without needing your signature later.

You will also sign a fee agreement. Our firm only gets paid if we are able to settle or obtain a positive verdict.

2. The Treatment Stage

This is the part of the process where you, the client, have the most important job. Continue to see your medical providers, whether it's a chiropractor, physical therapist, pain management specialist, or primary care doctor.

Consistent and documented treatment strengthens a personal injury case. If anything changes with your treatment, update your legal team as soon as you can.

3. The Gathering Stage

Once you have completed all of your treatment, your paralegal will request all of your medical records and itemized billing statements for all the treatment you received. The number of different providers can greatly affect how long this stage takes.

4. The Demand Stage

A demand package consists of everything that has happened in relation to your case since the accident. This includes the crash report, medical bills, records, lost wages, and the firm’s legal analysis.

The paralegal compiles all this information, and it is then reviewed by the attorney. Once the attorney signs off on it, the package is sent to the insurance company.

5. The Negotiation Stage

This is the part of the process that can be the most varied. Negotiations can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over 3 months.

The firm will negotiate the amount offered as well as medical liens to increase your recovery.

6. The Distribution Stage

After an agreement is reached, the settlement check, paperwork, and other information needs to be mailed to the attorney’s office. Once everything is received, you will get a call to schedule a time to come pick up your check or sign a limited power of attorney so that your check can be mailed to you.

Importance of Communication

One of the most important things during the entire course of a personal injury case is communication. We will need to update your file and talk about the progress of your case.

If we have the most current information, it generally allows for your case to move faster.

We know this can be a daunting and frustrating process, but we are here to help you through it from Intake to Settlement.

McKenzie and Snyder LLP, your lifeline. Give us a call at 513-737-5180 for a free case evaluation