When You've Been Injured You Need A Personal Injury Attorney

When You've Been Personally Injured

When the negligence of another has left you hurt you have legal rights and may be entitled to receive monetary compensation.

Get Help

You can handle a personal injury case by yourself and save the cost of hiring a personal injury attorney, but it just isn't worth the risk. You can speak with the person responsible for your injury and hope to settle without having to involve the legal system, but if the at fault party has insurance they have the right to turn the matter over to their insurance company. If this is the route they take then you are in a position you do not want to be in, you have to deal with the insurance company. Insurance companies aren't generally willing to give you a settlement as large as you are entitled to. They want to settle low, quickly and save money. Remember that this is an insurance company's profession. They have handled all sorts of cases of personal injury, know the ins and outs, and will do whatever they can to save themselves money. They have their own legal departments and in nearly every case they will outmatch you if you try to handle the matter yourself. You need a qualified personal injury lawyer to defend your rights.

What Does A Personal Injury Attorney Do?

A personal injury attorneydefends your best interests. They have seen cases similar to yours, know the law, and know what sort of compensation you are entitled to. They will evaluate your case and if they feel that you are in the right and deserve compensation they will plot a legal course. A personal injury attorney keeps your rights in mind and will work diligently to protect you and make sure that your rights are protected.

Choosing A Good Personal Injury Attorney

If you aren't familiar with a personal injury attorney and you need to find one you can ask an attorney that you have had experience with. They will most likely have at least one personal injury attorney to refer you. If you don't know a lawyer then ask your friends and family if they can refer you to anybody. When you have the names of some personal injury attorneys do some research to find out some background information about them and find out what other people have to say about them. When you have decided on a few lawyers that you think you will be comfortable with give each of them a call and set up a meeting with them. Most attorneys will meet with you initially at no charge, but some may have a fee so be sure to ask when you set up your meeting. At the meeting you can tell them about your case and decide on which attorney you would like to have represent you.

Ask Your Personal Attorney Questions

You need to ask your attorney questions and be as well informed as possible. One of the most important things you need to ask your attorney about is cost. Many personal injury lawyers work on a "Contingency Fee" basis, meaning that they receive a percentage of the settlement if they win your case (usually 33%-40% in personal injury cases), but they receive nothing if the case is lost. They don't get paid unless you get paid and that ensures that they will do everything they can to make sure that you receive as much as you are entitled to from your personal injury. You should also ask about any "Attorney Fees" and "Attorney Costs." These are two entirely separate things, so while there might not fees there may be costs, or vice versa. The majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court, so some of the fees and costs will not come into play but you should make sure that you know about them because you will pay them. Some attorneys are willing to negotiate their fe es but you should keep in mind that more experienced attorneys will be able to get you larger awards and settlements than attorneys with less experience.

In the end remember that if you have been injured due to the neglect of another party you do have rights. The best option you have to protect those rights is to hire an experienced, skilled, and respected personal injury attorney to make sure that you receive everything to which you are entitled.