Filing a civil lawsuit is a long process with several steps involved. The first step is to contact an accident injury lawyer in Miami for proper representation. When you hire a representative, this puts the wheels in motion and gets you one step closer to the justice and financial compensation you deserve. After hiring representation, you must file a complaint, which will come later in the process. If you have filed a complaint, informing the defendant that you will file a lawsuit against them, the matter will be settled outside of court, or it will go to trial.

If the case must be settled with a trial and not outside of the courtroom, you must rely on your lawyer to explain your argument clearly and effectively to the judge  (or jury). If you have contacted the team at A to Z Injury Law for your personal injury claim, you will be in good hands. Our lawyers are experts in all areas of personal injury, from negligent driving to nursing home abuse. Count on us to present the facts and prove the plaintiff is liable for damages. This is the moment when all of our planning and preparation come to fruition.

While a significant amount of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of your lawyer, there are some things you can do to make a good impression during the trial. In this article, we will explain what that entails.  

Meet all Deadlines

Once you have filed a lawsuit, there are several deadlines you must meet, such as choosing a jury trial vs a judge, to attending your court hearing on time. We will help you prepare before your trial date, but you can also review the local rules on the court’s website, which details what is expected of you before your trial. Consider this highly useful information and take notes. If there is anything that does not make sense, someone from our team will explain it in a way that everyone will understand. Remember, if you do not meet all the deadlines, you risk your case being thrown out of court.

You will also be expected to attend your preliminary hearing, as this will determine the strength of your case. If you are late to your hearing, the judge may decide to rule against you. Therefore, it is always recommended to arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time.

Do Your Homework

In addition to reviewing local rules on the court’s website, you should use the internet as a resource for courtroom preparation. It never hurts to know some of the legal terminologies and watch videos of similar trials to see how the plaintiff should behave. Furthermore, every judge has their own idea of courtroom decorum, so it may be in your best interest to ask the court clerk what the judge presiding over your case will expect to see from you.

Learn All Details About Your Case

Every claim you make should be backed by facts, or in other words, admissible evidence. Prior to trial, you will work with your attorneys to gather all the necessary evidence to build your case. This may include CCTV footage at an accident scene, eyewitness testimony, expert eyewitness testimony, and documents, such as medical records. Although we will present the facts to the judge, it is still important that you know every detail of the case.

Be Respectful

It is not unusual to get emotional over what is being said about you during the trial, but you should not react to negative statements being made. While you watch the trial unfold, stay calm and do not appear petty. Being patient is also a skill you must master. You will have your opportunity to speak, but when someone else is speaking, it is extremely rude to interrupt them. When you finally have the floor, make sure to address the judge as “your honor” and not “sir,” “ma’am,” or any other honorific address. Showing respect for the courtroom procedures may be expected, but it can still go a long way in your favor.

Dress Appropriately

If you want the judge to see you as an upstanding citizen, you should look the part. Do not wear casual attire. Instead, wear a professional outfit that you would wear on a job interview, where first impressions matter.

Contact A to Z Injury Law

Our team has helped hundreds of clients win their personal injury claims. We are ready to assist you. For an accident injury lawyer in Miami that you can trust, contact A to Z Injury Law. Call (305) 853-9656 for a free case review.

The secret to winning a personal injury lawsuit is to hire reputable car accident lawyers in Miami. Reach out to the team at A to Z Injury Law to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Saying that this is a difficult and stressful time is an understatement. Don’t compound your difficulties by choosing an attorney who doesn’t have your best interest at heart. There are other steps you should take to ensure a win. In this article, we will explain some of the most important ways to prepare when filing a lawsuit.

Build Evidence

If you were involved in a car accident (or any type of accident), one of the first things to do is prove you are not liable by presenting admissible evidence. This can include CCTV footage, police reports, eyewitness statements, and documents from your medical practitioner. 

Collecting evidence is a challenging but necessary step – our team will gather everything you need to build your case and prove the other party is at fault. Remember, the evidence does not last forever, and eyewitnesses may not remember what they saw. It is important to act fast.

Don’t Contradict Yourself

Filing a lawsuit is a unique and stressful situation for most. You may not intend to contradict a previous statement, but if you do, it can be used against you by the other side. We always advise our clients not to speak to the defendant’s insurance adjuster, as statements can be misconstrued. In addition to saying the wrong thing, you should avoid actions that can be a threat to your physical wellbeing. For example, drinking alcohol while taking medication for your injuries. You never know who is watching what you do now, or how your actions can be used against you.

Review Your Case

How can your case be more successful? This is a question you should always ask yourself. Don’t worry, this is not a step you will do on your own. Our lawyers have years of training and experience finding the right answers to this question. We will look for the tiniest crack, as we know the other side is also trained in taking advantage of the smallest weakness in a case. A small crack can be shattered into a large hole in the case that can prevent you from receiving the compensation you need to recover and move on with your life.

