Being injured because of someone’s negligence or wrongful action is maddening. You were minding your own business when someone caused your injuries, medical bills, and lost earnings. However, you have legal options if you can prove another person was liable.
You can receive compensation in a personal injury claim but should always hire a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney is trained to prove liability and maximize your lawsuit compensation. They know how to evaluate a case, collect evidence, negotiate a fair settlement, or take it to trial if needed.
You can hire the best personal injury attorney in your area by following the tips below. Talk to a personal injury attorney today if you have follow-up questions.
What Is A Personal Injury Attorney?
A personal injury attorney represents people who suffered an injury because of another person or party’s wrongful actions or negligence. For example, a personal injury attorney can handle an auto insurance claim or lawsuit for you if another driver hit and injured you.
Personal injury attorneys possess the education, training, and experience to interpret complex personal injury laws and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your lost earnings, medical bills, and pain and suffering. You can also receive compensation for mental and emotional anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.
A personal injury attorney will gather evidence to prove fault, collect and complete legal and administrative forms, negotiate with the insurance company, and file a lawsuit in court if needed. Hiring a personal injury attorney is essential for maximizing your financial recovery and enjoying peace of mind as you recover.
Why Do You Need A Personal Injury Attorney?
You can be tempted to call the other party’s insurance company to negotiate a settlement. If you negotiate a fair settlement, you can save on legal fees. However, it’s tough for inexperienced people to negotiate maximum compensation with the insurance company.
Insurance companies are in business to make money, and their employees are trained to get you to accept pennies on the dollar so they can close the case. They want you to sign settlement papers before you call an attorney. The insurance adjuster knows that an attorney will help you get more money than you can alone.
You should retain a personal injury attorney instead of taking a lowball settlement offer. The attorney has the experience and resources to manage your claim efficiently and get the most for your losses. Some of the ways a personal injury attorney will help your case are:
Prove Liability
You must prove that another person or entity was negligent if you want compensation for your losses. Your attorney can prove negligence by showing that another person had a duty of care to you, violated it, and caused your injuries and damages.
For example, suppose an SUV rear-ended you at a red light and broke your arm and wrist. Your attorney can prove that the person violated their duty of care to drive safely. They will show that the driver was distracted or otherwise negligent and rear-ended you and that you have injuries, medical bills, and lost earnings.
Proving liability to the satisfaction of a jury or insurance company is more complicated than you think. That is why you should always hire an attorney. Your personal injury attorney levels the playing field with the insurance company and its lawyers.
Obtain Medical Records
You must prove that you have damages and losses from the accident. This is demonstrated with medical records, among other things. Medical records are critical to establishing your damages. A personal injury law firm will have staff to stay on top of your doctors to ensure they have all necessary medical records to prove injuries. Getting all the medical records you need, the doctor’s office may not always return calls.
Also, your personal injury attorney may help you receive medical care when you suffer an injury. They partner with medical professionals who may offer to treat you with payment secured later from your settlement.
Obtain Lost Earnings Proof
Lost income is a standard part of most personal injury claims. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your lost work time. You can also receive compensation for lost earning capacity if you have a permanent disability. Receiving lost income compensation means proving your previous earnings or salary.
You can also be entitled to compensation for lost benefits, vacation, and retirement, which your attorney will help document. Your attorney may hire economists to help them accurately estimate your lost income in the future from the accident.
Obtain Evidence
Proving liability means obtaining accident evidence and interpreting it to show that another person was negligent. Your personal injury attorney may obtain evidence that is hard for a layperson. For example, a local business can have surveillance video showing the accident that injured you. Your attorney can obtain a subpoena to get that video as evidence. A truck accident claim can require the attorney to obtain black box data from the truck or employment records from the carrier.
Negotiate A Settlement
Negotiating the best settlement for your injuries is easier said than done. The insurance company won’t pay maximum compensation easily. Your attorney is an experienced negotiator and will demand the most compensation based on your injuries and damages. They won’t let you take a settlement that is too low, so always listen to them about what your case is worth.
Tips For Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney
Remember that you will meet or talk to a personal injury attorney in a free consultation so they can understand your case. You should do the following when meeting with a personal injury attorney for the first time:
- Explain the accident or incident. You need to explain in detail what happened, whether it was a car accident, slip and fall, or other incident. You should write down what happened or record a video soon after the incident when your memory is fresh. Your attorney must clearly understand what happened, why, and who may have been responsible.
