As a personal injury attorney, I spend my days trying to help those who have been injured by the negligence and carelessness of others. As proud as I am of the work that I do, it is always a sad thought that for every person I help there is probably at least one other out there that I could have, but never had the opportunity too.
It is an unfortunate fact that many people suffer in silence because they either don’t know their rights or are intimidated by the mere idea of being involved in a court case. In the majority of personal injury cases, the process is much more straightforward and less stressful than most people would ever imagine.
Step 1: Recognizing you are Injured
In truth, a personal injury case begins as soon as you recognize that you are injured. This doesn’t necessarily mean as soon as you the incident has occurred. Some injuries, particularly those involving nerve damage may not be apparent for some time after the injury has occurred.
Step 2: Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
This may the most important step of the entire process. If you have suffered an injury, you don’t just need an attorney you need a qualified personal injury lawyer that has experience with your type of case.
Every case is unique, but as with most things, the more experience your attorney has to draw on the better your outcome is likely to be. When you first contact a personal injury attorney you can expect them to ask you a lot of questions. This is all normal and necessary for them to gather the needed facts and advise you on your best course of action.
Step 3: Your Attorney Goes to Work
Once you have hired an attorney, they will most likely, send a letter of demand to the responsible party or their representative. In this letter, they will describe why you feel they are at fault, the legal basis for your claim, and what you, with your attorney’s guidance, feel is just compensation for your injuries.
The foundation for you compensation claim may include:
- Past/Current/Future Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Permanent Disfigurement/Disability
- Cost of Hiring Helpers
- Emotional Distress
- Interference with Family Relationships (Aka Consortium)
- Extra Costs such as Vehicle or Home Customization
At this point, it will be up to the respondent to either pay your demands, counteroffer or reject your claim. If they accept your claim and agree to the settlement, you will be paid.
If they counter offer, your lawyer will help you in attempting to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. If the negotiations are successful you will get paid.
It is normally, only after all other channels have failed that a case will actually progress to the point where your attorney, with your consent, will file an actual lawsuit in the local courts.
If You Don’t Try
Personal Injury Laws are designed to assure, as much as possible, that if you are injured, by the actions or negligence of others, it is the responsible party who pays the cost, not you. But, to many times out of a misunderstanding of the law or a fear of conflict people, who have been suffered an injury fail to even attempt to gain the compensation to which they are entitled.
The truth is that if you do not take the time to talk to a qualified personal injury attorney, you are making a mistake that could affect the finances and quality of life of your entire family. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t try, you don’t know.”