Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Attorneys

Related Pages:

• Does a personal injury lawyer really help that much?
• I’m thinking of not hiring a lawyer, any advice?
• What should I ask an attorney I’m thinking about hiring?

Do I need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Some personal injury claims may be easy to settle without a personal injury attorney such as a minor car accident. There may be little damage and no injuries. Other cases are more complicated. Did you suffer permanent injury? Is it difficult to calculate the damages of your pain and suffering? Was there a severe disruption to your life or extreme property loss? A personal injury attorney can be helpful in answering these questions. In the case of wrongful death or medical malpractice a personal injury attorney may be able to file a suit on behalf of the family of the injured or deceased person. Strict liability cases also can be complicated. A product liability lawyer can help collect evidence, identify expert witnesses and assess the product to identify what caused the injury. A personal injury attorney can also determine if you may be entitled to punitive as well compensatory damages from the company.

“Be aware, there may be personal injury laws in your state which determine the statutes of limitations for filing a claim. If the claim time expires you will not be able to collect compensation for your injury even if your claim is valid.”

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured from the negligence of another person, you can attempt to negotiate and settle the insurance claim by yourself or you can hire a personal injury lawyer. Some insurance companies may offer you fair compensation for your personal injuries, but others will be less concerned about whether or not you get adequate medical care and wage loss compensation and more concerned with closing the case.

Insurance companies have a team of lawyers working for them who understand personal injury law. They also know that many victims do not understand all of their legal rights and the compensation they are entitled to receive.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer may help ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Personal injury attorneys understand personal injury law, and they can help you build your personal injury case. They can also negotiate with the insurance company for you, eliminating any chance that you may make statements to the insurance company that could damage your case.

Personal injury lawyers have helped hundreds of clients, many of whom have suffered injuries similar to yours. Personal injury attorneys can calculate the full cost of your personal injury, including lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical care costs. Do not settle with the insurance company until you understand the total cost of your personal injuries.

How much does a personal injury attorney cost?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis and will not be paid unless they win your personal injury claim. If they win your claim they will receive a percentage of the award. In some cases, the personal injury lawyer will charge their clients certain fees for costs associated with the personal injury claim. Before hiring a personal injury lawyer make sure you understand the full cost of legal representation.

So what percentage of your settlement can you expect to pay your personal injury lawyer? Percentages paid can vary by state and by the type of personal injury claim. Personal injury fees in some states can be as high as 40%. Some personal injury lawyers may be willing to negotiate a fee, especially if there is a potentially high payout for the case, but a skilled personal injury lawyer may not negotiate.

Finding a great personal injury lawyer, who is able to recover a substantial award, may result in a higher payout, even if they charged a higher fee to take the personal injury case.

related article: Can I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer if I do Not Have Any Money?
(goes into more depth on personal injury costs)

What does a Personal Injury Lawyer do?

Personal injury lawyers allow their clients to focus on getting better. If you have been injured in a car accident, for example, there are certain things which must be done immediately. Personal injury lawyers can review the police report, evaluate your car accident injuries, determine proper medical treatment and begin establishing fault for the car accident.

Negotiating Out of Court

Most personal injury cases do not go to court. Personal injury lawyers must have experience negotiating fair settlements for their clients. If there is substantial proof for your personal injury claim, the defendant or insurance company often will want to settle out of court.

If the defendant has offered a settlement, this is often the starting point for negotiations. It may be possible to get more with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Proving a Personal Injury Case in Court

Personal injury cases, although generally settled through negotiations, may go to court. If you have never argued a personal injury claim in court chances are you do not understand the legal process and do not have the skills or knowledge to win your personal injury case. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be money well spent.

Finding the Right Personal Injury Lawyer

How do you find the right personal injury lawyer? First contact the State Bar and review qualified personal injury lawyers in your state. You can also contact friends and family members for recommendations. Online searches may also be beneficial.

Visit with several different personal injury attorneys and make sure they have handled and won cases similar to your personal injury case. Review their experience and the rate of success prior to making your decision.

If you have been injured in a car accident, medical malpractice case, slip and fall, dog bite or product liability case, a personal injury lawyer understands personal injury law and can work with you to make sure you get the injury compensation you need to recover from your personal injuries.

Whether you decide to hire a lawyer, accept a settlement offer or take your personal injury case to court, you have the right to receive adequate compensation for your personal injuries. Hiring a personal injury lawyer may be the best way to protect your rights.

Related Personal Injury Attorney Articles

Finding Your Personal Injury Attorney
I do not have insurance, can a lawyer still help me with compensation?