Alabama Personal Injury Attorney Guide to the Personal Injury Lawsuit Process

Initial Investigation: When an Alabama personal injury lawyer first becomes involved in a matter they will immediately begin their initial investigation. This investigation starts with securing evidence. For example, if someone is injured by a product (products liability lawsuit) then the subject product must be secured so that it can be inspected and examined to determine the exact nature of the product's defect. Photographs should be taken of the product, accident scene, automobiles involved and injuries to document what occurred and how it has affected the victim. Witnesses should be interviewed as soon as possible as stories change and memories fade over time. Often expert witnesses may be contacted early on in the investigation process to assist the personal injury attorney in determining what further investigation is necessary and whether a valid legal claim exists. For example, in the context of a car accident case, an accident reconstruction expert may be contacted early on to assist the personal injury lawyer in determining the speeds of the vehicles and the angle of impact. All these aspects of the initial investigation into a personal injury lawsuit are critical to not only determining whether a valid legal claim exists, but to maximizing that claim.