2020 saw 55.4 million reported injuries, as well as 200,955 preventable death.

If you or a loved one find yourself injured and unable to work, you may want to consider filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover lost wages or damages.

And while navigating a personal injury suit can be tricky, we’ve done our best to provide you with a quick and easy guide on what to expect. Make sure to keep reading to learn how you can find a great lawyer, what evidence you’ll need, and how you can get justice.

Finding the Right Lawyer

Finding a personal injury lawyer is a lot like dating. It’ll take some time, as well as a ton of trial and error, but once you find the right fit, everything falls into place.

First, make sure that it’s a personal injury lawyer that you need. They can only help in certain circumstances, so learn what is a personal injury in the first place.

Head to your favorite search engine and type in, ‘personal injury claim lawyer’. Search engines serve results based on location, so you should see a list of noteworthy attorneys in your area.

Once you’ve found a few lawyers who seem like a good fit, you’ll need to set up a consultation. Make sure to bring any evidence you have, as every small detail helps lawyers determine if they are or aren’t a good fit.

Investigation and Discovery

When you’ve found a lawyer who seems like a good fit and agrees to take your case, they’ll file the proper court documents. Until the other party responds, use this time to gather further evidence and details about your case.

In short, they’ll look for anything that corroborates your story. Evidence ranges from witness testimonies to video footage and medical bills that prove you sustained an injury.

Of the stages of a personal injury case, this is the most significant, as it can make or break your argument.

Settlement Proposal or Pre-Trial

Not every personal injury suit goes to court. In fact, reaching a settlement is often the better approach, as it’s faster and still allows the injured party to receive compensation.

There’s quite a bit of wiggle room, too. Expect some back-and-forth between both parties as you negotiate the terms of the possible settlement.

If it proves impossible to reach an agreement, you’ll have to take it to trial.

What to Expect From a Trial

The trial stage is often the longest and most arduous step. However, if your lawyer has done their due diligence and collected the proper evidence, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

You should prepare to testify, but your lawyer will walk you through the steps.

Every personal injury claim looks different, so there’s no telling how long it can take. Be patient and remain steadfast, justice is possible.

The Basic Guide to a Personal Injury Lawsuit

There’s a lot more that goes into a personal injury lawsuit than what we’ve detailed above. However, that’s all we have time for today.

Our ultimate advice is to seek legal counsel before deciding to go ahead with your case. Personal injury cases can be finicky, but the right lawyer makes a world of difference.

For more tips on finding a good lawyer, be sure to check out the rest of our legal content!