If you have been injured because of another person’s negligence, then you have probably been advised to contact a personal injury lawyer. The reason for this is that without a personal injury lawyer’s help, you won’t be able to receive compensation.
However, there’s a lot more to personal injury law than just getting people compensation. These highly skilled legal experts can help with many other things, too.
This post will tell you everything you need to know about them, including who they are, what they do, and how you can hire one.
Who Are They?
A personal injury lawyer provides legal services to people who have been injured or hurt as a result of somebody else’s negligence. While they usually deal with cases that involve two or more people, they also represent people who have been hurt by companies and government agencies. Personal injury law is a legal discipline that they have to study and master before they can start representing people, which they do in college. It must be noted, a lawyer cannot get you compensation if your injuries were not caused by somebody else, such as if they were caused by extreme weather, like a snowstorm.
What Do They Do?
Personal injury lawyers help people who have been injured so that they can move forward with their lives. According to one expert in Rochester, NY personal injury attorney, more specifically, they use their wealth of experience to ensure that their clients receive compensation. More often than not, personal injury claims are made directly to people’s insurance companies. Sometimes, however, personal injury lawyers also represent them in court. When personal injury cases end up in court, it is usually because a government agency or a company is being sued. Both insurance and court claims are far too complex for ordinary people to represent themselves, hence why personal injury lawyers are necessary.
Hire To Hire One?
Research Online
If you want to hire a lawyer because you think that you have a case, then the first step is to conduct an online search. Be aware that the websites that appear at the top of the search results are ones that have the highest authority, meaning they are the most experienced and qualified lawyers in your area. However, you do need to do a little more research than a simple internet search. Once you have found a lawyer that you think is suitable, you then need to read their reviews, see what past clients have to say about them, and check out the number of cases that they have previously won.
Make Statement
Once you have found the lawyer that’s right for you, you can then send them an email or call them and ask to come in and see them. The first interview you have with your lawyer will involve you explaining your case, and then making a written statement. This statement is what will be given to insurers or the court, to explain the extent of your injuries, and how the accident you were involved in has affected your life.
Provide Evidence
You may also need to provide evidence. Ideally, after your accident, you should take photographs or videos of the person responsible for your accident. If that is not possible then you should go to your physician and get a medical statement, confirming your injuries in writing. You also need to make sure that you get the details of the person responsible. If you do not know who they are, then you cannot make a claim against them. If you do not have photographic or video evidence, then your lawyer might want to see if there was CCTV on the street or in the building where you were injured.
Advance Claim
If the lawyer you have chosen is satisfied that you have a case, then they will then accept you as a client, and get your case started. Usually, the first step is to reach out to the responsible person’s insurer. However, as already mentioned, if you have been injured by a government agency or a company, then your lawyer could need to arrange a court summons. You will be pleased to know though, most cases made against companies usually resolve out of court. This is because very few companies want the negative press associated with going through a personal injury lawsuit.
Attend Court
If your case does need to be resolved in court, then you will need to attend. You may even have to give evidence, supporting your case. It is very important that you follow your lawyer’s advice when it comes to giving evidence. They will coach you on everything that you have to say. The reason that it’s important is that if you say the wrong thing, you can ruin your chances of winning (unless there is overwhelming evidence to support you). You may be able to attend via video link if you are too injured to go in person.
Being Honest
Honesty is vital to your case’s success. If you tell any lies and they are later discovered, then your entire case will be dismissed. Your lawyer won’t want to work with you if you are not telling the truth. You need to be honest in court, also. If you start lying when you are on the stand, your lawyer may intervene and then resign as your defence. It is natural to want to lie about one’s injuries. However, it is something that you need to avoid doing. Be as honest as possible and you will have a greater chance of winning.
Having Patience
Patience is just as important as honesty. Personal injury cases don’t resolve in a week. Your claim could go on for over a year. In fact, it is very common for claims to go on for this long. Your lawyer will have other cases that they are dealing with at the same time as yours. If you pester, nag, or annoy them, then you will make their life unnecessarily difficult. Instead, wait for them to reach out to you unless you have an urgent question that needs to be answered.
After an accident or an injury that was not your fault, your first point of call should be an attorney. Only a trained, experienced, and qualified personal injury lawyer will be able to get you the compensation that you need to move forwards with your life.
