Why You May Need a Personal Injury Attorney
Accidents and injury happen. In many cases, these accidents are the result of negligence, wrongful doing or defect, or other circumstance that is not your fault. You may have questions about what, if anything, you should do about the injury. You may be wondering how to manage dealing with your medical bills or loss of income. You may just be wondering if you need to hire a personal injury attorney, and want advice on the validity of a potential claim. A qualified personal injury lawyer will be able to give you insight into the type of claim you may have, and what steps you should take to seek compensation.
What is a Personal Injury?
Some personal injuries are simple to identify. If your person or property has suffered an injury, and that injury was the fault of someone else, you may have a personal injury claim. These injuries can be the result of a car accident, negligence on the part of a company or a slip and fall in a public location. Other personal injuries are less obvious: an injury to reputation, extreme emotional distress or someone subjecting you to verbal abuse may also entitle you to compensation.
A personal injury lawyer may handle cases that involve birth injuries, dog bites, brain injuries, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, wrongful death and more. The average person will not know if their injury meets the criteria necessary for a claim, or will understand the specific steps that must be undertaken to successfully bring a claim.
Some injuries require ongoing care and treatment, leaving the injured person dealing with pain, long after the event. Medical bills can add up quickly, and the effect of lost wages can be devastating. Combined with any property damage that may have happened, the financial impact of a personal injury can be crippling.
Why Should You Seek Counsel Quickly?
While your primary concern should be seeking medical treatment for your injury, you should also consider seeking the advice of a personal injury lawyer. Even if you’re insured against any potential injury related expenses, it is not uncommon for insurance companies to refuse compensation for an injury. They often contest the nature and/or severity of your damage, leaving you responsible for thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Many people try to manage these claims alone, only seeking legal help when absolutely necessary.
Consultation with a personal injury attorney is critical in the days after a personal injury.
What benefits can result from speaking to an attorney?
1. Reduce Your Stress
Dealing with an injury can be stressful. Beyond the physical stress, there are added financial burdens, particularly if your injury causes you to miss work. Other family members may be forced to take on additional responsibilities, adding stress to your family relationships. Insurance claims, medical bills, and paperwork are the last things you should be worrying about. A personal injury lawyer will deal with the insurance companies for you, giving you one less thing to deal with. After an injury, your focus should be on getting well, not on making sure the insurance company does the right thing.
2. Protect Your Ability to Seek Relief
Many injured people lose their ability to seek financial relief due to the statute of limitations. There is a limited time available to file claims with insurance companies and the court system, removing your opportunity to sue the adverse party should the need arise. Depending on the circumstances, different statute of limitations applies to first-party claims (your own insurance company) and third-party claims (the liability coverage of the other party). Meeting with a personal injury attorney sooner, rather than later, can help protect your interests against these cut-off dates and ensure you get the financial relief you need and deserve.
3. Determine Your Potential Compensation
Experienced personal injury attorneys can advise you on what to expect with your claim. They can explain the options available to you, as well as give you a clear picture on what types of compensation you are entitled to. Compensation types can change over the course of an injury, and will often require documentation from your employer and medical professional. Your attorney will know the specific requirements to prove your claim.
4. Handle Negotiations and Mediation
Much of today’s personal injury claims are handled through mediation. Your attorney is able to put pressure on insurance companies and corporations to avoid a lengthy public trial, a factor that the individual is not able to take advantage of. As a result, many personal injury claims are settled through mediation. An attorney will be able to advise you on the best process for handling your case, and what solution would offer you the best result.
5. Identify Cross-Over Areas
Many times, a personal injury claim has implications in other areas of law. If your injury occurred at work, if the other party involved in the injury dies, if you file bankruptcy or other circumstances occur, it may create a complicated legal situation that you will not be able to manage on your own. Your attorney will be able to identify potential complications and handle any cross-over situations to protect your interests and resolve the claim.
6. Determine Available Insurance
At the beginning of a claim, it is important to know how much insurance is available to cover expenses. You don’t want to find yourself with thousands of dollars in medical bills only to discover that the adverse party’s insurance coverage isn’t enough to pay them. Your personal injury attorney will be able to find out this information and advise you on the benefit of continuing your claim.
7. Offer Benefit of Experience
Your personal injury attorney will have experience in and out of the courtroom. This is an advantage when dealing with insurance companies who are interested in reducing the amount of money they have to pay. They will be familiar with the tactics and techniques used, and will not be intimidated by the threats of insurance companies. They can advise you on settlements and the potential benefits and pitfalls of any offer the insurance company may make.
Contact Schulman, Roth and Associates at (330) 456-4400 to find how they can help with your personal injury claim.
Are you dealing with an injury that was the fault of someone else? Have you been left with mounting medical bills that you are unsure how you can pay, or suffered the loss of income as a result of your injury? Contact Schulman, Roth and Associates’ experienced legal team at (330) 456-4400 or a consultation regarding your potential claim.