Three Things You Should Always Know About Your Injury Case
If you have retained a lawyer for your personal injury case, it is understandable (and even desirable) that your lawyer will be handling most of the issues associated with your case. This doesn't mean you should sit back and wait for your settlement check. In fact, you should always know these three things about your case:
The Current Stage of Your Lawsuit
A typical personal injury case starts with the filing of court papers, then the discovery stage, followed by the pretrial motions, then the trial (if there is no out-of-court settlement). These are the broad stages of an injury lawsuit, although there may be other sub-stages within them. As the plaintiff, you should always be aware of the stage your litigation has reached at any particular time.
There are many reasons for this. For example, during the discovery stage, the opposing party will do everything to uncover dirt on your life, and you can easily weaken your case if you aren't prepared for it.
The Court Dates
You also need to have the court dates at your fingertips at all times. This will help you understand your case's progress as well as the dates you are supposed to make court appearances. Confirm also whether you should make an appearance for any of the court dates or your lawyer is the only one needed in court. You don't want your lawyer calling you about your whereabouts because you should be in court but you are a thousand miles away negotiating a business deal.
Potential Recoveries
When you instigate an injury lawsuit, you have a clear idea of what you would want the defendant to pay or do in case the court rules in your favor. However, there is what you want and what is possible and the two are very different things. In fact, the possible discoveries are likely to change with time as the case progresses. For example, you may have started the case expecting the full recovery, but this may change if the court decides you contributed to your injuries. Knowing how much you can get if you win your case can help you decide when to cut your losses and settle or when to proceed with the case.
Most injury lawyers will agree that dealing with a proactive client is easier than dealing with a passive one who files a claim and disappears. Once you know what is happening with your case at all times, you will always be ready to provide the necessary documents or items your lawyer may require. It's also a good way of averting potential disagreements with your attorney since you won't be in the dark about their actions. Contact an attorney, like Katz Nowinski PC , for more help.
Share