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Are you the recent victim of a personal injury accident? If you are, then you are not alone. According to the National Safety Council, there were over 47 million injuries in the US since 2017.
Are your friends and family suggesting that you hire a personal injury lawyer to help you handle a personal injury claim? You can find out more here on what do personal injury lawyers do and if one is right for you. Then you can concentrate on healing and recovering your physical health.
Personal Injury Claim Defined
Victims injured as a result of another person’s careless act can file a personal injury claim to recover their property or medical expenses. Personal injury claims can include car accidents, dog bites or accidents at work. The trial courts provide a structure where victims can recoup any losses with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer represents accident victims who can prove their injury was the result of someone else’s negligence. Personal injury lawyers are also sometimes called accident injury lawyers who specialize in tort law.
These legal professionals help victims navigate negotiation settlements with insurance companies. They can also guide them through the justice system.
What do Personal Injury Lawyers Do?
There are many specialized tasks and services an accident injury attorney can do for their clients. Some of these tasks include:
Gather Evidence
The first thing a personal injury lawyer will do to build your case is gather evidence about your accident. Some of this evidence includes police or workplace accident reports. They will also take photos of the accident scene and collect testimony from any onsite witnesses.
Submit a Demand for Compensation Letter
A demand for compensation letter summarizes the victim’s claim why they want the other party to pay for their injuries. These letters spell out specific damages and expenses involved to fix them.
If the other party disagrees with your claim, your accident attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf for damages. This lawsuit notifies your local trial court that you intend to collect payment through the justice system. Your lawsuit includes your attorney’s legal reasoning and accident site evidence.
Navigate the Pre-Trial Process
A pretrial session is a meeting both parties have with a judge before a trial begins. During this session, your personal injury lawyer will ask for the other party’s witness information and collected evidence. This phase is called “discovery.”
As the discovery process proceeds, accident injury lawyers will schedule depositions. They will cross examine the opposing party and witnesses.
Negotiate Alternative Settlements
Personal injury lawyers can also help in other forums of alternative dispute resolution. These forums include arbitration or mediation.
During arbitration, your personal injury lawyer will present your case in front of a neutral decision maker. This decision maker has the authority to make binding decisions.
When both sides of an injury case work together to reach a solution outside of court, this process is called mediation. Lawyers on both sides can draft a settlement that summarizes payment due dates and amounts.
When Should You Call a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Certain circumstances arising from your case will dictate whether you should call a personal injury lawyer. Contact an auto accident injury attorney if any of these conditions apply to your case:
Dispute Over Who is Responsible
Most US states have at-fault state laws. This law means that anyone injured in an accident has to be less than 49 percent responsible for the accident if they expect to recover expenses. When an investigation starts to reach this level of responsibility, the claim will most likely reach the courts for a judge to decide.
If this happens in your case, then a personal injury lawyer will help you present your argument to the judge. Then your lawyer will help you proceed through the hearing process.
Contradictory Medical, Insurance or Police Reports
Any form of contradictory information in medical, insurance or police accident reports could result in a denial of your claim. A personal injury lawyer will investigate your claim and present their own evidence along with yours. This evidence can be used to contrast what’s included in these other contrary records.
Serious Injuries That Involve a Hospital Stay
When serious injuries arise from your accident, you could be facing steep medical costs to recover. You might also face continuing lifetime care as well. Costs for this kind of medical attention are very expensive.
Your current or future lifestyle might also be harmed if there are any ongoing negative outcomes from your injuries. For example, you might not be able to return to your current job, which could mean lost income for you. Your car or home may need refurbishing to accommodate your new medical conditions.
Lost Companionship or Emotional Suffering
Accident injuries can, unfortunately, cause serious emotional as well as physical trauma. This is especially true for children involved in accidents that kill a family member. This form of trauma is titled pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering is a legal term that refers to both emotional and physical trauma caused by an injury. Injured victims can recover payment for this emotional suffering in most US States. A personal injury lawyer can determine if your claim fits your state’s laws.
Next Steps
Does your recent personal injury accident case contain any of these same circumstances? If so, then hiring a personal injury lawyer is the smartest move you can make.
When hiring a lawyer, find a professional who has extensive torte law experience. This experience will be vital to negotiating a settlement. It will also serve you well if your case moves onto trial.
Don’t forget to check out our website for other information on what do personal injury lawyers do. You’ll also find helpful advice on whether to settle your claim or take it to court. Follow these ideas and you’ll receive the best possible outcome for your case.
