A lawyer who specializes in personal injury law represents people who have been hurt in accidents. Personal injury lawyers practice tort law, which covers both intentional and negligent acts. They represent clients in seeking compensation to cover losses associated with their injuries.
Below, we will cover more information about a personal injury lawyer's job. However, if you are hurt and are seeking legal representation, we suggest reaching out to our team at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law. We have decades of experience in all types of personal injury cases, and have helped clients maximize their compensation.
Personal Injury Case Types
Cases involving personal injuries generally include another party's negligence. This can happen in a wide range of auto accidents, such as those involving motorcycles and trucks. It may also include other forms of transportation accidents, such as those involving airplanes, bicycles, mass transit, boats, and pedestrians -- all of which would be handled by personal injury lawyers.
Additionally, personal injury cases could deal with matters regarding premises liability, such as those involving negligent security, slip and fall incidents, and animal assaults and bites. There's also situations where injuries occur during construction accidents and abuse and neglect in nursing homes, as well as medical malpractice claims.
Types include:
- Auto Accidents
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Construction Site Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
Compensation Types
Plaintiffs in personal injury cases may be eligible for compensation for the losses they have incurred, both economic and non-economic damages.
Included in losses that can be recovered include:
- Medical Costs
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Consortium
- Loss of Companionship
- Loss of Quality of Life
- Pain and Suffering
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Depending on the sort of case, their area of expertise, and where they are in the case's process, personal injury lawyers will take different measures. In order to help your case, personal injury lawyers may do the following:
Investigate Your Claim
In most cases, personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning they are only paid for their services if a settlement or jury decision has been reached. They take great care in selecting prospective clients and assessing the merits of the case because they will usually finance a case. A personal injury lawyer won't take on a case that they don't think will be successful for their client.
Compiling Evidence
Evidence in a personal injury claim may be gathered by the plaintiff. Obtaining any police or incident report may be required. He or she might locate witnesses and obtain witness testimony. They take photos of the accident report themselves or give a photographer instructions to do so. Or, might also keep a record of any evidence for the case, including photographs, video, or other kinds of evidence like property damage. A personal injury lawyer representing you in your case will help you with this.
Evidence may be used to prove who was at fault for the accident and how much the claim is worth. Medical records and bills, employment records,, and reports of property damage are all forms of evidence.
Insurance Company Negotiations
The majority of people don't negotiate on a regular basis. Personal injury lawyers, on the other hand, make a living from using their negotiation skills to come to a resolution with insurers. A personal injury lawyer will handle all correspondence with the insurance company and keep the injury victim from taking any actions that might have a negative impact on their claim.
Demand Letters
After carefully reviewing the case, a personal injury lawyer may write an insurance company a demand letter. This will outline the accident's specifics and request a specific sum in compensation for the losses the defendant caused.
Discovery
The personal injury lawyer may draft a complaint against the defendant if the insurance company declines to make a reasonable settlement offer. The legal justifications for why the defendant is liable for the accident are laid out in the complaint and also specifies the dollar amount of the client's requested damages.
Normally, the defendant gets 30 days from the moment they receive the complaint to respond.
Conducting Research
The lawyer for the injury victim may start the discovery process. This includes contacting the defendant through interrogatories to request specific information. Deposition parties, witnesses, and experts may also be involved.
Trial for Clients
In the event that the case goes to trial, a personal injury lawyer represents the client in court. Personal injury lawyers can ensure that these measures are followed because they are knowledgeable with court procedures.
Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If someone else's negligence caused your injuries, a personal injury lawyer like Brandon J. Broderick can support your case and give you the best shot at success. Acting fast is important. Our team will compile all the details and evidence surrounding your accident to present a solid case.
Our group of knowledgeable personal injury lawyers can assist you if you were injured and want to take legal action. 100% client happiness is our goal every time. Call us today to talk about your case.