1.Your case will be investigated, and a Demand Package will be sent to the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer will thoroughly investigate all aspects of your case so that a clear picture of the other person’s liability and your resulting injuries can be presented to the insurance company. When the time is right, we will send a Demand Package to the at-fault party’s insurance company. This will include the financial, physical, and emotional impact that this has had on you and a monetary settlement demand. The Demand Package will provide the insurance company with the information they need to settle the claim and avoid a lawsuit.

2. What happens if the insurance company does not meet the settlement demand and the case is not settled?

If the insurance company representing the at-fault party disputes any part of the case and will not agree to a settlement in the monetary range that was outlined in the Demand Package, a decision will likely be made to file a lawsuit. The lawsuit will be brought against the person, persons, or company who caused your injuries and not against the insurance company.

In some cases, your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer may decide to wait for a period of time before filing a lawsuit to give the insurance company the opportunity to increase the settlement offer. However, in cases where the parties are significantly far apart with respect to the settlement, litigation will be necessary.

3. What are the reasons that a case does not settle with the insurance company?

There are a number of different reasons that an insurance company will not settle a case;

a. The insurance company does not agree with the monetary settlement demand.

b. The insurance company is denying liability. They believe that you or another person bear at least some responsibility for your injuries.

c. The insurance company is stalling for time hoping that the monetary settlement demand will be reduced.

d. The insurance company does not believe that you were injured as badly as claimed.

e. The insurance company has policies in which they are very hesitant to settle cases.

4. How does a lawsuit affect me?

If a lawsuit is necessary, your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer will explain in detail what will take place. The process usually involves the following steps.

a. A lawsuit will be filed in court. This is served upon the person, persons or company who caused your injuries. They are the defendant(s), the responsible parties, and you are the plaintiff.

b. The insurance company for the defendant(s) will assign a lawyer to the case and the lawyer will file a response. This will typically deny responsibility for the injuries, deny the extent of the injuries, and may seek to bring in other parties that may have been involved in the incident that caused your injuries.

c. The next step will be discovery in which both sides gather information from each other. The following are things included in the discovery process.

1. “Interrogatories” which are questions involving written answers.
2. “Depositions” which is oral testimony.
3. “Requests for production of documents” in which lawyers ask for medical reports, witness statements, medical bills, and other documents related to the case.
4. Preparation for trial with tips on how to conduct yourself.
5. The trial, if the case does not settle before the court date.

5. What are interrogatories?

Interrogatories are questions that the lawyer for the defendant will send to your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer. This will include questions regarding your complete medical history, educational history, work history, and additional information regarding your injury.

6. What is involved in a deposition?

In your deposition, the attorney for the defendant will ask you questions about your injuries, the incident, and background information about you and your family. Your answers will be taken down word for word by a court reporter. The transcript of your deposition will be read by all attorneys and representatives of the insurance company and portions of this may be used at the trial.

7. Why are depositions important?

Depositions are important because it is the first time that you will testify about your case. The defense attorney will be sizing you up. If he or she is impressed with you and your testimony, settlement before trial will be more likely. The deposition is also an excellent preparation for trial. It is also important to understand that if your testimony in the deposition is false this can be used against you in the trial.

8. What is the likelihood that my case will settle before going to trial?

Your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer will be motivated to settle the case if we can get a fair settlement for your injuries. We will also review the trial process with you if a settlement cannot be made. Getting to trial can take a year or more and could be a factor in a settlement decision. Ultimately, only a small percentage of cases proceed all the way to a trial.

9. If my case ends up going to trial, what happens in the trial?

In most cases, the trial process will go something like this:

a. The judge will open the trial by calling the lawyers, clients, and prospective jurors into the courtroom.

b. After the jury is selected (usually 6, but maybe 12), the lawyers will make opening statements. These are brief summaries of the case, so the jury has an overview before the testimony begins.

c. Your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer will present your case by calling you and other witnesses to the stand to testify. This may include your doctor, employer, friends, family, and others who can testify about the incident and your injuries.

d. After each witness has finished testifying, the lawyer for the defendant will have the opportunity to cross-examine, to ask questions of that witness.

e. After any cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer may ask the witness a few additional questions. This is called re-direct examination.

