If you’ve been hurt or seriously injured in an accident, you are most likely going to need the help of a personal injury attorney. Most people know that personal injury lawyers help you to recoup your losses and receive fair compensation for injuries sustained. However, personal injury lawyers handle much more than that and offer a wide range of services to their clients.
Personal Injury Cases
First and foremost, it’s important to determine what scenarios a personal injury attorney would be helpful. Most people associate personal injury law with auto accidents, but there are other reasons a personal injury lawyer should be involved. Personal injury attorneys can help in claims caused by:
- Car accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Work-related injuries
If you’ve been the victim of one of these types of accidents, a personal injury attorney can help you through the claim and legal processes.
Investigation
Building up your case through an independent investigation is one of the core responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury attorney will gather all relevant information as it pertains to your case including:
- Police reports
- Medical bills
- Medical treatment history
- Witness statements and photographs
- Video surveillance
- Any other official reports
Once your personal attorney has gathered all of this information, they can start to make a claim and determine what is considered reasonable compensation.
Claim Process
After the investigation period, the claims process begins. Your personal injury attorney will start by issuing a “demand” to the insurer or the liable party. In the case of a car accident, this is the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. If the demand is met with a settlement from the insurance company, your attorney will meet with you to go over your options. Typically, there is some back and forth during this negotiation process in an attempt to ensure a fair compensation plan. Most claims end during this period in a form of settlement that satisfies demands. If there is no settlement, your personal injury attorney will continue to assist you through the legal process.
Litigation
While it is rare for a personal injury case to make it all the way to court, it does happen. Your personal injury lawyer will submit the complaint which is then “served” to the liable party.
Discovery
After the complaint has been filed and the defendant is made aware of the charges, the “discovery” portion of litigation begins. It is during this stage where your personal injury lawyer will exchange information with the responsible parties. This information consists of:
Depositions
Documentation requests
Interrogations
This portion of the litigation process can take several months to complete. Your personal injury attorney will keep you up-to-date on the progress. After the discovery process comes to a close, a trial date is set.
Trial
Before the actual trial begins, your personal injury attorney may attempt to file pre-trial motions to withhold or include certain evidence. Once the trial ensues, your attorney will manage all litigation. Again, it is rare for a personal injury claim to make it this far.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
Following an accident or an injury, your focus should be solely centered around your health and well-being. A personal injury attorney can handle all of the claims, insurance communication, and negotiations following the accident. That way, you can remain vigilant in your recovery. The months following an accident can be stressful and a personal injury attorney can take a lot of that stress off of your plate. The personal injury team at Esplin Weight is ready to assist you in your personal injury case.
