Pretrial procedures refer to the various legal steps in a personal injury lawsuit taken before a trial begins. These procedures aim to gather evidence, exchange information, and facilitate settlement negotiations between the parties involved. One key pretrial procedure is discovery, where both sides have the opportunity to request and obtain evidence from one another.
Another important pretrial procedure is the filing of motions. These are written requests made to the court that seek a specific action or decision. Common types of motions in personal injury cases include motions to dismiss, which ask the court to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence or other legal issues, and motions for summary judgment, which request the court to rule in favor of one party based on the available evidence. Motions can significantly impact the outcome of a case, as they can lead to the case being dismissed, settled, or proceeding to trial.