Personal injury cases involve four basic stages: pleadings, discovery, pre-trial motions, and trial.
PLEADINGS STAGE
The first stage of the case is the pleadings stage.
The pleadings stage begins with the filing and service of the Summons and Complaint. The Summons provides all named parties with notice of the lawsuit. It tells the parties where and when the case will be heard. It also sets out the time limit within which the Defendant must respond to the allegations made by the Plaintiff. The Complaint provides an outline of the Plaintiff’s case against the Defendant. It outlines who the Plaintiff is suing, why they are suing, and what they are seeking in terms of damages. Once the Summons and Complaint are filed, copies must be delivered to all parties to the lawsuit. This is known as Service of Process.
Once the Defendant is served, they typically respond by filing and serving a responsive document called an Answer. The Answer addresses every allegation made by the Plaintiff in the Complaint. It may also set forth various defenses to the allegations. These defenses, often referred to as “affirmative defenses”, are legal reasons why the defendant should not be held liable for the plaintiff’s injuries.
Contact a Qualified Litigation Attorney
If you have a case where a lawsuit needs to be filed, it’s best bring in professional help. At Burr Injury Law, we have nearly 20 years of recognized litigation experience. If you need help with a lawsuit as a result of a car accident, we can help. Call us at 720-637-8464 or email info@BurrInjuryLaw.com.