Why Should you Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer after your Accident?
Even minor accidents can result in injuries or even property damages. The aftermath of any accident can be expensive. If you weren’t to blame for the accident in the first place, then you shouldn’t have to cover costs all by yourself. This is where a qualified lawyer can step in and help.
You absolutely can choose to represent yourself when it comes to your injury claim. However, this generally isn’t advisable. An experienced car accident attorney has spent a lot of time fighting the insurance companies and representing cases similar to yours each and every day. They know how to fight for a fair settlement and won’t be pushed around by the insurance companies.
Many lawsuits are also incredibly complicated. There might be multiple parties responsible for your accident or other intricate details. Standing up for yourself is admirable, but it’s not easy to get a positive outcome on your claim when you represent yourself. Hiring a professional to do the talking is a much better plan. In fact a 2012 study by the Insurance Research Council, claims that injury victims who hire a lawyer get a settlement 3.5 times higher than without one.
On top of all this, you will probably go through a whirlwind of emotions after your accident. The right qualified personal injury attorney will focus on the case at hand so you can focus on recovering. You don’t have to go through it all alone. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.
What Kind of Compensation Could you Possibly Receive?
No two accidents are the same. This also means that the kind of compensation you are eligible to receive will depend on the factors of your case. To determine how much compensation you’re entitled to receive, courts will look at who was at fault for the accident, the types of injuries sustained, and other underlying factors.
If you do receive compensation for your injuries, it will likely fall under one or more of the following:
- Lost wages – this refers to any money that a person will miss out on due to the injury sustained in an accident. This kind of claim is pursued when the victim is unable to work due to their injury. They can also recover for loss of potential earning power if the injury is permanent or severe enough.
- Medical bills – this will include bills such as hospital fees, ambulance fees, medical treatment, medical devices, physical therapy, medications, surgery, and more. This can include any existing and future medical treatment needed as a result of the accident.
- Pain and suffering – this covers any physical discomfort and emotional stress that a person may have sustained following an accident. Emotional wounds can often run just as deep as physical ones.
- Property damage – this will cover damage to your personal property. If you were in a car accident, this would cover repairs to your vehicle.
- Punitive damage – this involves damage caused by another person’s reckless behavior.
Your lawyer will go over the details of your case and let you know exactly which damages you may be entitled to receive. This does ultimately vary from case to case, but your attorney may be able to give you a ballpark estimate based on their knowledge of other cases.
What Will your Personal Injury Lawyer do for you?
When you are injured in an accident, a injury lawyer will work in your best interests to help you recover the money you might be eligible to receive. Experienced attorneys will listen to your story and use the information you provide to help recover a settlement. Your attorney will take over the case and become your representative with the insurance companies.
Not every case will ultimately be settled in a courtroom. Injury cases are generally settled by an informal settlement and may go to court if a settlement can’t be reached.
Informal settlements are the most common result of any injury case. This is when the parties involved in the accident agree to a settlement that the injured party believes is fair for what they have been through. Personal injury attorneys negotiate with the insurance company and the person injured in the accident generally receives compensation.
If a fair settlement can’t be reached and the case goes to court, the person who suffered a injury is known as the plaintiff and will file a civil suit. The lawsuit may be filed against another person, multiple people, an entire corporation, or even a government agency. In a nutshell, the injured person can file a lawsuit against anyone they believe is responsible for the accident in the first place.
Suing multiple parties can be incredibly complex, especially if a government agency is involved. This is another reason that it’s incredibly helpful to hire a personal injury attorney. Experienced lawyers are familiar with filing lawsuits against multiple parties at once. If you choose to pursue a claim without a lawyer, you could definitely end up with a massive legal headache. It’s always better to work with a team of professional lawyers who want the best for you.
What Should you do Immediately after an Accident?
Immediately following an accident or injury, you may experience confusion. Your heart may be racing and it’s possible you may even be in shock. But even so, it’s very important that you alert the authorities. You may not be in the proper headspace to gather evidence, but the authorities certainly can and will. They will also make a police report that you can use to help prove your claim.
After that, it’s very important that you seek medical attention for your injuries. Even if you don’t think you suffered an injury, it’s a good idea to get checked out. Trained medical professionals will be able to spot injuries sustained in the accident that may not be immediately visible, such as internal bleeding. Your medical records can also be used as evidence to support your claim.
After seeking medical attention, it’s worth your time and energy to seek out professional legal services. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you may be able to recover compensation for your injury. Just keep in mind that time is of the essence here.
In Indiana, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years after the accident took place. The time can be even shorter if a government agency is involved. This means that any lawsuit you try to file after the statute of limitations experience is invalid. If you wait too long to speak to an Indiana personal injury attorney, you may miss out on your right to recover compensation. This would be absolutely devastating, especially if you suffered significant injuries and extensive medical bills because of your accident.
Your attorney is well aware of the time limit and will work quickly. It’s very important to follow their advice explicitly if you want to maximize your chance of recovering damages following your accident.
