Litigation Lawyers in Princeton

Residents of Princeton, West Virginia who suffer legal wrongs are normally legally entitled to compensation for harm they incurred as a result. This compensation is normally obtained by filing a lawsuit.

If you're contemplating filing a lawsuit, there are several things you need to consider, and it is not a decision to be made lightly. You should not file a lawsuit without seeking the advice of a Princeton, West Virginia civil litigation attorney first.

Once you have retained an attorney in Princeton, West Virginia, he or she will be able to help you devise a strategy on how to proceed, which will hopefully maximize your chances of success in your lawsuit. Your lawyer can also provide you a rough idea of how much the lawsuit is likely to cost, taking into account court fees, expert witness fees, and other costs.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Princeton, West Virginia

Consultation With Your Attorney: Before filing any case in Princeton, West Virginia, you should talk with a local attorney. Your Princeton, West Virginia attorney will be able to advise you on the merits of your lawsuit, and your chances of success.

Drafting the complaint: In Princeton, West Virginia, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the initial thing you normally have to do is draft a complaint. The complaint is a document that contains all of the allegations you're making against the defendant (the person whom you are suing). It normally must allege all of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action, though in some systems, very few facts are strictly required to be alleged. It also usually has, at the end, a "prayer" (request) for relief. This final section tells the court what type of relief the plaintiff wants, should the court rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving the Defendant: When you have determined that you want to file a lawsuit in Princeton, West Virginia, and have drafted the complaint, your next important step is to file the complaint with the court, and serve it on the defendant. The defendant must be given at least several weeks' notice that they're being sued, and as much time to review the complaint. This is a matter of general fairness and due process, and allows the defendant to hire a lawyer and get to work on a defense. The law requires that the defendant be served in a few certain ways. The initial choice is to give it to them in person. This has to be done by a person who does not have any direct involvement in the lawsuit. If that isn't possible, the defendant can be served by giving the complaint to another adult member of their household; this is called substituted service.

Await The Response: The defendant has a specific amount of time to respond to your lawsuit, once they confirm that they've been served in Princeton, West Virginia. The defendant will likely respond with an answer to your complaint. An answer is a document in which the defendant admits or denies the specific factual allegations made by the plaintiff. Usually, the defendant will admit the allegations that are not seriously in dispute (for instance, if the lawsuit concerns a car accident, they'll probably admit that an accident did, in fact, take place), but deny the more serious allegations (they'll probably deny that they were responsible for the accident). If the defendant fails to respond within a specific period of time, they are in "default," and basically lose the case automatically.

How Can A Princeton, West Virginia Tort Lawyer Help?

This simple outline is meant to give you a basic idea of what goes into filing a lawsuit in Princeton, West Virginia, but it is by no means a comprehensive guide.

Therefore, it's always a good idea to talk with a Princeton, West Virginia litigation attorney if you are contemplating filing a lawsuit against a person or company.