- Describe injuries and damages: Proof of damages is vital to a successful claim. Tell the lawyer your injuries and other losses, such as broken bones, bruises or cuts, soft tissue injuries, etc.
- Talk about the impact on your life: How the accident affects your life is also critical. Talk about how your injuries affect your ability to work, live, take care of your family, etc.
- Provide any documentation: Give the personal injury attorney any case documents, such as eyewitness contact information, medical reports, or earnings information.
Choosing a skilled personal injury attorney involves following these tips:
Look For Experience And Skill
The most critical detail to look for is personal injury experience and focus. Personal injury law is a specific area of the law. You should retain a lawyer who has handled many cases like yours. Look for a personal injury lawyer with years of experience in your type of case, whether a car accident, truck accident, slip and fall, medical mistake, etc.
Look For Excellent Results
The personal injury attorney you hire should have plenty of excellent settlements and jury verdicts to their credit. Look for outstanding online reviews, testimonials, and a strong record of case results on their website to understand their reputation in the community.
For example, if you were in a serious car accident with a significant injury, you should have an attorney with an impressive record of car accident settlements and jury awards. You may need hundreds of thousands in compensation to recover and pay your medical and other bills, so you want an attorney who has succeeded many times before.
Choose A Larger Law Firm
Do you have a serious injury? Then, you probably have a case with a higher value. You should select an experienced attorney from a large personal injury law firm with the resources to take as long as necessary for a good result. A car accident claim with a $1 million potential value can take months or years to settle, and you want an attorney with the financial resources to take the case all the way if needed.
Watch For Strong Communication Skills
Effective communication is essential in the lawyer-client relationship. You want a personal injury attorney who can communicate well with you and keep you updated. They should be able and willing to answer your questions at any time.
Ask the attorney how often they will communicate case updates to you, whether by phone, email, or text. Watch how they answer your questions and in how much detail. You may need to work with the attorney for months, so you need to choose someone who communicates quickly.
Look For Trial Experience
Most personal injury claims end with a settlement; both sides usually benefit by agreeing to settle the matter without a trial. However, you never know, so your personal injury attorney should have ample success in the courtroom. If it goes to trial, you want a skilled litigator who can represent your case effectively to the judge and jury.
Seek Highly-Rated Attorneys In Your Area
You can look online for personal injury attorneys in your area who are highly rated and have outstanding records listed on their website. Look for five-star ratings in Google Reviews, Avvo, Yelp, and similar websites. You should choose an experienced attorney with dozens of top reviews from people with claims like yours.
Ask What They Think About Your Case
Ask the attorney what they think your case outcome will be and its strengths and weaknesses. Listen carefully to how they answer these questions. This tests their legal experience, ability, judgment, and communication skills. You shouldn’t pick an attorney who guarantees a result, but you should consider a lawyer who offers a detailed opinion about your case and what it may be worth.
Understand Their Compensation Structure
Most personal injury attorneys don’t charge upfront legal fees or hourly rates. Instead, they are paid by a contingency arrangement, meaning their pay is contingent on the case results. Most personal injury lawyers receive 33 percent to 40 percent of your case settlement or jury award, plus legal expenses.
For example, if you get a $100,000 settlement, the attorney can take $33,000 to $40,000 from it, so you get approximately $60,000 to $67,000. You will also need to pay them for their legal expenses, such as expert witness fees, court filing fees, etc.
Ensure that you understand how they are paid and get this information in writing. A highly successful attorney may charge a larger fee, but this experience may help you receive more money.
Check Their Availability
You want a successful attorney, but it’s important that they have time for your case. Ask how busy they are, and if they aren’t going to oversee your case personally, ask them which attorney will. An attorney who is too busy may not give your case the dedication it needs for the best result.
Trust Your Instincts
You can find a five-star attorney with a long list of impressive settlements and jury awards. However, you may find that you don’t communicate well with the attorney in your meeting. Or they seem distracted or uninterested.
On the other hand, you may interview a less experienced attorney who is engaged and prepared and offers a detailed case evaluation. You should trust your instincts and go with the person who makes you most comfortable. You may need to work with this attorney for at least six months or a year. It’s important to choose an attorney with whom you feel at ease.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Now!
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you are not left alone to fight the insurance company. The insurance adjuster will try to lowball you to enhance the company’s bottom line. You should always hire a personal injury attorney to represent you. You will receive trusted legal advice and the best compensation for your losses.
