From Initial Consultation to Settlement
If you’ve been in a serious motor vehicle collision, you know the impact isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, it’s financial, and it’s overwhelming. The last thing you want to worry about is the legal process. But, with the help of a driven, intelligent legal team, when you understand what lies ahead, you’ll manage that process with confidence.
What’s the best way to build a legal case?
Once you’ve decided to move forward with the right law firm, the real work begins. Your team will start by conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. This will include:
- Collecting supplemental police reports
- Finding third-party surveillance video
- Interviewing witnesses
- Collision scene inspection
- Forensic physical evidence analysis
This phase can take time, but it’s essential to uncover every detail. After all, your case is only as strong as the evidence we can present.
Settlement: The Art of Negotiation
Once you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, all of your healthcare records have been compiled and analyzed, and your legal team has built a solid case, it’s time to confer with your team about a potential settlement. This is where having a dedicated law firm that has prepared your case for trial truly pays off. Because unless everything that can be done has been done for you, you can’t negotiate from a position of strength. Their goal should be to secure a settlement that fully compensates you for your serious injuries, lost wages, and other damages.
The Settlement Demand
Your legal team will intensely analyze all of the evidence and evaluate the value of your case if it were to go to a judgment after a jury trial. This is where having an authentic trial law firm makes all the difference. After conferring with you, your legal team will issue a settlement demand that is your opening salvo; it says we’re confident about this case and our client. It says to Big Insurance, “Here’s what you have to pay in order to avoid the risk of shelling out even more money after trial.”
But don’t be surprised if the first offer is low.
The Big Insurance Machine often starts with a lowball offer, hoping you’ll settle quickly. This is their standard operating procedure. And a good law firm won’t waste their time or your time if it looks as though Big Insurance won’t negotiate in good faith. But, when your legal team is respected and has a reputation for relentless advocacy, you reap the benefits of that reputation.
If negotiations aren’t moving meaningfully and quickly, your legal team will be prepared to file suit and continue your fight in court. While most cases settle before trial, it’s important to have a team that is ready for trial. Preparation is everything — whether for trial or settlement.
Legal battles are an emotional journey.
Legal battles are rarely just about facts and figures. They’re emotional journeys, too. You might feel a variety of relief, frustration, hope, and anxiety throughout the process. That’s perfectly normal.
That’s why choosing the right legal team is so important. A good team will keep you informed every step of the way, answer your questions, and offer guidance when you need it most. The road to recovery is difficult, but it can be made easier when you are allied with the right legal team.
Confused about the legal process?
Navigating the legal process after a serious motor vehicle accident can feel like trying to find your way through a maze. But you don’t have to do it alone. At The Maddox Law Firm, we’re here to guide you every step of the way — from that first consultation to the final settlement. Contact us today for a Strategy Planning Meeting at no charge for you. When it matters, make it Maddox.
