What to Expect if Your Illinois Injury Case Goes to Trial

Being injured in an accident is a difficult experience, so it’s unfortunate that the aftermath also has to be a struggle. You will need to file an injury case in order to receive payment for the damages you’ve sustained in an accident you didn’t cause.

Filing a case can be difficult in the best of circumstances, but it can be more stressful if your case ends up going to trial.

Going to court can be scary for people who’ve never been in a courtroom before, but the more you prepare beforehand the better your experience will be. Your attorney will help you understand what to expect long before you ever step into the courtroom.

Here are some of the basics on what the process is like for an injury case that goes to trial.

The Trial Process for a Personal Injury Case

When your personal injury case goes to trial, you can expect the process to be similar to every other type of case that goes to court. The basic process is outlined for you below.

Opening Statements

For an accident case, both sides will get to present their side of the story. Your attorney will present your side, explain why you weren’t at fault for the accident, and why you deserve compensation. The other side may try to minimize the blame on the defendant and try to place some blame on you.

Evidence Presentation

Next, both sides will get a chance to present evidence and challenge the other side’s evidence. Some common types of evidence in injury cases are photos of the accident scene and your injuries, witness statements including your own statement, medical evidence of your injury, video surveillance, and accident scene expert testimony.

Closing Statements

After both sides have presented evidence and cross-examined witnesses, they both get a chance to summarize their case and once again explain how the evidence supports their side of the story. Your lawyer will demonstrate how the evidence proves the other party was to blame for your injuries and why they owe you damages.

Jury Deliberation

If a jury is involved in your case, they will have the chance to deliberate and determine if you are owed an award for damages and how much you’re owed. They will then come up with a figure that they believe adequately compensates you for your accident, injuries, and related suffering.

Make the Call to an Illinois Injury Attorney

Whether your injury case goes to trial, the injury process can be challenging. An attorney can assist you in winning a settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance company, and they can take your case to court if needed. You don’t have to deal with the personal injury process alone—an attorney can greatly assist you with your case.

Reach out to Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC to discuss your case with an attorney during a free initial case assessment. Call 815-656-4600 or complete the online submission form below.