f. After your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer finishes presenting your case, the defense lawyer presents his/her case by calling witnesses for the defense. After each of these witnesses testifies your lawyer will have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.

g. After both attorneys have finished all questioning and all presentations of the evidence, the judge will ask for closing arguments. In closing arguments, the lawyers have the opportunity to summarize the case to the jury and ask for a verdict. Your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer goes first followed by the lawyer for the defense.

h. After closing arguments, the judge will instruct the jury on the law and how it should be applied to your case. The judge’s instructions are the final words heard in the case before the jury leaves the courtroom to deliberate.

i. The jury meets in a closed room. Deliberation to get to a verdict can go quickly or take hours.

j. When the jury has finishing deliberations and reached a verdict, the judge will call everyone back into the courtroom and the verdict is announced. At that point you will find out whether you won your case and if so how much money has been awarded by the jury.

10. If we win the case at trial, how long does it take to receive the money?

If you win the case and the defense attorney does not appeal, it usually takes a few weeks to a month to receive payment.

11. What happens if we lose the case?

If you lose the case your Dozier P.C., lawyer will discuss the possibility of an appeal. The appeals process is usually long and expensive, and you will be advised if this is appropriate or not.

It is important for you to have a positive attitude throughout your case, whether it is settled early, a lawsuit is filed leading to a settlement, or your case goes to trial. It is also very important that you make an active effort to recover from your injuries. Further, cooperate fully with your Dozier Law, P.C. lawyer and be honest about the details of your case with everyone involved.

The Constitution of the United States, state laws, and fairness dictate that injured victims should be compensated for injuries resulting from the negligence of a third party. This is the law, and it is on your side. Place your faith, confidence, and trust in Dozier Law, P.C. and you will obtain justice.

If you or a loved one are a victim of someone else’s negligence, you need a seasoned and knowledgeable Personal Injury Lawyer by your side. Contact Dozier Law, P.C., experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Rincon, Effingham County, Chatham County, Bulloch County, Screven County and Bryan County, Georgia. Your initial Personal Injury consultation will be no charge to you. In addition, no recovery means no fees, so if you don’t get paid, you owe us nothing.

1. What is the most important thing that I can do after an injury?
The most important thing for you to do, quite simply, is to recover from your injury. The law requires injured people to “mitigate their damages.” In other words, the law requires you to do that which is necessary to improve your physical condition and recover from your injury. For you, this may mean some, or all, of the following steps:

a. Do not miss appointments with your doctor.
Stay in touch with your doctor and be certain to maintain your appointments. If you have to cancel, notify the doctor with as much notice as possible. The words “no show” on a doctor’s record sheet can be used against you at the time of settlement or trial.

b. Attend physical therapy sessions as prescribed.
Your physician or hospital may prescribe therapy to facilitate recovery from your injury. Such a procedure is often helpful in many types of injuries including strains, sprains and other so-called “soft tissue” injuries. If physical therapy is prescribed, be sure to keep your appointments and participate actively in the process. Again, if you have to cancel an appointment, be sure to call, but try to avoid cancellation as much as possible.

c. Do what your doctor tells you to do.
If your physician prescribes certain medications, therapy exercises, or limitations on activities, be sure to follow your doctor’s orders. Failure to follow your doctor’s advice can be used against you when it comes time to settle your case or can be used against you in court if your claim proceeds to litigation.

d. Follow your doctor’s advice with respect to work and leisure activities.
If your physician advises you to rest, stay home from work, or avoid certain activities, it is important that you follow such advice. If you resist your doctor’s advice and do activities that have been limited, it will not only prevent a speedy recovery, but could also affect the legal aspects of your case. Even though staying out of work may have an impact financially, it is important that you follow such advice so that your recovery will be enhanced. Your attorney will attempt to recover lost earnings.

