You’ve just been in an automobile accident. You’re hurt, your car is damaged, and you’re probably not goin to make it to work for a while. You hired an attorney to help you sort through things, but now you are trying to understand all the legal terms.
This quick guide will help you become a little more fluent in legalese.
Claim
Most at-fault parties have some form of insurance on their vehicles; making a claim means opening a file with the at-fault party’s insurance company, stating you are hurt and are entitled to compensation.
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Lien
Accidents usually mean bills, and someone has to pay those bills. The driver at fault for the accident is typically the one who pays. Hospitals will often assert a lien with your attorney or the insurance company to be paid out of any awarded settlement money. If your health insurance pays these bills for you, they may also assert a lien in order to be repaid.
Demand
This is usually sent after medical treatment is completed. A demand is a formal statement to the insurance company stating the extent of your injuries, and an amount of money owed to you.
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Settlement
Settlements are agreements between parties on an amount of compensation for an injury. But don’t let the term fool you; often times you can get full value for your claim even though you are “settling.”
Filing Suit
In many cases, a settlement is reached after a demand has been submitted. When neither party can agree on fault, then it becomes necessary to file suit. A legal document is filed with a court of law. Filing suit means to petition a court of law to order the opposing party to pay the requested amount of money. This is also the beginning of the litigation process.
Prescribe
The deadline to make a claim after an incident varies from injury to accident. If you don’t meet the deadline, the right to make a claim will prescribe or die.
Trial
If parties are unable to come to an agreement on their own, they can go to trial. This takes place in a court room, where both sides say their version of events in front of a judge or jury. Evidence is presented, witnesses are questioned, and the attorneys argue. The judge or jury then determines fault and damages.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to an automobile accident, contact the personal injury attorneys of Morris Bart today. You can fill out the free case evaluation form, Live Chat with us, or call. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and we have offices across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
