How to Go Through a Pretrial in a Personal Injury Case in West Virginia Like a Pro

How to Go Through a Pretrial in a Personal Injury Case in West Virginia Like a Pro

Going through a personal injury case is not something anyone looks forward to or expects. However, if it is happening, you need to prepare for it, starting from the pretrial to the end of the case.

The pretrial typically comes up after the initial appearance after the hearing and is the first opportunity to get police reports. “The pretrial stage can be overwhelming and confusing, especially if you are doing it for the first time,” says attorney Geoff Brown of Bordas and Bordas Attorneys, PLLC. This article outlines the steps you can take to prepare for the pretrial in a personal injury case.

Get a Lawyer to Walk You Through Every Step of the Legal Process

First, contact your attorney if you have one or get one if you do not. You do not want to wait until the pretrial starts to start discussing the case with your attorney. Therefore, ensure you consult an attorney as soon as possible to ensure you cover much ground before the pretrial starts.

Moreover, there are important pieces of information about the case that your lawyer needs to review before the pretrial. Additionally, you would obtain police reports before the pretrial, which you can discuss with your attorney beforehand. Getting a lawyer long before the pretrial helps to ensure you are well-informed and prepared for the process.

Journal Key Events That You Think May Come in Handy at Any Point In the Trial

As the case progresses, you might want to talk about it, but that would be a bad idea. However, while you cannot talk about the details of the case with anyone, you can write a journal about it. Therefore, get a journal and detail everything you can remember about the accident, including where it happened and the witnesses present.

Also, you can jot down the statements you gave the officers at the scene as well as the timeline of the events. These things you jot down can be vital pieces of evidence that your attorney can use to build you a strong case. Note that there are too few details that you cannot jot down, and avoid relying only on official reports.

Read and Review Police Reports to Ascertain the Accuracy of the Content

You need to review the pieces of evidence you want to use beforehand to ensure their accuracy, including police reports. One of the advantages of consulting a lawyer before the pretrial conference is that you may get access to official police reports.

When you receive the reports, be sure to read and review them thoroughly to ensure that everything stated there is the truth. Aside from the accurate information, note the inaccuracies you find because they can also be valuable to your case.

Note How the Case Will Affect Your Career

If you are the defendant in a personal injury case in West Virginia, you must know how getting convicted will affect your career. If, for example, you are facing a DUI-related personal injury case, a conviction or even just an arrest can greatly impact your career. Whether you are a real estate agent, teacher, medical professional, or any other licensed professional, your career can be affected.

Typically, licensed professionals in West Virginia are required by law to have a fingerprint clearance card. Getting convicted of a crime may make such an individual ineligible for clearance, and you may need to report to your regulating agency. If you are not sure of the collateral consequences being convicted will have on your career, your attorney can explain it to you.

Have Your Calendar Ready to Highlight the Dates for the Court Sessions

The duration of a personal injury case depends on the complexity of the case, among other factors. To ensure you are well-prepared for the ride, you need to have your calendar on hand.

Your calendar will contain subsequent court dates after the pretrial conference, helping you to align them with your schedule. Coordinating your schedule with the court and your lawyer will help you avoid inconveniences and ensure you do not miss any court appearances.

Conclusion

A pretrial conference in a West Virginia personal injury case is merely a meeting between your attorney and the defendants. To ensure a smooth ride throughout the process, ensure you and your attorney are on the same page.