What happens during the discovery process in an accident lawsuit in Port Allen?
Port Allen, LA – There are a number of procedures that accident victims and their attorneys must follow before reaching a settlement or going to trial after an injury. One of the most important parts of a lawsuit is the discovery process. This is meant to make sure that both sides of the case exchange and share all relevant information so that they can prepare for litigation and negotiations. Because there are specific rules that need to be followed regarding the sharing of evidence, it is important for anyone who wants to file a lawsuit to get assistance from an attorney.
The early stages
After the accident lawsuit has been filed in the local civil court system, the defendant will receive formal notice that they have been named as a party in the litigation. Usually, any parties involved and their attorneys will start to collect evidence that they feel is beneficial to their side, or relevant materials that might help a judge or jury make decisions about the case. Various rules will define exactly what kinds of information have to be shared during this discovery process, and it is important for each attorney to be familiar with these rules, otherwise they risk being sanctioned for mistakes.
Requests and interrogatories
The sides to the litigation can exchange interrogatories. These are essentially just questions about the facts and information related to the lawsuit. Interrogatories need to be answered truthfully and the documents containing the answers are notarized. The answers will give the other side some kind of notice about the nature of the case and the facts that gave rise to the litigation.
There are also production requests for documents around this time. This means that things like medical information about injuries, accident reports, witness statements, pictures, videos, and other relevant materials must be exchanged between both sides. In most cases, as long as the information or documents may be relevant to any facts or claims made by either side, they must be shared.
Depositions
If necessary, witnesses can be questioned under oath in an office and have to give their version of the events that started the lawsuit. Depositions are normally taken if a witness has extensive information, or the things that they will testify about will be crucial to the outcome of the case. The deposition does not become formal evidence, but personal injury attorneys can use the information to guide their trial or settlement strategies.
Assistance after an accident
There are accident attorneys who help clients in Port Allen and other areas throughout the state of Louisiana. Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf is an experienced firm that handles all aspects of injury lawsuits.
Firm contact info:
Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf
3960 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-343-2205
www.mlhlaw.com
