Your Personal Injury Questions Answered
How much is my injury claim worth?
Many factors contribute to the overall value of a personal injury claim. Tort law is designed to compensate you for injuries you suffered due to the negligent acts of another party.
One important factor to consider when determining the value of any personal injury claim is the total medical bills and treatment costs. You can receive compensation for past and future medical treatment, including any rehabilitative therapy you need to help you recover from your injuries.
Lost income is also a relevant factor to consider when determining the total value of a personal injury claim. Lost wages and lost future earnings are both recoverable in a personal injury claim. If you can return to work, but only in a lower position than you occupied before, then you can receive the numerical difference between your wages before and after suffering your injuries.
Additionally, injured victims can recover financially for the pain and suffering they experience as well as the emotional distress they endured as a result of their injuries. The actual numerical value of these damages will vary depending on the facts and circumstances of each case.
An attorney can obtain the necessary paperwork and calculate how much financial compensation you can recover. If you don’t hire a professional to help you perform this task, then the insurance company may attack your damage claims and suggest that your calculations are inflated and unrealistic.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Claim?
If you suffered injuries in an accident, you have to deal with many different things simultaneously. You have to seek medical treatment, request time off work, and file paperwork with your insurance company.
Many people ask if they need to seek out a personal injury attorney following an accident. 99 percent of the time, the answer to this question is yes. It is in the best interests of everyone involved if you hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident. You want to hire an attorney to communicate directly with the insurance company.
Insurance companies can deny your claims, delay responding to your claim, and send you low settlement offers. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you prevent the insurance companies from using these tactics early on during your case.
Having a professional communicate with insurance companies will help you notify them that you are serious about recovering the financial compensation you deserve. You do not have to fight against the insurance companies by yourself. A personal injury attorney can help you recover the monetary compensation you deserve without charging you excessive retainer fees or hourly fees.
Should I Accept an Insurance Settlement Offer?
No, you should never accept any insurance settlement offer before consulting with a personal injury attorney. These settlement offers are often too low, and they do not take into account future losses or pain and suffering.
Insurance companies do not want to take personal injury cases to court. Most insurance companies will review the facts of your case and then send you a settlement offer.
You should not accept a settlement offer without speaking to a personal injury attorney first because you may be entitled to more financial compensation. You also may be able to negotiate for a better settlement offer, and a personal injury attorney can help you put pressure on the insurance company.
You need a trained professional on your side when you are communicating with insurance companies. By hiring a personal injury attorney, you let the insurance companies know that you are serious about your injuries and the amount of financial compensation you think you deserve.
What About My Future Medical Costs?
Personal injury victims often require ongoing medical care that can extend years into the future. These costs will vary depending on the nature of the victim’s injuries. Future treatment may include testing, hospice care, doctor visits, and surgery.
A personal injury attorney can communicate with medical specialists, doctors, and physical therapists to determine how much future medical treatment will cost based on the injured victim’s age, treatment goals, and life expectancy.
An attorney may also help determine if medical costs will increase in the future due to market fluctuations or changes in treatment procedures. A permanent disability will affect an injury victim’s lifestyle, and a personal injury attorney can determine methods used to calculate how this disability affects the patient’s life financially.
A personal injury attorney will also consider additional costs created by specific personal injuries. Some injuries may require numerous surgeries over several years. A personal injury attorney can help the court determine a numerical figure to account for these costs.
What if I Cannot Work Because of My Personal Injury?
You may be wondering what to do if you suffer personal injuries during an accident and you can no longer work. You are entitled to lost wages, financial compensation for the costs of your medical bills, and other damages.
You do not have to be a full-time employee to recover lost wages and lost future earnings. Part-time employees are capable of obtaining financial compensation as well. You are eligible to claim money for the dollar value of missed overtime hours, vacation days, and the money you could have made from important projects, interviews, and commissions.
You will need a personal injury attorney to help you demonstrate to the court that you missed work due to the personal injuries you suffered in an accident caused by another party’s negligence. Also, you need to calculate how much money you would have made if you had not suffered your personal injuries.
You can help your personal injury attorney collect paperwork from your employer, so your attorney can use timesheets and employment documents to calculate the damages you suffered due to lost wages and lost future earnings.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Handling the Insurance Company After an Accident
Following an accident, you’ll likely need to file a claim with your insurance company. They will likely respond to your claim with an initial settlement offer. While you may feel tempted to accept a quick payout, we encourage you to consult our skilled San Mateo personal injury attorneys before doing so.
An insurance provider will probably not offer you an amount that does justice to your injuries. Our highly skilled attorneys can assess your past, current, and future expenditures and make an informed estimate of their value.
Our lawyers know how to communicate effectively with insurance companies, including your own and that of liable parties. If you receive a low settlement offer or your provider denies you coverage, our legal team can respond with the necessary actions. Our personal injury attorneys can build a strong case using relevant evidence and fight so you never have to settle for less than you deserve.