If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for all related damages. The most effective way to determine if you are eligible to take legal action is through a one-on-one consultation with a personal injury lawyer.
Talking to a personal injury lawyer allows you to fully understand your rights and to gain a clear idea of your best options. Moving swiftly after an accident allows you to take the appropriate action before the statute of limitations expires, enabling you to seek compensation beyond the initial settlement offer from insurance.
Catastrophic Personal Injury
Many accidents result in injury. Serious accidents result in injury that will require medical treatment; interfere with work, social and family life; and cause potentially lasting personal pain and suffering. These types of personal injury demand the attention of an experienced attorney.
Injuries that should be brought to the attention of a lawyer include:
- Head and brain injury
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injury
- Amputation
- Electrocution
- Burn injury
- Death
These injuries may be the result of:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Dangerous premises
- Defective products
- Animal attacks
- Medical negligence
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
Regardless of the cause, if you have sustained a serious and life-altering injury, it is best to have a dedicated personal injury attorney on your side. Choosing to seek compensation on your own may fail to produce acceptable results. Having an attorney on your side helps protect your interests while simultaneously guarding you against the sometimes predatory tactics insurance companies use to convince victims of injury to accept less than they are due.
Personal Injury Damages
Every case is different and the damages sought must be consistent with the suffering experienced by the victim. In many cases, this will include:
- Current and future medical expenses related to the accident
- Rehabilitation and various forms of therapy needed for recovery
- Wages lost during recovery
- Wages that will never be seen due to new limitations
- Any home modifications or adaptive technologies made necessary by the injury
Your attorney may also choose to seek compensation for pain and suffering – noneconomic damages that are seldom included in insurance settlements. During your complimentary case review, your attorney can assess your claim and help you understand what damages you may be entitled to seek through a personal injury lawsuit.
Isn’t Insurance Faster?
Most personal injury lawsuits are settled pretrial, during the mediation phase. This means that a majority of personal injury claims are settled within a year. Some cases, particularly those that go to trial, will take slightly longer.
Working directly with insurance may result in faster payment. In some cases, this is preferable. When an injury is serious, however, accepting an insurance offer before speaking with an attorney is a mistake.
Personal Injury and Workplace Accidents
Many workplace accidents fall under workers’ compensation, a no-fault insurance carried by a majority of employers. Some construction accidents or those involving independent contractors or gig-workers may not qualify for workers’ comp. But they may qualify for legal action.
Workplace accidents should be brought to the attention of a personal injury lawyer who can determine the cause and help establish liability. This enables your attorney to determine the best course forward for your claim.
Contact Us to Learn More
To schedule a free consultation with one of our injury attorneys, please call our office today. We provide complimentary consultations to victims of serious injury. If you cannot come to our office for your case review, we will send one of our attorneys to you.
