If you’re wondering if you need a personal injury lawyer, read on. We’ll explain when to seek counsel as well as the benefits of doing so.
In the event you suffer injury, you may need to hire a lawyer to represent you for a claim. Injury to a person can include a wide variety of injuries, including bodily, mental, and emotional injuries.
A personal injury claim is a legal action that an injured person brings against the person or persons who are believed to have caused some form of harm. By legal definition, “personal injury” is an injury that happens to a person as opposed to property.
These claims are often filed after a civil wrong unfairly leads to loss or harm to an individual. Pursuant to these laws, called “tort” laws, the injured person can claim compensation for past and anticipated costs, such as medical bills, medical disability, and otherwise diminished quality of life, among many other things. By definition, personal injury claims cannot include a claim for harm to personal or commercial property.
Examples of personal injury
Vehicular accidents
Injury involving motor vehicles often means the driver or passenger is entitled to compensation from the responsible person or entity, particularly for injuries that result in expenses such as medical and therapy bills or loss of income from the accident. Personal injury claims can also include pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized vehicles.
Workplace accidents
Accidents that occur during work hours that result in physical harm often result in the employer paying medical expenses. Consulting a legal professional is critical to help ensure that your rights will be protected and you will receive compensation.
Medical malpractice
In instances where a medical practitioner has been negligent or careless, resulting in injury to a patient, their actions may give rise to a medical malpractice personal injury claim. There are different types of medical malpractice, including misdiagnosis, improper treatment, errors during surgery, and mistakes with medication.
Do I need a personal injury lawyer?
With the complexity of personal injury claims in mind, it is extremely important to have legal guidance from a personal injury lawyer. It is not uncommon to need expert assistance, especially if your life has been altered significantly due to personal injury. A personal injury lawyer will represent your interests as they relate to settlement decisions with the at-fault individual and/or their insurance company.
Furthermore, it is important to initiate a personal injury claim sooner rather than later as there may be statutory requirements and deadlines associated with giving notice to the at-fault parties, and filing a claim in court. Seeking legal counsel as soon as possible also ensures your lawyer will have enough lead time to properly investigate and research the plaintiff case.
If you are still unsure whether you should consult a personal injury lawyer, the following considerations may help answer whether you should seek their counsel.
You experience severe injury and injuries
Insurance companies often consider the severity of your injury, the cost of medical bills, and the overall length of recovery to assess the amount of compensation you are entitled to. Thus, the amount of compensation you receive will depend in large part on the severity of your injury or injuries, and the length of recovery.
The insurance company will be limited in the amount of compensation it can offer, based on the applicable policy limits. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help in the pursuit of adequate compensation that is proportional to the impact of the injury.