3 minute read
Choosing your personal injury attorney
from How to Guide_062720
by Shaw Media
Accidents happen and when they occur, they can turn your everyday world upside down. Having a good personal injury attorney to help you navigate this crisis is crucial for multiple reasons. For example, imagine you were involved in a traffic collision multiple people, agencies, and companies will be involved. A police officer would have come to the scene to assist, investigate, and generate a Traffic Crash Report. The officer also would provide you with a Motorist Report to complete. As a result of the collision your injury may require an ambulance transport you to a nearby hospital for treatment. The first several days and weeks following a traffic collision are typically devoted to your medical care and treatment. Your injuries may require multiple different doctors, at multiple different locations, that can last for weeks, months, a year, or longer. Your treating physician may place restrictions on you that prevent you from working. You will receive numerous medical bills. You will receive calls or correspondence from your car insurance, your health insurance, the at fault party’s car insurance, medical providers, and others. You might not be sure you need an attorney, but likely you do.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS:
Personal injury claims typically have a statute of limitation, which is a law that sets the time period a party to a claim has to initiate legal proceedings against another party. Most personal injury claims such as an automobile collision generally have a two-year statute of limitation. However, there are instances where you may be limited to a one-year limitation or an even shorter notice provision requirement. For example, if the at fault driver in the scenario, was intoxicated, and that intoxication came from a local tavern, you have a potential dram shop claim against the tavern in addition to your motor vehicle negligence claim. Dram shop claims generally have a one-year statute of limitation. One year can go by rather quickly while one is treating for injuries, therefore it is always recommended you seek a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
MAXIMIZING YOUR POTENTIAL RECOVERY:
One of the biggest benefits of enlisting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible is a good personal injury attorney will be able to help you strategize all of your potential recoveries. For example, if the at fault driver was within the course and scope of his employment, the employer can be held responsible. A good personal injury attorney will have the resources and knowledge to properly investigate a claim. For example, if the accident requires a reconstructionist the attorney will have the proper contacts to achieve this. A good personal injury attorney will help you navigate your own automobile insurance policy provisions, the at fault parties’ automobile insurance provisions as well as the provisions provided by your own health insurance. Good personal injury attorneys understand the subrogation rights your auto insurance carrier and health insurance carrier may have and can help you maximize your recovery putting more money in your pocket. Often, when injured people try to handle this by themselves, they make choices that ultimately leave them with less in their pocket. The at fault insurance company is not on your side, and it’s interests are contrary to yours. A good personal injury attorney will help maximize your recovery.
FREE CONSULTATIONS:
A good personal injury attorney typically will
not charge a fee for a consultation. Consultations are vital to both the attorney and client in establishing trust and understanding. Both the attorney and client need to be comfortable and confident with each other. A consultation provides an opportunity for both attorney and client to see if each other are a good fit. This consultation is your time to take advantage and ask the attorney questions. Pay attention to the answers the attorney gives you. His answers should be forthright and clear.
Picking a good attorney is crucial to your outcome. You will want to search for one that is reputable and delivers results. One of the most common and widely used practices in searching for attorney is by word of mouth referral from a family or friend. Another commonly used avenue is web searching. Check attorney websites in your area. A good attorney will typically highlight their websites with their personal results, pivotal cases, settlements and verdicts achieved.
