Updated: 10/28/2022
Getting injured is never a good situation, and if it’s a bad injury, it can seriously complicate your life. It can also be highly expensive. That’s why you may need a personal injury lawyer to build a case against the party who is at fault for the accident. A good personal injury lawyer will be able to assess the situation and create a personal injury claim that can be taken to court to seek a settlement.
If you don’t have a personal injury lawyer, you will be at the mercy of insurance companies who will likely try to buy you off as cheaply as possible. Having a personal injury attorney gives you more power to fight against low-ball offers and to seek out a larger amount through your court case. It’s helpful to have someone there to give you advice throughout the case.
When you are looking for a good lawyer to take your case, be sure to check online reviews for local attorneys. It’s important to find one that has had good experiences with the attorney you’re interested in. The business listings for attorneys in your area will have links to reviews about each of them to make it easy.
The term personal injury refers to cases in which a person suffers a bodily injury, as opposed to property damage. In the legal realm, cases like these are the result of one person’s negligence — and that negligence is what causes another person’s injury. It’s not often that personal injury cases escalate to lawsuits, but if you plan on engaging in personal injury litigation there are a few things you need to do first.
1. Keep Good Records
This is something that you should do anyway, but as soon as you can after the accident, you should begin keeping good records. This means collecting evidence at the scene of the accident on the day of the accident. Take pictures of anything related to the accident, from different angles and with a high quality camera. Be sure to take pictures of your own injuries as well.
2. Calculate Your Losses
Another thing you need to do before you start personal injury litigation is to calculate your losses. Many people are able to settle injuries out of court, but even if you don’t you will have to calculate your losses. Personal injury settlements typically cover medical expenses, lost wages, and future loss of work. Pain and suffering is calculated using the combination of your monetary losses.
3. Hire a Lawyer
Besides keeping good records of your losses, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer before you litigate. When you go to court, you’re going to need a lawyer to help you through legal processes and to help fight your case. Additionally, personal injury lawyers have experience negotiating with insurance companies. Find a lawyer who specializes in personal injury in the area your case falls into.
Do you have any questions about starting personal injury litigation? Feel free to ask us in the comments section. Visit here for more information.