When you’ve been injured in a car accident, the last thing you want to do is to be forced to fight for just compensation for your injuries. Unfortunately, the insurance companies don’t always have your best interests at heart. When it comes time to consider suing the responsible insurance company, you need to consider all the angles.
In last week’s blog post, we went over the stress involved in a trial, how the jury is picked, and the opening statements. In this blog post, we’ll cover the remaining parts of a typical trial.
Burden of Proof
As the victim of the car accident, your attorney has the burden of proving your injuries. It isn’t enough to just put you on the stand and ask you about where you hurt. Instead, your attorney will call your doctors to testify about your injuries and what treatment they recommend you receive in the future.
Other witnesses, such as friends and family members, will testify about the changes they have seen since the car accident, and your attorney will help them explain to the jury how your life is different now. Imagine sitting there and having to listen to your friends tell a group of strangers that you aren’t the same person you used to be. Then the insurance company’s lawyer will have their turn.
The most uncomfortable moment will be when the insurance company’s hired gun testifies that you weren’t hurt in the car accident, which is why it’s important to have an experience car accident attorney representing you. If the jury believes the hired gun, it can be the end of your case.
Closing Statements
Once all the witnesses have testified, it’s time for closing statements, where your attorney will argue to the jury that you were hurt, that the insurance company’s hired gun was wrong, and that you deserve to be compensated for what you have been forced to endure.
The Verdict
After closings, you wait. The jury beings to deliberate and it can take hours or even days for them to reach a verdict. Even the most straightforward car accident trial will last two days, but more complex cases can easily last a week or more.
Knowing that your case may end up in the hands of total strangers, and that you will have to sit through several days where you will feel like the insurance company is attacking your credibility, it’s important to know that you have a skilled car accident attorney representing you along the way.
The car attorneys at Michles & Booth represent only the victims in car accidents. If you or a loved one have been injured, contact Michles & Booth to speak with car accident attorneys today for a free consultation.
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