What Happens After I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

Once you hire an attorney, the first step is an investigation into what happened. Your attorney gathers the police report, photographs, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage, and begins identifying every insurance policy that may apply to your claim.

Immediate Next Steps

You want a firm that understands the important of swift action to start your claim off on the right foot and preserve evidence. Strong evidence is often the difference between sufficient financial support moving forward or not. Some things you should expect include:

• Your attorney sends letters of representation to all relevant insurance companies, so adjusters must contact your attorney directly rather than you.
• Any pending property damage issues, like vehicle repair or rental car coverage, are typically addressed early and separately from your injury claim.
• Your attorney requests your medical records and bills as treatment continues, keeping a running file rather than waiting until the end.

While You Continue Treatment

You focus on your medical care while your attorney monitors your treatment and communicates with the insurance company as needed. This period can last weeks or months, depending on the nature of your injuries, since settling before you reach maximum medical improvement risks underselling a claim if you later require more treatment than expected.

The Demand and Negotiation Phase

Once treatment concludes or your condition stabilizes, your attorney prepares a demand package documenting your medical treatment, expenses, lost income, and the impact of the injury, and sends it to the insurance company along with a demand for a specific settlement amount. Negotiations follow, and many cases resolve at this stage without a lawsuit ever being filed.

How Long the Process Typically Takes

There’s no set timeline that applies to every case. A claim with clear liability, moderate injuries, and a short treatment period might resolve in a few months. A case involving serious or permanent injuries usually takes longer, not because anyone is dragging their feet, but because settling accurately requires knowing the full scope of your medical needs first. Rushing a case to closure before your treatment is complete almost always works against you, so while it can be frustrating to wait, that time is generally being used to build a stronger claim rather than lost to delay.

If a Lawsuit Becomes Necessary

If the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, your attorney can file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. This moves the case into a discovery phase involving written questions, depositions, and potentially expert testimony, though most cases still settle before reaching trial.