Personal injury law is something that most people don’t know a lot about it. It’s not hard to see why this is, since it is a very complex area of law, that takes years of study to master.
However, one thing most people do know is that if they have been injured because of somebody else’s negligence, then the first person they call should be a personal injury lawyer.
If you have been injured but aren’t sure whether or not you need one, then this post is for you. Here’s how you can understand when a personal injury lawyer might be necessary.
Accident Claims
The main reason people make personal injury claims is that they have been injured by somebody else, i.e., in car accidents. Car accidents are the most common type of personal injury claim made. However, a personal injury law firm will be able to deal with virtually anything, as long as it involves one person being hurt by another person’s negligence. If a person is hurt by another person intentionally, then this is a criminal claim and out of a personal injury lawyer’s remit.
Dangerous Buildings
Another common type of personal injury claim made is when a person claims against the owners of a building because they hurt themselves inside of it. For example, if a person is inside a store and there is a loose tile that causes them to fall over, then the person injured can make a claim against the store’s owner. After all, the maintenance of the building is the store owner’s responsibility, not the client’s. The only time such a claim would not be taken on by a lawyer would be if the claimant was behaving irresponsibly.
Ingesting Poisons
An uncommon type of personal injury claim is when a person ingests poisons or harmful substances unknowingly. This could happen if the owner of a fast-food restaurant gave food to somebody that had been contaminated with a cleaning chemical, poison, or really any substance that could harm them. However, before a claim could be made, the claimant’s lawyer would need to investigate the case and rule out intentional poisoning. Intentional poisoning would be a criminal matter, and therefore could not be handled by a personal injury lawyer, no matter how well-trained they were.
Faulty Products
Faulty product claims are surprisingly common. Such claims are made when an individual buys a product that’s not working properly, and as a consequence of its malfunction, hurts them. An example of this could be a child’s toy with a nail inside it, that penetrates the child’s skin and sends them to the hospital. Another could be a laptop that explodes when it is first turned on, damaging the person who purchased it. Faulty product claims are a little more complex and unlike the other claims listed here, usually, resolve in court. When companies are sued it is also common for them to pay claimants out of court, in order to avoid bad press.
But regardless of the type of claim, the claimant should not give up. They should follow up with the claim instead. What they ought to do is consult with a reputable personal injury lawyer for guidance. For more information on filing an injury claim, click here!
Making A Claim
Local Lawyers
If you have been injured and want to make a claim, then the first step that you need to take is to find a lawyer who’s local to you, and who specializes in the area of personal injury law you are making a claim in (i.e., car accidents). While you could theoretically make a claim with a company based in another town or city, doing this will only complicate things. You won’t be able to visit their office as easily, and if they are from out of state then they might not be experienced in your state’s law. It’s better to work with lawyers who are known in your community.
Reading Reviews
Even if a lawyer’s well regarded locally, it’s still important to read their reviews. A lawyer’s reviews will give you a clear picture into the service that they provide their clients, their level of experience, and their determination. You may also want to visit the lawyer’s site and see if they have any information published about the number of cases that they have won. It is common for lawyers to post this information. If you see it on your chosen lawyer’s site then it is a strong indication that they are hard-working, proud, and worth hiring.
Level of Experience
Your chosen lawyer’s level of experience is definitely something that you need to take into consideration. Even if they are a really nice person, if they aren’t experienced then it’s not worth the risk. When you make a personal injury claim, in many respects your life is on the line. If you have been seriously injured and can’t return to work, then you need compensation. If your claim gets denied because you have hired an inexperienced lawyer, then you could end up in a lot of trouble, and may not be able to support yourself.
Selecting One
Once you are confident that the lawyer you want to hire is qualified, you can go ahead and hire them. Hiring a lawyer is a very simple process. All you need to do is to reach out to them and explain to them that you want to work with them. They will then want to sit down with you, study the details of your case, and then take a formal statement from you. Make sure that you also consider the cost before hiring a lawyer. If you are on a budget, then you might want to hire one on a no-win-no-fee basis, which basically means that you don’t pay unless your lawyer wins.
Having Interview
The last step in hiring a lawyer is the interview, as mentioned previously. This is not when you interview them, but when they interview you. During this interview, they will assess your suitability for a claim and will make a decision as to whether or not they want to represent you. If they think that you don’t have enough evidence or you don’t have the grounds for a claim, then they will refuse to take you on, in which case you will have to find more evidence or another lawyer.
Personal injury lawsuits can be incredibly complex and can’t be advanced without a trained lawyer’s help. While you could theoretically make an insurance claim against another person on your own, there’s no way that you would end up walking out of it with the right amount of compensation. Insurance adjusters get the better of lawyers sometimes, so you won’t stand a chance. It is an insurance adjuster’s job to argue down your claim and ensure that you get as little compensation as possible. Let a personal injury lawyer deal with them for you.
