Each year, millions of people in the United States are injured in accidents. Many of these accidents are unfortunately caused by the preventable carelessness or malicious intent of others. The law protects those harmed by negligent parties and allows the injured to seek compensation for their suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident resulting from negligence or intentional harm of others, you may be entitled to receive just compensation for your physical and psychological injuries.
To protect your rights and make certain that you are taking all of the necessary actions in the recovery process, you should contact a Personal Injury lawyer. Our law firm handles all personal injury cases including:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Brain Injuries
- Medical Malpractice
- Professional Negligence
- Product Liability
- Fires and Explosions
- Plane Crashes
- Railroad Crossing Accidents
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Catastrophic Injury/Accidental Death
- Intentional Tort
- Class Action Lawsuits
Our skilled attorneys will take the time to learn all about your case and assess whether or not you should take the initial settlement offered by the insurance company. We have the foresight and skill to look at the road ahead and consider future damages which may harm the victim for years to come including pain, emotional trauma and subsequent injuries. With this knowledge, our personal injury law firm can properly evaluate the full extent of the damage and help to determine if the initial settlement is fair and adequate to ensure your full physical and financial recovery.Â
If our attorneys feel the initial settlement offered was unjust, we will aggressively pursue damages against the individual or company that caused the harm. This claim may be based on:
- Negligence—When the injury was a direct result of the defendant’s failure to act.
- Causation—When the actions of an individual or company cause the injury
- Malicious Intent—When the injury is the result of intentional harm. When this is the basis of the claim, a criminal case is usually involved as well.
- Product Liability—When a product does not meet safety standards.
In the days following our initial meeting with you, we will reconstruct the accident and obtain evidence to support your claim. We routinely work with medical professionals, forensic experts and private investigators that can conduct a detailed investigation and produce an independent analysis of your accident.Â
In far too many cases, one’s rights are permanently forfeited because the injured person believed what he or she was told by the insurance company. Insurance companies will employ significant resources to challenge your claim in order to maximize their profits. With powerful legal teams and years of experience, these large corporations often have the edge when dealing with the injured. In such difficult situations, you take a tremendous risk if you don’t have solid legal counsel and representation on your side. Our experienced personal injury attorneys, however, can help to level the playing field and will work diligently to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Legal Questions About Personal Injury:
What qualifies as a personal injury?
Personal injury refers to physical or psychological harm suffered by an individual due to someone else’s negligence, intentional actions, or strict liability. Common examples include injuries from car or motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and assaults. Personal injury law aims to provide financial compensation to the injured party to cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other associated costs. To qualify as a personal injury claim, there must be demonstrable harm to the individual directly resulting from another party’s action or inaction. The severity and impact of the injury on the victim’s life are key factors in determining the worth of a claim.
How do I know if I have a valid personal injury claim?
To determine if you have a valid personal injury claim, three main criteria must be met: liability, negligence, and damages. First, there must be a responsible party whose negligence or intentional act caused your injury. Second, it must be proven that this party breached their duty of care towards you. For example, a driver who runs a red light and causes an accident has breached their duty to follow traffic laws and drive safely. Finally, you must have sustained damages (e.g., bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress) as a result of this breach. If these elements are present, you likely have a valid claim. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer can help clarify the strength of your case and guide you through the legal process.
What should I bring to my first meeting with a personal injury lawyer?
When meeting with a personal injury lawyer for the first time, it’s important to bring all documentation related to your injury and the incident that caused it. This includes police reports, accident reports, photos of the accident scene and your injuries, medical records and bills, receipts for expenses related to the injury, documentation of lost wages, and any correspondence with insurance companies. Additionally, a list of any witnesses along with their contact information can be invaluable. These documents will help your lawyer understand the details of your case, assess the potential for compensation, and develop a strategy to pursue your claim effectively.
How long does a personal injury lawsuit typically take?
The duration of a personal injury lawsuit can vary widely depending on the complexity of the case, the amount of evidence, the willingness of the parties to settle, and the backlog in the judicial system. A straightforward case might settle in a few months without going to trial, while more complex cases involving severe injuries and disputed facts can take years to resolve. Factors that can extend the duration include disputes over fault, the extent of injuries suffered, and the amount of compensation demanded. Your attorney can provide a more tailored estimate based on the specifics of your case and will work to expedite the process as much as possible while striving to achieve the best possible outcome.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my injury?
Yes, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for your injury. Most states adhere to a comparative negligence rule, which allows you to collect damages proportionate to your degree of fault. For example, if you were found to be 30% at fault in an accident and the total damages were $100,000, you could still potentially recover $70,000. However, some states follow a modified comparative negligence rule where you cannot recover any compensation if you are found to be 50% or more at fault. Additionally, a few states still use a contributory negligence rule, where being even slightly at fault could bar you from recovering any compensation. Your personal injury attorney can explain how these rules apply to your specific case and help maximize the compensation you can receive.
Have additional questions about your personal injury, please call us today!