If you’re injured in an accident, coping with physical pain and financial concerns (medical bills, lost wages, property damage) can be overwhelming. You need help from someone who can help you navigate the unfamiliar world of personal injury law to get the compensation you deserve. A personal injury lawyer can assist with filing the actual claim, conducting a thorough investigation, negotiating with insurance companies and preparing for trial if necessary.
While Hollywood depicts lawyers with gritty detective work to uncover the key evidence in a case, in reality it’s often much more complicated than that. The best injury lawyers will take the time to listen to your story, asking questions as needed to understand the entire scope of the accident. They will review medical records, and may interview experts, such as physicians or forensic pathologists. They will also be familiar with the types of damages that are available for your particular type of case. In many cases you are entitled to non-economic and punitive damages in addition to your monetary losses.
Your injury lawyer will review the facts of your case and determine how much you are owed in a settlement or at trial. They will take into account the cost of future care, your past and present loss of earnings, the cost of rehabilitative therapies, any permanent or disfiguring injuries you have suffered and other related expenses. They will also consider your quality of life and the extent to which your injuries have affected your daily activities. It’s important that you discuss this information with your attorney so they can factor it into their evaluation of your case.
In many cases, a person’s injuries are caused by the negligent or reckless conduct of others. Your injury lawyer will investigate who might be liable for your losses and work to hold them accountable. This includes the drivers of vehicles involved in your accident, employers of workers who were hurt on the job, manufacturers of defective products and other parties as appropriate under the law.
They will also be familiar with the legal doctrine of vicarious liability. For example, in a medical malpractice claim, they will be able to hold the clinic that employed the physician responsible for their actions as well, even though the individual doctor was responsible for the accident.
Finally, they will move to preserve and protect the evidence in your case. This may include arranging for any products that are part of your case to be tested without being destroyed by the defendants or their attorneys.
Ultimately, most personal injury cases are settled outside of court. However, on occasion a fair settlement cannot be reached and the matter must be taken to trial. Having an injury lawyer with trial experience can be invaluable to the success of your case, so you should always seek out that type of representation. They can help you stand up to the insurance company tactics they use to deny or reduce your claims and give you the best chance of a successful outcome.