It is not uncommon for victims of personal injury accidents to have questions. Most people just don’t know exactly how personal injury cases work, that is, until they need to bring forward a claim. Many victims may not realize they are victims at all, and may suffer the burden of financial loss for years to come. Others may not advocate for themselves how they should, and may accept a low settlement offer from an insurance company, not realizing they could have received more. Here are examples of questions many people have during their appointment with a personal injury lawyer:
What should someone do after a personal injury accident?
After any kind of personal injury accident, it is important to go to the doctor. Take photographs or video of your visible injuries, property damage, and factors that may have caused the accident. Examples of personal injury cases include car accidents, medical malpractice, birth injury, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and falls, motorcycle accidents, and more. It will be imperative to your case to start a paper trail for your injuries that resulted from the accident. If you don’t seek out medical attention promptly, it can hinder your chances at receiving fair compensation.
Will my case go to trial or will it be settled outside of court?
Most personal injury cases get settled without having to go to court. As the team from Yearin Law Office knows, the majority of settlements are resolved prior to the trial date. A case may go to trial if there are factual disputes or a contested legal issue between both parties. Your lawyer can help you prepare for court if negotiations fail to be successful. Many victims prefer to settle quickly, especially if they are facing expensive medical bills and other losses. However, it is prudent that victims do not accept a low settlement offer if they deserve more. A settlement amount must include the victim’s future losses too, not only what they have experienced in the short-term since the accident.
How do I know what my personal injury case is worth?
There is no way to exactly predict the value of your claim without meeting with a lawyer for a consultation. You can guess an approximate value based on economic damages you have accumulated since the accident, but there may be damages you are eligible to receive that you didn’t know were available to you. When speaking with your lawyer, be sure to have copies of medical documentation, statements from work for lost wages, receipts for property repair or replacement, and other such documentation. Using these details, a potential monetary award can be calculated and fought for. There are non-economic damages that a victim may be entitled to receive on top of that, such as compensation for pain and suffering, loss of life enjoyment, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, impairments, disabilities, and more.
Victims of personal injury accidents may consult with a lawyer so they have someone watching out for their best interests at all times. Thankfully, there are legal professionals, such as a personal injury attorney from Yearin Law Office, to answer the victim’s most pressing questions.