What Does A Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
People are injured across the United States every day.
In some cases, those injuries are due to the negligence and carelessness of another individual or entity.
When these injuries occur, the injured victims can sue for the damages associated with their injury, like medical bills and lost wages.
A personal injury lawyer will represent injured victims to help them receive the compensation they deserve in a settlement from a personal injury claim.
This will come from the negligent party and their insurance company.
To put it simply, personal injury lawyers help people who have been physically or emotionally injured due to another party’s negligent or intentional actions.
In a previous post, we answer the question How do I find a personal injury lawyer?
In the article below, we will look at what a personal injury attorney can do for you.
Personal Injury Law Is Tort Law
A personal injury attorney specializes in an area of law known as tort law.
Tort law covers private or civil injuries, including defamation and actions for bad faith breach of contract.
Tort law’s primary goal is to make the injured party whole again and discourage others from committing similar offenses.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they will help you receive compensation for your losses.
These losses include the loss of earning capacity due to an inability to work, pain and suffering, present and future medical expenses, loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, and loss of consortium or companionship.
Your lawyer will also work to safeguard clients from being victimized by insurance companies and the legal system.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Any personal injury claim or a claim that involves an injury to the body or mind falls under the umbrella of personal injury law.
The most common types of cases handled by PI lawyers are:
- Motor Vehicle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Pedestrian accidents
What To Know After Hiring a Lawyer
There are a few essential things to keep in mind while working with a personal injury lawyer.
First, they probably won’t be able to respond to telephone calls or emails immediately.
Lawyers do have a legal responsibility to respond to their clients in a reasonable amount of time. Still, their schedules don’t always allow immediate responses to every client.
Either way, your attorney should never keep you in the dark about what’s going on in your case, especially if the other side has made a settlement offer.
Your lawyer cannot accept or reject a settlement offer without running it by you first.
Once you’ve hired an attorney, don’t discuss your case with anyone except your lawyer or a representative from their firm.
For example, if an insurance adjuster calls to speak to you about your case, refer them to your lawyer.
Your attorney should answer any legitimate questions or concerns they have about your case.
And unless your attorney advises you otherwise, do not sign any documents relating to your case or change doctors.
Just like they shouldn’t keep you in the dark, you also shouldn’t keep your lawyer in the dark.
For example, if you finish medical treatments, let your attorney know.
If the defendant or their attorney in your case contacts you, let your attorney know.
If you receive additional medical care of documents that substantiate your claim, let your attorney know.
Also, if you’re having trouble with your finances due to your injury, you can tell your attorney.
They will suggest ways for you to receive financial support and how to deal with creditors.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Discusses the Accident With You and Advises You of Your Rights
Personal injury lawsuits can be complicated, and that’s why it’s crucial to have a personal injury lawyer by your side.
Your personal injury lawyer will advise you on the steps you should take to negotiate your settlement.
If you cannot negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company, your injury lawyer should be prepared to take your case to court.
Your side of what happened in the accident will become the road map your lawyer follows as they fight for your rights.
When you discuss your case with your attorney, they will listen for facts and information that require additional clarification and follow-up.
They will ask relevant questions about the circumstances surrounding your accident, like your injuries, pain, recovery, disabilities, insurance, and other essential information.
Your council may ask about things near the accident scene, like any lights, traffic signals, speed limits, or traffic signs that control access to the highway.
Or, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, they will want to know about the place where you fell.
In slip and fall accidents, they will ask about the lighting, your shoes, and any obstructions that were in your path.
They will need to know about anything that could have caused or contributed to your fall.
Your PI Attorney Will Work With Insurance Companies
We touched on this briefly before, but once you hire a PI attorney, they will handle all the dealings with your insurance company.
When you’re involved in a car crash, both your auto insurance carrier and the other driver’s liability carrier will want to talk to you.
If you’re injured in a slip and fall accident, a general liability carrier will want information and recorded statements.
To control the flow of information that could harm your claim, your lawyer will refuse the liability carriers’ requests.
You will have to cooperate with insurance companies, but your attorney will either arrange and supervise your statement, handle the statement themself, or coach you ahead of time on what you can say or what you should avoid saying.
Your attorney should handle all other conversations with your insurance companies covering medical bill payments, auto repair, and basic liability discussions.
Injury Lawyers Work On A Contingency Fee Basis
More than one injury victim has turned down legal help after an accident because they are worried about the costs involved.
Fortunately, though, accident victims take on no risk by having legal representation for their case.
Unlike other attorneys, personal injury lawyers usually work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that if your attorney doesn’t win your case, you won’t have to pay them.
If they do win your case, your lawyer will receive a small percentage of the settlement.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer If You’ve Been Hurt
If you’ve recently been injured and you are struggling to recover from your accident, a personal injury lawyer can help.
The Mabra Law Firm is a personal injury law firm that’s willing to work hard for you.
The Mabra Law Firm has the resources and experience needed to handle your personal injury case.
We also offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no risk in talking to us.
To schedule your free consultation and case evaluation with an experienced personal injury lawyer from The Mabra Law Firm, fill out the form below.
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