2. How do I pay my medical bills?
Your lawyer will discuss the payment of your medical bills in detail with you. In summary, your medical bills may be paid by one of the following methods:

a. Your own health insurance from your employment benefits package.
b. Your own health insurance that you may have paid for personally.
c. Health insurance obtained by your spouse for your benefit or by your parents if you are under a certain age and living with such parents.
d. Medical payments insurance coverage from your own automobile policy if you were driving your automobile and were involved in an automobile collision.
e. Medical payments insurance coverage from the person you were riding with if you were a passenger in an automobile that has automobile insurance coverage.
f. Your own personal funds if you were not insured and are able to pay medical bills as they are incurred.
g. Workers’ compensation insurance if your injury occurred while you were working on the job and the injury occurred as a result of your employment.
h. The liability insurance coverage for the person, persons or company who caused your injuries. Such insurance coverage will most likely be paid at the time of settlement rather than during the period that you incur such medical bills.
i. Other possible sources.

Depending on the nature of your case, your medical bills may be covered by any of the above possibilities. If there is no insurance coverage, your bills will be paid at a later date when and if your case settles.

3. Will the doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities wait for payment if I am unable to pay my bills as they are incurred?
In most cases where there is no immediate method to pay medical bills as they are incurred, many doctors, hospitals, and other medical facilities will wait to be paid for their services when the case is finally resolved by way of settlement or verdict in court. It is important to let medical providers know early in the process if you have no insurance or financial means to pay medical bills as they are incurred.

4. How does my lawyer make sure that the doctors and medical facilities will get paid?
Most lawyers have a policy of withholding money from the settlement or court verdict to pay doctors and medical facilities. Many doctors and medical facilities require that the patient/client sign a form (usually called a subrogation or lien form) which allows the attorney to withhold enough money to pay medical bills directly from the insurance settlement proceeds.

5. Why won’t the insurance company for the person or company who caused my injuries automatically pay my medical bills as they occur?
Most insurance companies for the tortfeasor (the person, persons or company who caused your injuries) will not automatically pay medical bills as they occur. There are many reasons for this. One reason is that they do not want to spend a substantial amount of money for medical bills and then be faced with an unreasonable or excessive demand at the time of final settlement. In other words, they do not want to expend a substantial amount of money on medical bills and then be faced with the chance of defending a lawsuit. Secondly, most insurance companies want to conclude or settle the claim with one sum of money. Therefore, most liability insurance companies will wait for the letter of demand from your attorney and then try to conclude the case all at once with one payment.

6. How do I keep track of all of my bills?
One of the most important things for you to do is to keep an accurate record of your medical bills. This is how you do it:

a. Ask for a medical bill each time you see a doctor or facility.
Maintain a record of your visits and make sure that you obtain a medical bill for each visit to your doctor, hospital, physical therapist, or medical facility.

b. Save all prescription bills.
Be sure to save copies of your prescriptions and drugstore charges for medicine that you purchase as a result of your injury.

c. Keep a separate chart with dates, amounts of medical bills, and purchases of medication.
Maintain a separate record which has the date of the medical service or purchase of medication, the amount charged, and how the bill was paid (by insurance, your own personal funds, etc.). This requirement is very important because it will be your actual record of medical bills incurred as a result of your injury.

d. Be sure your lawyer receives a copy of each medical bill, prescription bill, or other bill related to your injury.
It is important for your lawyer to receive copies of all your medical bills as well as a copy of your medical bill summary when your case is ready for settlement. Even though your lawyer may receive copies of bills directly from the medical facilities, a double-check process will assure that your claim settles for the maximum value.

e. Keep a record of medical bills even if they are processed through a health insurance carrier.
Even if your medical bills are paid by a health insurance company or your employer, you must still maintain copies for yourself and be sure to get copies to your lawyer.

7. In summary, what are the most important things that I can do to help my lawyer with the medical aspects of my case?

a. Keep all doctor’s appointments.
b. Attend all physical therapy sessions as prescribed.
c. Do what your doctor tells you to do.
d. Keep copies of all medical bills for visits to your doctor, physical therapist, hospital or other medical facility. Save all prescription bills.
e. Provide your lawyer with copies of each bill.

Do your part so that your lawyer can do their part to provide you with a fair settlement for your injury.

If you or a loved one are a victim of someone else’s negligence, you need a seasoned and knowledgeable Car Accident Lawyer by your side. Contact Dozier Law, P.C., experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Rincon, Effingham County, Chatham County, Bulloch County, Screven County and Bryan County, Georgia. Your initial Personal Injury consultation will be no charge to you. In addition, no recovery means no fees, so if you don’t get paid, you owe us nothing.