Personal injury lawyers provide legal advice or representation to those that have been injured in an accident or through the negligence of another. This area of practice is also known as tort law in the United States. Common personal injury claims can include traffic accidents, slips and falls, mass transportation, defective products, animal attacks or wrongful death.
When a person has been injured, their life has likely been altered and they are a different person than they were before the incident occured. A Personal injury lawyer will fight to close the gap between the person they were before the incident and the person they are now.
If an injured person has suffered physically, mentally, has had loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, or other damages, a personal injury lawyer is seeking compensation for the losses suffered. In a wrongful death case, a lawyer will work on behalf of the family of the victim.
Assessing the Case
A personal injury attorney will look at a case and determine who is at fault. In addition, they will also figure out how that party should be held accountable. This is an important first step as most personal injury attorneys will take on cases they feel confident they can win. This provides important information to the victim. It isn’t always fair to learn your case may not be successful, but it may be better than spending a significant amount of time tied up in legal proceedings.
Building the Case
The legal system takes time. There is an immense amount of paperwork and deadlines to adhere to. At this stage, a personal injury attorney will calculate the compensation that should be paid to the victim. Medical bills and lost wages are some of the calculations that will go into the settlement amount.
In many personal injury cases, the victim will have to negotiate with insurance companies or other corporations which can feel intimidating if you don’t have that same experience as a personal injury lawyer would. Personal injury attorneys are familiar with the entire litigation process. It can feel like a relief to have someone guiding you through this process. Having a personal injury lawyer working on your case allows victims and their families to focus on their recovery.
Closing the Case
At the end of the litigation process, there are two likely outcomes, either the case has either gone to court or has been settled out of court. If there is a payout for the victim, a personal injury lawyer will handle the disbursement.
When the case is resolved, it is at this stage that the personal injury lawyer will be paid the agreed upon fee. Whatever the outcome, a personal injury attorney is there to assist.
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Hiring a personal injury attorney can feel like a huge relief. You’ve encountered a life you weren’t expecting and may not have been prepared for. Having someone fighting on your side can ease that burden.
Jeffrey Penneys supports Pennsylvania injury victims throughout the Keystone State, including in Allentown, Reading, Upper Darby, Harrisburg.
If you have questions about your personal injury lawsuit, contact Jeffrey Harlan Penneys to discuss your case. There is no obligation and your consultation is free of charge.
Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay