2 Jan, 2022

Steps in a Personal Injury Case

Author Todd A. Strong

Often times in a personal injury case, you will hear your Attorney say “if we are not able to resolve your case through settlement, we will take it to trial”. But what does the process of settling and going to trial entail? In a personal injury case, once an injured person aka Plaintiff completes their medical care and treatment or is at a point where there is a definite prospective treatment that is recommended the personal injury attorney acting on their behalf will submit a settlement demand.

Juridical concept meaning Demand Letter with sign on the sheet.
Juridical concept meaning Demand Letter with sign on the sheet.

What Are the Steps in a Personal Injury Case?

Here are the steps in a personal injury case.

Step One: Submitting a Demand

Once a demand is submitted more likely than not if liability on behalf of the person causing the injury aka Defendant is clear, an offer will be extended by the insurance company insuring the Defendant. This is not to say that the offer will be reasonable.

Step Two: Negotiations

Sometimes after the initial demand is made and an offer is extended, there may be several rounds of negotiations. The negotiations may be successful and parties may be able to settle the case. However, there are times when negotiations are of no avail and the Attorney will have to file your case on your behalf in order to obtain a better recovery.

Step Three: Written Discovery

Once the complaint is answered, parties usually will engage in written discovery. This is achieved by each party sending the other party a set of questions called interrogatories, and a list of documents that each party is to produce. The parties will sometimes also serve upon the other party's request to admit, essentially asking the party to admit or deny the existence of a fact. Once the written discovery is completed, parties usually will conduct oral discovery.

Step Four: Discovery deposition

This is where discovery depositions are taken place. Both parties have the right to question the other party or any witnesses that are to testify at trial. This also includes any medical doctors that are to provide testimony at trial. The time limit allowed in Illinois for any discovery deposition is up to three hours. The purpose of the discovery deposition is basically to discover facts or discover the opinion of a witness that they are to provide at the time of trial.

Step Five: Trial

Once all written and verbal discovery is completed, the case becomes ready for a trial. At this time, if the case cannot be resolved via settlement, then parties will meet with the presiding Judge and request a trial date.

Steps in a Personal Injury Case

Most personal injury cases that go to trial, go to a jury trial.

Prior to proceeding to trial, parties may have to take evidence depositions. An evidence deposition is a testimony that is secured by a witness for the purpose of using it at trial. An evidence deposition is a recorded testimony and is usually taken of an expert due to being less costly than the live testimony of a medical doctor or expert.

Once the trial starts, jury selection begins, opening arguments are made and testimony of various witnesses including Plaintiff and Defendant is presented. After all the evidence is presented, parties will make closing arguments.

In the closing arguments, the Attorneys for the respective parties will suggest to the members of the jury as to what they believe their award should be. The jury members are advised as to the law by the presiding judge and given a chance to deliberate and render a verdict. The members of the jury remain free to decide What they award. While they can consider the arguments and the suggestions made by the respective Attorneys, they are not bound by it. This means that once your case goes to trial, only jurors get to decide the true value of your case.

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About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023
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About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023
Experienced personal injury attorneys at Strong Law Offices can help you win your case. Consultations are free.
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