A personal injury lawyer is an attorney who specializes in helping people who have been injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. This could include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, drunk driving accidents, and more. Head, spinal, and other injuries resulting from these accidents can be severe and lead to permanent health and financial consequences.
What Can A Personal Injury Lawyer Do For You?
Here are things a personal injury attorney can do for you:
Investigate your accident to determine who was at fault.
Here are some of the methods they may use:
- Gather evidence: This includes things like police reports, witness statements, medical records, and photos of the accident scene.
- Visit the accident scene: An attorney may visit the scene of the accident to get a firsthand look at the conditions and take their own photos or videos.
- Interview witnesses: The attorney may interview witnesses to get their accounts of what happened.
- Consult with experts: A personal injury law firm may consult with a specialist, such as accident reconstructionist, to help them understand how the accident happened.
- Review relevant laws and regulations: The personal injury lawyer will consider the laws and regulations that apply to the accident to determine if anyone violated them.
Negotiate with the insurance company to get you a fair settlement.
Experienced personal injury lawyers are skilled at:
- Assessing Damages And Seeking Resolve: They have experience evaluating the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses (past and future), lost income (past and future), pain and suffering, emotional distress, and potential long-term effects. They know how to properly calculate these damages, present a compelling argument, and negotiate to seek appropriate compensation.
- Handling Communication: Attorneys act as a buffer between you and the insurance company. They handle all communication, preventing you from saying anything that could harm your case.
- Knowing When To Walk Away: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, attorneys can advise you on and represent you in the next steps such as lawsuit. They prioritize your best interests and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Additional Ways An Injury Attorney Can Assist You
File a lawsuit on your behalf if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement.
Steps include:
- Lawsuit Filing: If negotiations fail to reach a satisfactory settlement, the attorney will file a lawsuit with the appropriate court.
- Notification: The defendant (the person or entity you are suing) must be formally notified of the lawsuit. This is typically done by serving them with a copy of the complaint and a summons (a court order requiring them to respond).
- Information Exchange: Once the lawsuit is filed, both parties will engage in a discovery process to exchange information and evidence relevant to the case.
- Possible Settlement Negotiation: The negotiations may continue throughout the litigation process to get you a fair settlement.
Represent you in court if your case goes to trial.
The personal injury attorney is your advocate by conducting:
- Trial Preparation: This often includes trial strategy, witness preparation, evidence organization, and legal motions.
- Jury Selection If Applicable
- Presentation Of The Case: From opening and closing statements to everything in between.
- Communication Throughout Trial: Keeping you informed about the progress of the trial and explaining the legal proceedings in a way that you can understand.
- Continuous Advocation For The Best Outcome Possible: Your lawyer should fight tirelessly for you.
Having a skilled, experienced personal injury lawyer on your side can make a major difference in the outcome of your personal injury case.
