The goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to help a plaintiff receive compensation for their loss. It often covers reasonable medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, emotional distress, legal costs, and sometimes attorney fees. These injuries result from the careless, inappropriate, or negligent behavior of another party and is more formally called tort law. The most common cases involve auto accidents or wrecks. It is important to understand the importance of hiring a lawyer in these situations.
Types of Personal Injury Claims
In most circumstances, any legal case that involves an injury to the plaintiff’s mind or body, caused by another party, will constitute personal injury. Some of the most common cases handled by personal injury lawyers include:
- Traffic/Auto accidents
- Cases of malpractice
- Defective product cases
- Nursing home abuse
- Wrongful death
- Slip and fall accidents
Personal injury lawyers organize a case from the start, all the way through to an appeal. They perform various important tasks, such as investigating claims, researching case law, screening potential clients, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, drafting pleadings, formulating legal theories, preparing and advocating at trial, and counseling clients.
Why hire a lawyer at the outset?
Although legal representation may not be the first thing on your mind, there are various advantages to hiring a lawyer immediately following an injury. Insurance companies will begin asking questions to both you and the other party. You will need advice on how to properly handle this process. In some cases, a lawyer can answer questions on your behalf, taking some of the pressure away from you and allowing you to focus on speeding up your own recovery.
Lawyers are also essential for making sure you do not accidentally say something to the police or insurance providers that may somehow harm your case.
Although the law does not necessarily require you to hire a lawyer to help fight your personal injury case and regain compensation, it is always a wise idea to at least consult with a professional before you decide to handle these complex matters alone. The smallest injury can easily turn into a more serious, chronic problem that could leave you wishing you had retained an attorney form the start. (The statute of limitations for personal injury cases is only two years from the injury. If you wait longer to go to court, you may find your right to compensation is lost.)
A lawyer will help to guide you through a difficult time in your life, providing honest advice as to whether or not you really need legal help to deal with your problems. In some cases, an attorney may even recommend you accept a settlement that has been offered to you. Whatever the circumstances, a lawyer in a personal injury case can be the difference between prolonged, unnecessary suffering, and achieving the justice you deserve.
(The Gouner Law Office provides a full spectrum of legal services, including personal injury work.)
Written by: Benjamin Roussey
One Response
I appreciate how you said that lawyers are also essential for making sure you do not accidentally say something to the police or insurance providers that may somehow harm your case. One of my coworkers had an accident and he filed a claim through his insurance but he hasn’t received a response yet. I will tell him to contact a personal injury attorney so that he can have someone with the right expertise to fight his case.