What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury lawyers specialize in tort law, which covers any private or civil case involving injuries. Tort law is commonly associated with physical injuries, ranging from auto accidents to slipping and falling in front of a building. There are also cases which have nothing to do with physical injuries. This includes breach of contracts or slander cases where your reputation is damaged.
A personal injury lawyer ensures you are paid fair compensation for your damages. They also ensure the offending party is not able to commit the same offense to another party. Personal injury lawyers help you get paid for any lost wages due to being unable to work, medical expenses from your injury and miscellaneous fees associated with pain and suffering.
Roles of a Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured through no fault of your own, it is in your best interest to consult a personal injury lawyer. The majority of lawyers provide free consultations to determine whether you have a case. Even if you are confident the other party is responsible, it is difficult to win a personal injury case without an attorney. A personal injury lawyer not only helps you win, but he or she also ensures you receive the full amount you deserve.
When you sue someone for damages, there are many damages you can include. Some of these expenses are difficult to calculate, which is another way a personal injury attorney helps. For example, if your injury results in a hospital visit, you can sue not only for the medical bills, but also lost wages if you missed work because of the visit. If you are not currently employed, your personal injury attorney can still get compensation, since the time you were in the hospital affected your ability to search for a job.
Personal injury lawyers understand how to take abstract concepts and attach fair prices. This is important because if you charge too much in damages, you hurt the legitimacy of your case. Hiring a personal injury lawyer is especially important if you are suing a business for damages. Large businesses have the funds to hire the best legal representation. Without a lawyer, you risk getting paid significantly less, or even losing the case entirely.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
There are many cases where it is appropriate to hire a personal injury lawyer. A common misconception is you can only sue for damages if you were severely injured. You are allowed to sue for damages whether or not you were injured. For example, if you were involved in a car accident but were not hurt, you can still sue the other driver for property damage. You can also include medical expenses if you were brought to a hospital or had to get an X-ray.
You can also sue for personal injury even if you were not physically hurt. Both slander and libel are considered personal injury cases. For example, if a former employer is spreading misinformation about why you left the company, you can sue them for damages. Your lawyer will argue the employer is making it difficult for you to find a new job. In these cases, you can not only sue for lost wages, but also the stress of having your reputation damaged.
Not all personal injury cases involve you being harmed directly by a third party. Product liability cases are also classified as personal injury. If a device malfunctions or the instructions did not include proper safety procedures, you can sue the manufacturer for damages. These cases also apply if you were sold food or medication past the expiration date.
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Depending on who you are suing, personal injury cases take months to resolve and require multiple court appearances. For the best results, you need to research lawyers in your area. Once you find a potential lawyer, take the time to talk with them and ask basic questions about your case.
An important question to ask involves rates. Lawyers often charge clients different rates based on the difficulty of the case. With shorter, straightforward cases, it is not uncommon for lawyers to charge a flat fee. For longer, more involved cases, attorneys often charge a contingent fee. A contingent fee is a percentage of your earnings which your lawyer receives after the case is won. If you lose the case, you do not have to pay anything. You must also ask about any other fees, such as case expenses or report costs.
If you are approaching a law firm, you must ask if the lawyer is personally handling the case, or if it will get assigned to a different attorney. If it is assigned to another attorney, ask to speak with the lawyer. Find out how experienced he or she is and whether they represented similar cases in the past.
There are a few resources to help find personal injury lawyers. The bar association has an online directory, which allows you to search for lawyers in your state. The government also has a resource for lower-income individuals to find legal representation, including lawyers who take personal injury cases pro bono.
