What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

Injuries can be a devastating setback in your life, especially when they weren't your fault. Your injury may mean a loss of income, that you're hit with expensive medical bills, or that you're not able to enjoy your life as you once were. On top of all of this, you often find yourself stuck in frustrating negotiations with the insurance company.

It may be worth the investment to hire legal representation, such as a personal injury lawyer that is capable and willing to sue the responsible party for the compensation to which you have a legal claim. In this article, let's answer the question of "What can a personal injury lawyer do for you?" and discuss why you need a personal injury lawyer after an injury.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do? 

To begin with, what do injury lawyers do? What do personal injury lawyers cover? A personal injury lawyer is a civil case attorney who focuses on personal injury cases. Their role is to collect evidence and build a strong case for you and represent your rights to compensation through settlements or in court if a lawsuit needs to be filed and the case goes to trial. Some of the things a personal injury lawyer can do for you include:

• Gather evidence and witness testimony to build your case
• Attempt to track down hit-and-run drivers in order to serve them with your summons
• Advise you on what offers to take or refuse from the other side
• Negotiate with opposing attorneys or with the insurance company in settlements
• Lend expert knowledge of the courts and proceedings

The best injury lawyers are those with years of experience and a wealth of knowledge in the specific area of personal injury, as well as a commitment to help you seek the maximum financial recovery possible in your case.

Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

There is no law requiring you to hire a personal injury lawyer before suing for injury. However, it can be difficult to win a case as a "pro se" or self-represented plaintiff. You will essentially be going up against legal professionals as well as insurance adjusters, all looking for ways to poke holes in your claims. A personal injury lawyer serves as a champion fighting for your rights and your side of the story.

Some benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer include:

• Access to legal expertise: These attorneys have handled personal injury cases before. They know the precedents and legal arguments that might help you. They also know the judges and the insurance companies. 
• Less burden on your shoulders: If you sue in a personal injury case, you are either the injured party or a loved one of someone recently injured or killed. Either way, you are dealing with incredible pain. Settlement negotiations and litigation can be stressful, especially if you go it alone. A compassionate personal injury attorney can take the burden off your shoulders by building your case and handling the proceedings.
• Contingency fee cases: Some plaintiffs make the mistake of assuming that it is more expensive to hire an attorney than to represent themselves. This is not necessarily the case, at least not upfront. Many personal injury lawyers, such as those at The Moore Law Firm, take cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means that they don't get paid unless you win your case or have a recovery.
• Potential for higher compensation: A personal injury attorney may be able to point out certain rights to compensation that you didn't know you had, such as a right to long-term rehabilitation costs or compensation for emotional distress. In cases of gross or malicious negligence, they may also be able to seek punitive damages, which is an additional monetary award to punish or discourage particularly egregious behavior, such as drunk driving.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

So what does personal injury law cover? What kind of cases do personal injury lawyers handle? It could be anything in which you or a loved one suffers an injury due to someone else's fault or negligence. Some personal injury practice areas include:

• Motor vehicle accidents, including truck accidents, motorcycle accident, and hit and run accidents
• Medical malpractice cases
• Product liability accidents, such as harm from a defective product
• Workplace accidents
• Premises liability accidents, such as slip and fall accidents
• Wrongful death accidents
• Animal attacks

Legal Process for Personal Injury Claims

The process for personal injury cases varies in length depending on the type of injury. However, there are standard steps:

Personal Injury Lawsuit

You and your personal injury attorney file a personal injury lawsuit. This will include a complaint that lays out the way you were injured and that it was due to the negligence of the defendant, as well as a summons to the defendant. The complaint may be filed with exhibits to include evidence, such as photos of your injury, medical invoices, and pay stubs to prove lost wages.

Liability Insurance

Alternatively, you may have to file a claim with the other party's liability insurance. In the claim, you will need to explain the circumstances of the accident in as much detail as possible, as well as the fault of the other party and the severity of your injuries. The insurance company will then investigate the claim and decide whether to deny or accept it.

Fair Settlement

At any point after an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit is filed, you may begin settlement discussions with the other party. They may offer you a counter for a certain amount of compensation, and you and your attorney will discuss whether you feel this is fair. You may accept, refuse, or offer another counter. This continues until either a fair settlement is reached or it becomes clear that no agreement will be made.

Litigation

If no fair settlement can be reached, you and your attorney will take your case to court. This lengthens the process and may be stressful or intimidating. However, court verdicts tend to be higher than settlements as the time for the defendant to offer a satisfactory amount in exchange for settling the case has passed.

How To Choose the Right Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

Which personal injury lawyer to hire is not a choice to be made lightly. It's important to find the best injury attorney for you. Take time to look for one with a reputation for excellence and a track record of success. 

The Moore Law Firm has been handling personal injury cases since 1932. We provide Cincinnati accident victims with information about their rights and next steps, and we are committed to getting you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about the injury legal help we offer or to schedule a free consultation.