why do i need a personal injury attorney 2017 the balance

by Rene Koch 8 min read

A personal injury attorney can help get the response you need from the insurance company. Often, simply retaining an attorney will let the insurance company know how seriously you plan to pursue compensation. An attorney can also provide you with information about the penalties the insurance company may face for ignoring your claim.

Full Answer

What are the requirements to become a personal injury lawyer?

Why Do I Need A Personal Injury Attorney Following an injury, many individuals are overwhelmed and tempted to take a quick settlement that is offered. Others try to avoid the cost of representation fighting the matter themselves. In the end, however, it is proven that those who seek the help of a skilled attorney achieve a more successful outcome.

What is a personal injury lawsuit?

Feb 14, 2017 · Hiring an experienced and dedicated personal injury attorney will help you obtain fair compensation for your particular situation and give you peace of mind by properly guiding you through the personal injury claims process. In short, you will be able to focus on getting better while we will focus on the rest.

What is a personal injury attorney called?

Jan 17, 2019 · Working with a personal injury attorney will help you ensure that no stone is left unturned and that insurance companies aren’t using legal tactics to get out of paying the compensation you deserve. Facing Government Immunity

Why do I need a personal injury lawyer?

Dec 22, 2016 · A good personal injury lawyer will listen to you, do thorough information and evidence gathering, talk to you about your options, and assist you in pursuing the course of action that you choose. This includes: Handling your case personally, listening to your needs, and responding quickly to your questions. Calculating and documenting all of ...

image

Why Do I Need an Attorney for My Personal Injury Case?

If you had a heart condition that needed surgery, you wouldn’t try to fix it yourself—would you? In situations that involve serious injuries that have damaged your health, someone who is a true expert on the subject and has a long track record of achieving successful outcomes will be well worth your investment.

Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Spotlight – Frank G. Fernandez

Frank Fernandez is known for his dedication to his clients and their causes that has earned him a reputation of meeting or exceeding their expectations in many different types of personal injury cases over the years.

What is a good personal injury lawyer?

A good personal injury lawyer will listen to you, do thorough information and evidence gathering, talk to you about your options, and assist you in pursuing the course of action that you choose. This includes: Handling your case personally, listening to your needs, and responding quickly to your questions.

How long does it take to file a personal injury claim in West Virginia?

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases — the time frame during which you must file a claim in the state’s civil court system — is two years.

Can you negotiate a settlement with an insurance company?

It may be that you prefer to try to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company or at-fault party, only to find that the only settlement offer you are able to get is completely unfair — or nonexistent! Having a personal injury lawyer will get the attention of the party you are claiming against, and your likelihood of negotiating a fair settlement is much higher.

What is the job of a lawyer?

Ensuring that all court documents, insurance claims, and other paperwork are filed correctly. Systematically gathering crucial pieces of evidence. Interviewing witnesses who saw the incident that caused your injury. Representing your interests during nego tiations with insurance companies.

What is initial consultation?

The initial consultation is a time for you and the lawyer to assess your legal problems. It is also a chance for you to decide whether you want that personal injury attorney to advise or represent you. Look for someone you feel confident will give you good advice and effective representation.

What to know when meeting with a lawyer?

When you meet with lawyers to decide who to use, you will want to find out certain things from each lawyer, such as the nature of their personal injury experience, if they have experience with your specific type of injury case, how they handle billing, how they manage cases like yours, etc.

What are the different types of personal injury cases?

Any case or claim that involves an injury to the body or mind falls under the umbrella of personal injury law. Some of the most common types of cases handled by this type of lawyer include: 1 Animal bite injuries 2 Auto accidents 3 Aviation accidents 4 Bicycle accidents 5 Boating accidents 6 Brain injuries 7 Burn injuries 8 Construction accidents 9 Defective products 10 Insurance/bad faith claims 11 Medical malpractice 12 Motorcycle accidents 13 Nursing home abuse 14 Pedestrian accidents 15 Slip and fall accidents 16 Spinal cord injuries 17 Wrongful death

What is tort law?

