Personal Injury Timeline – 12 Huge Steps After Hiring an LA Lawyer at C&B Law Group

Understanding a personal injury timeline can help with the process following your claim.

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The LA personal injury attorneys at C&B Law Group have developed a personal injury timeline following any case. This list includes 12 steps to expect after filing a personal injury claim with one of our attorneys.

One – The Initial Investigation

The first step in the personal injury timeline involves your attorney gathering all available evidence.  

To help with this step, make sure to send all pictures, documents and witness information to your attorney as soon as possible. Delaying the process can result in the loss of key evidence.

Two- Medical Treatment

After you’re injured in an accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. Not only is your health important, but any medical evaluations can be used as evidence further down the line to help with your case (step one in the personal injury timeline).

If you’re unsure about a doctor to visit, your lawyer can help you choose a medical professional appropriate for your situation.  

Remember, insurance companies will use your medical records to determine the value of your case.  They will use any gaps in treatment as an excuse not to properly compensate you for your damages.  

Three – Property Damage

At C&B Law Group, we always recommend our clients find a body shop for any vehicle repairs (if necessary).  

Insurance companies will recommend shops from within their network, but you are not required to use them.  Additionally, if you do not have collision coverage, the defendant’s insurance will delay their liability determination which can delay any necessary repairs.  

We will try our best to speed this up and put pressure on the insurance company to get the repairs done as quickly as possible, but with certain types of car crashes there might be liability issues.

Four – Liability and Medical Investigation

In the next phase of the personal injury timeline, your lawyer will investigate the incident thoroughly to demonstrate the other party’s liability for the accident. Additionally, your attorney will follow up on your treatment, gathering all relevant medical information including your diagnosis, medical bills, and treatment records.  

After concluding treatment, it typically takes two weeks to a month for the medical providers to complete all reports and get them to your attorney.  Upon receiving them,  your attorney will review and summarize the medical records.

Five – Settlement negotiation

Next on the personal injury timeline, your attorney will draft a demand package.  

After mailing out your demand package, defendants will typically have 30 days to respond with an acceptance letter or a counter offer. Your attorney will inform you of any offers and counteroffers. 

The goal in this step of the personal injury timeline is to help you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries. 

Six – Lien Negotiations

A medical lien in California authorizes direct payment to a healthcare professional out of money obtained from a personal injury claim.  After settling the case, your attorney will help negotiate medical liens so that you can walk away with maximum compensation. 

Seven – Disbursal

Before receiving your money, it will be placed in a trust account so that costs, liens and fees may be deducted.  After all payments are cleared, you will receive all remaining proceeds to use it in the way most beneficial to you.

Eight – Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit 

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, then your attorney will help you file a lawsuit.  Your lawyer will advise you at all times to prepare a convincing case that will increase your chances of success.  

After filing the lawsuit, the court will usually assign a trial date about two years out.

You can continue negotiation and possibly settle during this phase of the personal injury timeline, or any phase after this one as well. If the case does settle at this point or any point after, please jump back to phase 6 and 7.

Nine – Fact Finding or “Discovery Phase”

In this step of the personal injury timeline, both parties will obtain information and evidence from each other or any third parties related to the case.  

Your attorney will investigate the other party, and in the same way, the defendants representatives will investigate you. This may include interrogations, document requests, or depositions.

Ten – Meditation

At trial, your attorney will present all the evidence gathered to prove the other party’s liability. They will indicate how much money you deserve to be awarded for the damages suffered.  

In the end, a jury will decide if the defendant is at fault, and if so, they will determine the amount of compensation to be paid.  

Eleven – Decision Appeal if Necessary

If the judge’s verdict is not favorable to you in any way, your attorney can help you appeal the decision.  

Similarly, the defendant may also appeal the decision. If this is the case, your attorney will advise you on how to proceed to ensure that you receive the maximum possible compensation.

Twelve – Collection

You made it!  

After a settlement is given or at trial, the court will issue a settlement order. This requires both parties to complete the rest of the process within 30 to 60 days.

There are a number of potential personal injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Whiplash
• Back injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Neck injuries
• Concussions
• Broken bones
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Spinal cord injuries
• Death

It’s important to remember that every personal injury case is different from the next. Some cases can move quickly, while each of the aforementioned steps can take longer depending on various factors, such as:

• Insurance company
• Individual adjusters
• Defense attorney
• More

With so many different ways that make each case unique, this serves as a general personal injury timeline.

At C&B Law Group, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are prepared to help you recover compensation. 

With over 3,000 successful case settlements and hundreds of positive client testimonials, our team vows to help you in any way we can within our legal power.

We can help recover damages including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Wrongful death

Don’t wait. Contact C&B Law Group today about a free consultation or with any questions regarding our personal injury timeline.