After a car accident, you may be facing severe injuries. The cost of these injuries can be substantial, not only in money but in the impact they have on your life. Moving on after an accident can be challenging without recovering fair compensation from the liable party.
At Pacific West Injury Law, we are dedicated to helping car accident victims get back on their feet after a collision. Our team of Spring Valley car accident attorneys knows the challenges you face and will work diligently to help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us by phone or email to get started with a free case review today.
Figuring Out Who Is Liable for Your Damages
Before filing a car accident lawsuit, you must first determine who is at fault. If you are lucky, this process will be quick and simple. Unfortunately, however, in many cases, figuring out who is liable for your damages can be quite complicated. The best way to determine liability is by hiring a car accident lawyer with plenty of experience handling these types of cases.
Steps in a Car Accident Lawsuit
The steps of a car accident lawsuit begin long before you file with the court. When you hire a car accident lawyer, they will immediately investigate your case to determine liability and gather evidence supporting your claim. Once this stage is complete, your attorney will assess all of your damages and calculate the full value of your claim.
At this point, your attorney will draw up the appropriate paperwork and file your lawsuit with the court. After the necessary documents have been submitted, the pretrial process will begin. Steps in the pretrial process include:
- Discovery
- Depositions
- Mediation
Discovery
Discovery is the process of both parties exchanging the evidence they have gathered about the case. Discovery is critical to ensuring a fair trial, as it allows both sides to review all evidence and prepare their arguments for court.
Depositions
Depositions are given at the end of the discovery stage. Depositions are testimonies given by witnesses and parties directly involved in the accident. This testimony is given outside the courtroom, in the presence of a court stenographer who will record the proceedings. Both parties will be able to ask the deponent questions, and these depositions can be used in court.
Mediation
Mediation is the final stage of the pretrial process. In mediation, the two parties will meet at a neutral location along with an independent third party, who will attempt to help the two sides reach a settlement agreement and avoid a courtroom battle.
Throughout the time your car accident attorney works for you, they will be in negotiations with opposing counsel, attempting to come to terms on a settlement deal. If a deal is reached at any point, your case will end, and you will collect the agreed-upon compensation.
However, if a deal is not reached by the end of mediation, your case will go to court, where your lawyer will present arguments on your behalf and attempt to secure a favorable judgment.
Car Accident Lawyers Get Paid for Results
One of the biggest worries people have when it comes to hiring a car accident lawyer is that they won’t be able to afford their fees. While this can be a legitimate concern with many types of lawyers, you should never have to worry about not being able to pay a car accident lawyer.
Car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means that their fee is entirely based upon the outcome of your case. They will collect their fee as a fixed percentage of the compensation you receive from the liable party. This fee is the only money your attorney will obtain for their services.
That means that the more money you collect in damages, the more your attorney will get paid. It also means that if they fail to secure you compensation, they work for free.
File Your Lawsuit Before Time Runs Out
Nevada gives car accident victims two years to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file before the statute of limitations expires, you could find that your chance to recover compensation for your damages expires with it. However, it is critical to realize that this timeline has many exceptions.
It could turn out that due to the particulars of your case, you can still file after the two years have passed. Alternatively, you could find that you actually only have months to file your lawsuit rather than years. The best way to ensure you meet all deadlines is to hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a collision.
Damages You Can Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit
After a car accident where you suffer a serious injury, you will likely be eligible to claim a wide array of damages. All of your recoverable damages can be grouped into three overarching categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages encompass all monetary losses you suffered as a result of your car accident. Common economic damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Property damage
- Modifications to your home or vehicle necessary for accommodating a disability
- Lost wages
- Lowered earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages comprise all the other losses you suffer because of your accident. Common non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent disability
- Mental anguish
- Scarring and other disfigurements
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are unlike the damages listed above. Rather than focusing on losses suffered by the accident victims, punitive damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party for their actions. Punitive damages are only awarded in a small percentage of cases where the liable party was deemed to have behaved in a criminally negligent manner.
Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer in Spring Valley Today
At Pacific West Injury Law, our team of experienced car accident attorneys in Spring Valley is committed to providing accident victims with the experienced legal services they need. We will work hard to ensure you recover fair compensation after a car accident so you can move forward with your life.
Give us a call or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with a member of our team today.
