What are the steps involved in a personal injury trial?

Personal injury trials involve several steps for a plaintiff to seek damages for physical or mental injuries sustained due to another’s negligence. In New Jersey, the process starts with the filing of a complaint. The complaint must provide details about the nature of the accident, such as where and when it occurred, the cause of accident, and the damages or hurts suffered as a result. This is served to the person or company accused of the wrongdoing. After this, the defendant must answer or respond to the complaint. The defendant typically denies responsibility and may provide legal defenses for why they are not liable. Next, a period of discovery begins. This is when both parties can exchange relevant evidence and conduct investigations into the facts of the case. Throughout this process, each party may make requests for documents, take depositions, or interview witnesses. Once discovery is complete, the parties must decide whether to settle the case or proceed to trial. A settlement is advantageous if the parties have reached an agreement and want to avoid the time and costs associated with a trial. If a settlement is not possible, the case will proceed to trial. At the trial, the plaintiff must prove their claims with evidence and testimony. Each party is allowed to present their evidence and call witnesses to testify on their behalf. This includes expert witnesses to testify about the nature of the injuries or damages. After both parties present their evidence, the jury will deliberate and make a verdict. The jury will decide whether the defendant is responsible and will then award a damages amount to the plaintiff. The court will then enter a judgment based on the jury’s verdict.

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