How Do Personal Injury Legal Cases Proceed?

Introduction

Our Michigan law firm is built around our clients. Our success is a result of our extraordinary client service.

When you or someone you love has been injured you feel like your life has been flipped upside down.

You confront serious and complex medical, legal, job, money, and family issues. At the same time, and often for the first time in your life.

One of the most common questions we hear from our clients is – “How Will My Case Proceed?”

This special feature of our site is designed to help answer this question. You can always contact our law firm through this website or by phone to speak with us in greater length. That’s what we are here for.

The facts surrounding each legal claim are unique. As each case is different, it is impossible to know the length of time necessary to see a case to resolution or the nature of the resolution. However, there are certain things that you can generally expect to occur if we pursue an injury claim on your behalf.

Free Legal Consultation

We have provided free legal consultations since 1968. Welcome to a long tradition of extraordinary legal work focused exclusively on our clients.

We know that every case is different. During your free legal consultation, we examine the unique facts regarding your case. We look at your case from every angle. The information that you provide or that we may ask about includes:

When, where, and how did the accident happen?
What injuries did you or your loved one suffer?
We’ll also consider all the other facts that might impact the viability of the case.
We also want to hear any other information that you think is important.

Remember – our free legal consultation is confidential. You should feel comfortable contacting our office.

We Come to You

We will come to you. We will visit you when and where it’s most convenient.

We understand that getting around after an accident is never easy. Often times mobility is impaired because of medical or logistical reasons.

During the visit, we will obtain the documents related to your case. Specifically, these documents will help us begin the investigation phase of your accident and injuries including accident reports, police reports and medical records.

If a face to face meeting is not practical, information can still be exchanged by phone, mail, or email.

If you or a loved one needs legal help, talk with an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form now. Get the Bernstein Advantage today.

Investigation

A careful investigation of personal injury cases is absolutely critical.

We thoroughly and carefully investigate each case.

Although every case is unique, our investigation process usually involves several important steps. We begin by obtaining police reports, accident reports, witness statements, and photographs.

The investigation process continues as the case proceeds. We may retain experts to help us present your case effectively. These experts may be necessary to reconstruct an auto accident, identify building code violations, or determine if a produce was defective.

The most important factor in the investigation phase is, of course, experience and tenacity. Our investigators are highly experienced and treat each case as if their own loved one was involved.

Pre-Suit

During the pre-suit process, we work to assemble materials related to your case including medical records and other information about your injury. During this phase of the case the focus shifts from assessing the viability of the case to managing the case to maximize value.

Typically, our clients continue to receive medical treatment after the accident. During the pre-suit process, we work hard to maintain the most up-to-date medical, injury and work related information.

During the pre-suit process, an attorney and legal assistant will be assigned to personally manage your case. You will receive the direct dial phone number and email for your attorney and legal assistant. You should never hesitate to contact us for any reason. Remember, we work for you.

Most clients quite reasonably want to know how much money they will be receiving at the end of a successful personal injury claim. The truth is, the value of your case depends upon the outcome of your medical treatment and extent of your recovery, as well as the circumstances of the accident.

Litigation

Many cases never reach the litigation stage because they are settled during the pre-suit process. Sometimes it is necessary to litigate a case when the insurance company is unwilling to settle the case for an appropriate value. In these instances, our clients benefit from the substantial trial experience and financial resources of our firm.

The majority of our claims are settled during the pre-suit process without ever having to file a lawsuit. We attempt to negotiate with the insurance company or companies involved and reach a satisfactory settlement. If we cannot negotiate an acceptable settlement without a lawsuit, then litigation will be initiated.

The litigation process usually involves a process called discovery. During the discovery process you may be called upon to answer written questions called interrogatories or give testimony known as a deposition. Of course, an experienced trial lawyer from our office will be with you every step of the way.

It may be necessary to present your claim in court in front of a judge or jury. If so, our team of accomplished trial lawyers will ensure that your case is presented with professionalism and skill.

Conclusion

At the conclusion of your claim, our goal is to have exceeded your expectations in both service and value. We will work tirelessly to accomplish this goal. After a settlement or verdict, the disbursement process concludes our work. This process typically involves receiving a check from the insurance company, reviewing and approving the release if necessary, sorting out any lien issues, and then delivering a check to you as quickly as possible.

Top ^