A personal injury lawyer is a legal professional who practices law in the area of torts, which are civil wrongs. They are a great resource for individuals who have been injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or corporation. These types of cases can be very complex and it is important to have a skilled and experienced attorney on your side to ensure that you are compensated fairly for your injuries. A good Personal injury lawyer can assist in many ways, including investigating your accident, proving liability and handling all negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf.
The first thing that a personal injury attorney will do is listen to you and your account of the incident. They will also listen for any details that may be missing or require further clarification. They will then be able to make an educated assessment of what your claim is likely to be worth, based on past settlements and verdicts for similar accidents and injuries.
During the course of your case, the personal injury attorney will interview you and anyone else who may be relevant to the case, like your doctors or witnesses. They will also prepare interrogatories (written questions) and/or request depositions for the opposing party’s insurance company, if applicable. These are the instances in which you will be asked to answer questions under oath and can be very stressful for injury victims.
In addition to gathering evidence, a personal injury attorney will also hire any expert witnesses that are necessary to your case. These could include medical experts to testify about your injuries and the severity of your pain and suffering as well as economic experts to discuss how your injury will impact your future financial outlook, such as lost earnings.
If the insurance company for the at-fault party is not willing to offer a reasonable settlement, your lawyer will file a lawsuit in court. This process is typically lengthy and requires the assistance of a trial attorney to present your case in front of a judge and jury.
There are state statutes that set limits on how much a plaintiff can recover in court, referred to as “damages.” Your personal injury lawyer will be familiar with these laws and will help you avoid getting shortchanged.
A personal injury lawyer will take on the burden of dealing with insurance companies so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. They will be able to negotiate the highest possible settlement or verdict for you. When selecting an attorney, consider requesting recommendations from family and friends who have used their services, or review sites such as Yelp and AVVO to find out more about the attorneys’ experience and client satisfaction. Once you have found a qualified attorney, contact them to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. During the consultation, you will be able to ask questions and get a feel for how comfortable you are with your potential attorney.