Insurance companies will generally resolve most car accident personal injury cases prior to an actual filed lawsuit. Even then, you can expect to reach a settlement offer before the case reaches trial. However, there are still a good many car accident cases in which an early settlement is nearly impossible, which might in turn lead to an eventual trial. Considering that legal rules will differ based on where exactly you live, it will help during this time to have a trained car accident attorney on your side to guide you through the process.
Attorney Robert White has been handling personal injury cases for years and, if your case ends up going to trial, here is some information you may want to keep in mind.
Most states will require that a jury be selected before the actual trial commences. This is in lieu of a ruling judge, though a judge will still preside. Lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant will interview the possible jury members until both can agree on an unbiased and impartial set. Opening statements will follow the selection of the jury.
The plaintiff's lawyer will usually start with an opening statement in which he or she will lay out the arguments to come. The defendant's lawyer then makes an opening statement of his or her own, keeping in mind that the burden is on the plaintiff to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the charge. The defendant will subsequently refute the arguments.
Much like with the opening statements, both lawyers will have an opportunity at the end of the trial to make closing arguments. These statements are meant to analyze the specific evidence that was introduced during the trial and use it to persuade the jury to support one of the two parties.
Following the trial, the jury will leave the court and go to a private room in which they will discuss the case and presented evidence. There is no time limit and the discussions are kept strictly confidential. Eventually the jury must come to a verdict, which they pass to the judge. The jury then reads the verdict to both parties, with the verdict itself made an official part of the court proceedings.
It always helps to have professional legal counsel by your side in today's world. If you have been hurt in a car accident, attorney Robert White wants to hear from you. His legal team has years of experience in the industry and if you would like to learn more about submitting a personal injury claim as a result of a recent car accident, contact one of Robert White's representatives today.