Posted on August 31, 2009 by Bryan Fears

What happens during a personal injury lawsuit?

Your Texas personal injury lawsuit begins with an initial consultation with your lawyer. Most personal injury lawyers, such as our team here at Fears | Nachawati, will provide you with free legal advice during this first meeting.

 

The first meeting is a time for your lawyer to get know the facts of your case. You will tell your lawyer about the accident and show them any documents, such as police reports, that you have.

 

If your Texas personal injury lawyer decides that you have a good case, the next step is to contact the legal representative of the person or entity responsible for the accident.

 

In many instances, your case will be settled out of court with no need for a trial. If a settlement cannot be reached, however, your personal injury lawyer will move forward with preparations for trial in accordance with Texas law.

 

If your personal injury lawsuit goes to trial, there will be a deposition, which is a time for the defendant’s attorney to ask you questions about the accident. Your personal injury lawyer will thoroughly prepare you for the deposition by telling you what questions to expect and going over your answers with you. Your attorney will depose the defendant as well.

 

The good news for you as the accident victim is that your Texas personal injury lawsuit will generally require very little participation on your part. Your attorney handles all of the paperwork as well as the communications with the party against whom you are bringing the suit.

 

If you have been injured in an accident, contact us today for free legal assistance. At Fears | Nachawati, we provide accident victims with a no charge initial consultation during which we will determine whether you have a case and will explain how the personal injury lawsuit process works. Just email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584 for a free consultation.

 

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Posted on August 21, 2009 by Bryan Fears

What is a structured settlement?

Texas personal injury lawsuits are often settled without going to trial, and sometimes these cases are settled for a large sum of money. Many people might assume that the next step is for the defendant to write the plaintiff a check for the amount of the settlement and then it’s case closed.

 

However, it is not always possible, or beneficial, for a settlement to be paid out as a lump sum. Instead, the parties can choose to arrange for the settlement to be paid as a series of smaller installment payments over a set number of years. This is known as a structured settlement.

 

The parties to the lawsuit have a great deal of freedom and flexibility in how they choose to structure the settlement. They can decide for themselves how big each payment will be and how often the payments will be made.

 

A structured settlement can be a very beneficial arrangement for all parties involved. For example, if set up a certain way, a structured settlement can greatly reduce the amount of taxes the plaintiff owes on their settlement. In some cases, the payments are tax-free.

 

There are other reasons why a structured settlement might be the best choice for the plaintiff in a Texas personal injury lawsuit. A guaranteed, long-term source of income is one important benefit. If your injuries, for instance, require ongoing medical care, a structured settlement will ensure that there is a steady flow of money coming in to cover your expenses.

 

An experienced Texas personal injury lawyer can advise you on whether a structured settlement is the best option for your circumstances. In fact, you should always speak with an attorney before accepting any settlement offer to be certain that you are receiving full and fair compensation for your injuries.

 

To receive free legal advice from a Texas personal injury lawyer, contact Fears | Nachawati today. You can email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584.

 

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