How to Optimize Process Serving Strategies in Personal Injury Cases

The success of any personal injury (PI) case hinges on securing jurisdiction and promptly initiating discovery. While serving a summons may seem like a straightforward administrative task, a flawed or delayed process can lead to costly dismissals, missed deadlines, and severe prejudice to your client’s claim.

For personal injury attorneys and paralegals, process serving for personal injury cases isn’t just about delivery. You need to consider it as a strategic necessity. Pro Legal MN, a professional process server service, has the tips you need to optimize your process serving strategy for PI cases. 

Leverage Professional Expertise for Compliance

Personal injury litigation is highly procedural, and there are unforgiving rules governing service. A professional process server, such as the ones at Pro Legal, is essential for reducing compliance risk. Professional process servers are skilled at many different aspects of their job, including: 

• A deep understanding of jurisdictional nuances, such as delivery methods for different states, due diligence requirements, etc. 

• Avoiding technical dismissals by failing to serve a defendant properly.

• Ensuring affidavits of service are detailed, legally accurate, and filed promptly.

Utilize Skip Tracing & Due Diligence

In personal injury cases, the defendants or witnesses may be uncooperative, have moved, or be actively evading service. A professional process server can utilize investigative techniques to locate the individual. 

Some ways your process server can assist include:

• Utilizing skip tracing to complete pre-service due diligence.

• Strategically attempting service, such as delivering early in the morning or late in the evening, when the individual is more likely to be home.

• Confirming the identity of the person being served and their legal capacity to accept service.

Gathering Evidence & Intelligence

Professional process servers can be the eyes and ears of your firm by providing intelligence that can be vital for your litigation strategy. For example, they can provide observational evidence, such as any details that might contradict the defendant’s claims.

When legally permissible, a process server can take photos or video of the service location and the subject being served. This can be visual documentation that adds undeniable credibility to the affidavit and any other discovery motions. 

Additionally, a process server can provide a property assessment, such as the type of residence, the neighborhood, and the general surroundings. These details can provide insights for asset discovery and lifestyle assessment. 

Leverage Technology for Speed & Transparency

Modern process serving firms utilize technology that drastically improves communication and workflow efficiency. Process servers can provide real-time status updates through a secure online portal. This helps you track service attempts and eliminate unnecessary phone calls. 

E-filing can generate and file the Affidavit of Service directly with the court system, which cuts down on administrative time and ensures your firm meets strict court deadlines. This also helps with streamlining document delivery, as documents can be uploaded directly to the online portal. 

Streamline Your Personal Injury Cases with Pro Legal

By prioritizing process serving, your firm can transform this step into a powerful investigative and compliance tool. The professional process servers at Pro Legal provide essential services to your firm, including e-filing, skip tracing, real-time communication, and precise court filings. 

Ready to help your firm cut through administrative tasks? Request Service of a Personal Injury claim today.