If the case doesn't settle, then a jury will be selected. A car accident trial typically follows these steps: Jury Selection: If it's a jury trial, both sides participate in selecting jurors.Based on what happened, did the defendant commit negligence? In Suffolk and Nassau Counties, the trials are automatically bifurcated (split into two parts). Were you injured in a car accident? Learn more about what to expect when filing a lawsuit, and how long it may take for a settlement to be reached. The jury will determine whether the defendant is civilly liable for the car accident. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are a leading cause of both injury and death in the United States. Your lawyer can recommend that you take your case to court and let the jury decide the matter. The agency will give you a claim number.