Personal injury attorneys specialize in an area known as tort law. This covers private or civil wrongs or injuries, including defamation and actions for bad faith breach of contract. The main goal of tort law is to make the injured party whole again and to discourage others from committing the same offense.

Do attorneys have to take the LSAT?

All attorneys must pursue the same path of training and education. They must earn their law degrees and pass written bar examinations, but this can't be accomplished until they’ve earned an undergraduate degree and passed the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a reasonably high score.

Is litigation good for personal injury?

Litigation represents the bread and butter of many law firms, so the employment outlook for personal injury attorneys is good. However, tort reform—proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation and cap damage awards—could potentially reduce the number of claims filed and the damages recovered by plaintiff attorneys in the future.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer is a type of civil litigator who provides legal representation to plaintiffs who are alleging physical or psychological injury as the result of the negligent or careless acts of another person, entity, or organization.

How much do personal injury lawyers make?

The most successful lawyers earn seven-digit salaries, although most plaintiff lawyers earn between $30,000 and $300,000, depending on practice size and location.

Why do you need a personal injury attorney?

It’s fairly well-known that even simply having a personal injury attorney on your side will improve your odds at a higher settlement. Your attorney will have experience working with insurance companies and injury claims. They will ensure that the insurance company acts in good faith and pays you just and fair compensation.

What happens after an injury?

After an injury, you could be left in a tight spot financially. Medical bills can rack up quickly, especially if you are put out of work or need ongoing medical treatment. Many personal injury attorneys work on contingency fees, meaning that clients will only pay the attorney a certain amount that is contingent on how much compensation the attorney helps them win. This helps ensure that all injured individuals have equal opportunities to seek legal representation.

What to do if you have an accident?

If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, you should contact an attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Severe injuries often leave the victims of those accidents with substantial medical bills, extended medical treatments, and in many cases, no or reduced income to help pay for those bills.

How long does it take for an insurance company to contact you after an accident?

Often, this begins shortly after the accident. The insurance company may contact you within days of the accident to provide a settlement offer. This offer may reflect the minimum that the insurance company thinks it can get away with paying you.

Do I need a personal injury lawyer?

The answer, almost always, is yes. The sooner you hire one, the easier and more efficiently your personal injury lawyer can resolve your case.

What is a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim requires you to establish that another party caused your injuries. If you believe that happened, or that outside factors contributed to the accident, you probably need an attorney to collect evidence and pursue your personal injury claim. In many accidents, multiple parties may share liability.

Can a slip and fall cause a concussion?

On the other hand, a slip-and-fall onto a hard surface can break bones or cause concussions; even a “minor” rear-end accident can result in serious damages to the soft tissues of the neck and spine. If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, you should contact an attorney as soon after the accident as possible.

What do insurance companies want to know about an accident?

The insurance company will often want to know more about how those injuries affect your life, both immediately after the accident and in terms of your long-term prognosis.

Can an insurance company negotiate a settlement?

The insurance company will not negotiate. You may have chosen not to contact a personal injury attorney immediately after receiving a settlement offer. After all, one look at it told you that the offer did not reflect the funds you actually deserved, especially considering the severity of your accident.

What to do when multiple vehicles are involved?

Others who are involved in the accident will have their own lawyers, who are hired to protect their interests and make as small a payout as possible. Other parties involved may also place insurance claims, which can decrease the settlement you receive or even mean that you get nothing. An attorney can help by protecting you from cross-claims and counterclaims that might be filed by others involved in the collision.

How does a severe injury affect your insurance?

The severity of your injuries is tied to how much compensation you may receive. Those who suffer injuries that involve an extended hospital stay, rehabilitation, at-home care and other costs will naturally receive higher compensation than someone who suffers a broken leg or arm and is back at work in a few weeks. Also, a severe injury will probably hit the limit of the insurance policy. This means you may have to take the case to court to obtain the compensation you deserve. A lawyer with experience in handling cases involving serious injuries is needed to obtain financial compensation to cover all of your losses.

How to contact David from Super Lawyers?

For your no-obligation, free consultation, call David today at (800) 991-5292 to talk with him about your case and find out how he can help you. If you prefer, you can get in touch with him by leaving an online message on his website. He will contact you as soon as he is available.

image