If you have been a victim of negligence and are planning to file for damages, then you will need to hire the services of a competent Personal Injury Lawyer Etobicoke ON. Even though he/she would guide you through the various processes involved in the lawsuit, you should be aware about the principal steps that are involved in it.
Pleadings
When you hire your Personal Injury Lawyer in Etobicoke,you discuss your case with him/her and decide the course of action. Your lawyer will begin your lawsuit with “statement of claim” and you will thenceforth be referred to as “plaintiff.” The statement of claim will mention the main allegations on which your lawsuit is based.This statement of claim is served to the “defendant.” The defendant will then, with the help of his/her lawyer, set out the reasons why your lawsuit will be opposed.These statements of claim and defense are known as “pleadings.” This exchange of pleadings marks the first stage of the lawsuit.
Productions
The next step is where your Personal Injury Lawyer in Etobicoke will exchange all relevant documents and records that are not protected by “privilege.” Many times your medical records and financial and employment records will be included along with the other productions.
Discovery
“Examinations for discovery” is the next important step in the lawsuit. These are the question and answer sessions that are carried out under oath. Each party is questioned in relevance to the lawsuit.The Personal Injury Lawyer in Etobicoke of the party being questioned can object to them if he/she feels the questions are inappropriate.
Post Discovery Productions
After the step of discovery, there is further exchange of productions. Usually these productions are in response to requests that had been made at the time of discoveries.Depending upon your lawsuit, “expert reports” are exchanged. These reports comment on the various issues related to your lawsuit.If you and the defendant do not agree on the production issues and the expert reports, then there can be court attendances or “motions” for sorting out the issues.
Mediation Or Pretrial Conference
After the steps of discovery and post-discovery productions, the perfect Personal Injury Lawyer Etobicoke ON and the plaintiff’s lawyer will proceed towards mediation.If the meeting takes place in front of the judge, then it is known as settlement conference. If your lawsuit cannot be settled at this level, then it proceeds towards trial.
Trial
Depending upon the nature of your case, the trial can take place either in front of the judge only or in front of the judge and the jury together. This can take a few weeks to a few months depending upon the nature of the case.
Appeal
After the trial, if you are not happy with certain issues of your lawsuit, you can always appeal in the higher court. The whole process is repeated but at a higher level of court. Your lawyer will represent the claims and take appropriate measures such that your case gets visibility.
When you hire your Personal Injury Lawyer in Etobicoke,you discuss your case with him/her and decide the course of action. Your lawyer will begin your lawsuit with “statement of claim” and you will thenceforth be referred to as “plaintiff.” The statement of claim will mention the main allegations on which your lawsuit is based.This statement of claim is served to the “defendant.” The defendant will then, with the help of his/her lawyer, set out the reasons why your lawsuit will be opposed.These statements of claim and defense are known as “pleadings.” This exchange of pleadings marks the first stage of the lawsuit.
Productions
The next step is where your Personal Injury Lawyer in Etobicoke will exchange all relevant documents and records that are not protected by “privilege.” Many times your medical records and financial and employment records will be included along with the other productions.
Discovery
“Examinations for discovery” is the next important step in the lawsuit. These are the question and answer sessions that are carried out under oath. Each party is questioned in relevance to the lawsuit.The Personal Injury Lawyer in Etobicoke of the party being questioned can object to them if he/she feels the questions are inappropriate.
Post Discovery Productions
After the step of discovery, there is further exchange of productions. Usually these productions are in response to requests that had been made at the time of discoveries.Depending upon your lawsuit, “expert reports” are exchanged. These reports comment on the various issues related to your lawsuit.If you and the defendant do not agree on the production issues and the expert reports, then there can be court attendances or “motions” for sorting out the issues.
Mediation Or Pretrial Conference
After the steps of discovery and post-discovery productions, the perfect Personal Injury Lawyer Etobicoke ON and the plaintiff’s lawyer will proceed towards mediation.If the meeting takes place in front of the judge, then it is known as settlement conference. If your lawsuit cannot be settled at this level, then it proceeds towards trial.
Trial
Depending upon the nature of your case, the trial can take place either in front of the judge only or in front of the judge and the jury together. This can take a few weeks to a few months depending upon the nature of the case.
Appeal
After the trial, if you are not happy with certain issues of your lawsuit, you can always appeal in the higher court. The whole process is repeated but at a higher level of court. Your lawyer will represent the claims and take appropriate measures such that your case gets visibility.