Personal injury cases are a type of civil litigation that takes place when a person or entity has been wrongfully harmed by another person or entity. In these types of cases, the victim is seeking compensation for their injuries and/or other harm caused to them by their perpetrator(s) financially, whether it be through insurance settlements, civil penalties, etc.
This area of practice is remarkably broad and covers many different areas in which someone might need legal counsel. If you or a loved one has been injured, you should contact an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases as soon as possible. Here’s how a personal injury lawyer can help:
Determine if You Have a Claim
This is the first step in any type of civil proceeding, for personal injury or otherwise. When you sign up with a lawyer, they will review your case and give you an honest answer about whether or not they think that you have a personal injury claim. Depending on the circumstances of your injury, this could be a fairly quick process, or it may take some time.
Having suffered a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence, or wrongdoing, may entitle you to compensation for expenses related to the injury, but only if your case meets certain criteria. A good lawyer will be able to help you determine if you have a good chance of winning your case, but only if you tell them all the relevant information.
Help You Gather Evidence
Most personal injury cases are won or lost based on the evidence that is presented rather than on the strength of your argument. A good lawyer will help you by either finding or hiring experts to testify on your behalf about how your injuries have affected you and will also help you gather any documentation you need to back up your claim.
Things like medical records, police reports, eyewitness testimony, surveillance footage, etc., are all important pieces of evidence in a personal injury case. If you are missing any of these pieces, the effectiveness of your case will be hindered. Your lawyer may also be able to help you work with third parties like insurance adjusters to make sure that all the evidence is properly gathered and documented.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Almost every personal injury case goes through settlement negotiations at some point before it ends up going to court. Usually, these negotiations take place between lawyers for both sides who come together to create a deal for their clients out of court without having them go all the way through a long trial.
A good personal injury lawyer will be very skilled at negotiating with insurance companies, which is an important part of building your case so that you can receive fair compensation for your injuries and other damages. The settlement you receive after your trial will be affected by how well your attorney can negotiate with the other party’s insurance company.
Represent You in Court
Whether your injury case goes to trial or settles out of court, a good personal injury lawyer will have the experience necessary to represent you in a courtroom. This is a very specific skill that most people don’t have, and it requires a lot of training.
Your attorney knows what types of questions to ask during discovery, how to negotiate with insurance companies, when to object in court (and why), etc. They are well versed in the rules of evidence and procedure, which are often complicated even for experienced attorneys, making them invaluable resources.
Beyond this, an attorney can also help defend you against any allegations against you made by the defendant or their insurance company (for example, if they claim that your injuries were not caused by the accident they are responsible for).
Help You Make a Personal Injury Protection Plan
A personal injury protection (PIP) plan is an insurance policy that covers the cost of all your medical expenses and lost income after a car accident, no matter who caused the crash. In some states, this type of coverage is required by law but in others, you have to specifically purchase it from your insurance company.
A good personal injury lawyer or car accident lawyer will help you find out if you have PIP coverage and guide you through making sure that all of your expenses are covered by it so that you don’t have to pay anything yourself. If you do not have PIP coverage, contact a local agent as soon as possible because having a proper vehicle insurance policy is crucial for protecting yourself on the road!
Having a good personal injury lawyer is key to building your case so that you can get reimbursed for all the damages you have suffered due to someone else’s negligence. They will help you gather all of the relevant evidence you need, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you in court if it comes to that.
Whatever legal action you take, whether it be negotiating with an insurance company or filing a lawsuit in civil court, having a professional by your side will give you more credibility and increase your chances of winning substantially.