We will review the evidence and eyewitness testimony to see if it is substantial enough to convince a judge that you were not at fault. Another part of the process is asking yourself what the other side will produce to defend their case? We will work with you to come up with possible weaknesses in their case.

Use an Expert Eyewitness

Eyewitnesses who were on the scene during the accident are a valuable part of any case, as are expert eyewitnesses, such as your doctor. The doctor who treated you for injuries can explain to the judge the severity of your injuries and how they were specifically sustained. Because of their training and experience, they can go into detail on how these injuries can affect your physical and mental wellbeing in ways you or your attorney cannot. We recommend keeping in touch with your doctor after sustaining an injury, as their statement can solidify your case.

Gather All Necessary Documents

You should always hold onto your documents and organize them in a way that makes retrieval easy. The next step is to identify the most important documents for your case. We will help review all documents with you before presenting copies of the most important documents to the judge. After you have gathered everything you need, it’s time to review and highlight the most important components in each document to quickly point them out in trial. Then, order your documents and the copies you have made for the judge (never give the judge the original copy), ensuring they are well organized and presentable. First impressions do matter.

Don’t Delay

Procrastination is something we all do, but when it comes to your car accident case, you should never put it off to the last minute. We recommend that you contact auto accident injury lawyers in Miami and immediately begin the process. The statute of limitations in Florida for a car accident is four years. You may think you have enough time but consider everything that goes into a case on both sides – yours and your attorney. Don’t delay. When you are in need of car accident lawyers in Miami, contact A to Z Injury Law. Call (305) 853-9656 for a free consultation.

When we get behind the wheel, we essentially put our lives in the hands of every driver we meet on the road. For most of us, driving is the most dangerous activity we do all day. Yet most drivers take that for granted. 

Even though driving requires attention and observation, most drivers multi-task while on the road. They fiddle with their radio, talk on their Bluetooth, and even text while driving. At A to Z Injury Law, we’ve seen serious accidents and wrongful deaths happen as a result of careless, reckless, and aggressive driving. Our attorneys have defended thousands of clients who were in accidents they didn’t cause. 

For South Florida residents, driving is especially dangerous in Miami, because it’s a highly populated metropolitan area. In fact, it’s among the deadliest roads in the country. If you do find yourself involved in an accident, the first thing to do is stay calm and follow these helpful instructions. 

Step 1: Check for Injuries/Get to Safety 

Your safety and that of those around you should be your priority. When in an accident, check if you or anyone in your vehicle is injured. If you or someone was injured, call 911 immediately and do not move until emergency personnel has arrived. If no one was injured, turn on your hazard lights and try to move your vehicle to a safe location. Even if you were not injured, it is advised to call 911 to have an official report of the accident for your insurance company. 

Step 2: Exchange Information

Exchange your name and insurance information with all other drivers involved in the accident. In most states, you’re only required to exchange name and insurance info, but you should gather additional information if possible, such as the driver’s license and license plate number of the other person involved in the accident, make and model of the vehicle, and the location of the accident. 

If eyewitnesses were present, get down their name and contact information, as well. When the police arrive at the scene, get their name, and badge number, and ask them where you can get a copy of the accident report, in case your insurance provider asks for this information. 

Keep your conversation with the other driver to a minimum. In other words, don’t admit fault or apologize. Additionally, don’t blame the other person even if they’re responsible for the accident. Your first step is to keep calm, but this step should be carried out throughout the entire incident. 

Step 3: Take Pictures

To better protect yourself, take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident unless this will put you in harm’s way. You will need this information to provide to your insurance provider to support your claim, and to your attorney to prove that the driver was at fault. 

Step 4: Contact Your Insurance Company

If your insurance company has a timeframe to submit your claim, it’s important to contact them as soon as possible to file the claim. However, if the insurance company of the other driver tries to reach you, you are advised to speak with an attorney first. Furthermore, if you sustained injuries in the accident, don’t move forward with the insurance claims process until you have received all the necessary information regarding your injury from your doctor. 

Step 5: Contact A to Z Injury Law

Call a lawyer after you have contacted your insurance company. This will give them enough time to build a case if necessary. Without guidance from an attorney, you may inadvertently say something that can be used against you during your litigation. Instead, contact our personal injury attorneys in Miami, Florida. 

If you are not in South Florida, contact an attorney who is experienced in car accidents. Your attorney will then gather all the necessary information to prove that the other driver was at fault. Additionally, he or she will guide you through the process such as informing you on how to handle insurance companies and possible next steps. 

We Can Help!

At A to Z Injury Law, our attorneys specialize in Florida accident law and can secure settlements and verdicts on your behalf. Call us today for a free consultation.