If you’ve been injured in an accident, you absolutely need to retain a credible personal injury attorney to handle your claim. But, what does a personal injury lawyer do?
In this article, we’re going to cover the mechanics of what an accident lawyer actually does.
Following an Accident, an Injury Attorney Can Be Your Advocate
The average personal injury lawyers in Springfield can help with more than vehicle accidents. If you are hurt in any type of accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
One of the reasons why so many people hire a lawyer when they have been involved in a car accident is to take care of any legal matters. They don’t want it to disrupt their place in the hospital so they have their attorney work on it while they get treated for other injuries.
It’s important to know that insurance companies are not your friend if you’ve been involved in an accident.
You’d think that insurance companies would be your best friend after an accident. However, they’re not. Insurance companies are there for one reason – to make more money. They will try to get you to pay for things that you don’t need, or they will try to deny your claim all together.
An attorney can act as your ally and advocate for your needs following an accident.
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Steps a Personal Injury Attorney Will Take to Help You
When someone is injured and needs medical treatment it can be difficult to decide on what steps they need to take. One important decision they must make is whether or not they want to pursue a personal injury settlement or sue the responsible party. A personal injury lawyer can help you make this decision and negotiate a settlement.
Job #1 – Gather Information About the Accident
When your lawyer discusses your case with you, he’s trying to get as clear a picture as possible on what happened. He might ask questions about the accident, the injuries you sustained, how it made you feel, how long you had to recover… Whether or not this is personal injury related he’ll want to know everything that affects your chance of winning the case
Your version of the accident becomes the map your lawyer follows as he protects your rights.
Job #2 – Communicate With the Insurance Companies
After a car accident, you will want to be sure that you are treated fairly. In the event that the other driver is at fault, their insurance company will likely contact your insurance company to negotiate a settlement.
Your attorney can help you with this process by communicating with both parties and ensuring that the settlement is fair.
This communication may also include formal letters of representation and give notice to the parties involved.
Job #3 – Injury Case Background and Research
A key function of a personal injury attorney is to investigate all aspects of your case so that they are fully prepared to help you win a settlement.
This could include retrieving medical records, conducting product testing, reviewing applicable insurance policies, consulting with experts and more.
It’s important to go over the details of a case before a settlement or trial for personal injury. Personal injury lawyers review all available information and then choose witnesses that can best help them with the case.
Job #4 – File a Lawsuit
If you have been injured in an accident and the insurance company is not willing to provide a fair settlement, then the next step may be filing a lawsuit. The first thing you should do is to contact an attorney to guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit.
Often, the case will be settled outside of a courtroom. The majority of personal injury cases in the United States are settled out of court through alternative dispute resolution.
Alternative dispute resolution is a way of solving disputes outside of the court system. It can be used in civil or criminal cases, but is especially effective in divorce settlements.
Settling out of court can be a better option for both parties. Going to trial can cost the injured person time, money, and energy. This is not only expensive for the litigant, but also for the litigant’s attorney. The attorney is also risking that time and money by going to trial.
Job #5 – Go to Trial
If you are unable to succeed finding a settlement out of court, the next step is to conduct a trial.
Your personal injury attorney would either conduct the trial themselves or work with another firm that specializes in trial litigation.
Job #6 – Ensure The Final Outcome is Beneficial to You
In the end, the most important part of what accident attorneys do is help you get your life back together. An accident can be a life-changing event, but attorneys can help in a small way to help you get back to where you were before it happened.
Personal injury attorneys often get a bad wrap, but they do important work. Just like any industry, there are some companies who are not reputable, but that shouldn’t spoil the great work done by many.
Prior to selecting an injury attorney, conduct your research to find someone with great experience who can help in your situation.What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
