Prior to trial, a Louisville injury lawyer must go through the entire court and discovery process. This means they will ask legal questions called interrogatories that are sent in written form to the opposing party. They may also take many depositions from the opposing party, witnesses, treating physicians, and any expert witnesses. Finally, the attorney must collect all the evidence and prepare exhibits to show to the jury.
One important thing a person should not do is get on social media or Facebook and make any statements regarding the upcoming trial. It is very important to keep a low profile and let the jury process take care of it.
Pre-trial Evidence Collection
In Kentucky, because an individual can recover four big categories including their past and future medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, it is important to gather up the information and evidence necessary to prove each category to its fullest.
Have certified copies of all of the past medical bills. That includes medical bills from the various facilities and any doctor groups that might be involved. For future medical bills, a physician must testify under oath that based on their training and experience, the injured party will require certain treatment in the future.
When it comes to lost wages or impairments earned income, expert economists and vocational experts are hired to help calculate the economic impact of the injury.
And finally, for evidence on pain and suffering, it is important to use family members and friends who know the person to tell the jury how this injury affects their life. One of the helpful things a person can do is to make a diary about what life was like before the accident and what life is like now. As with anything, a picture is worth a thousand words. Photographic evidence, family reunions, or other things that show a person enjoying their life and then pictures afterwards to show that they are no longer able to do those things are very helpful.
Long v Short Pre-trial Period
Usually, when there is a short pretrial period, the benefit is that the injured party gets to a resolution quicker. A short pretrial period is helpful only when fault is not at issue and it is simply a damages case.
If you have a long pretrial period, your attorney has all the time necessary to get your case in the best possible shape. You only get one chance to present it to the jury and you want to make sure you put your best foot forward. Having a long pretrial period allows for that.
