For those who are unfamiliar, a personal injury claim is a legal action filed by an individual who has been injured as a result of the negligence or carelessness of another person or organization. In order to have a valid personal injury claim, the individual must have suffered an injury that was caused by the negligence of another. However, many people don’t know what to do if they want to file a personal injury lawsuit, particularly if they’re trying to do it on their own. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to help you win your case. If you want to learn more, keep reading to find out what to expect from the legal process when filing a personal injury claim.
What should you expect when filing a personal injury claim?
The first step in the legal process is to contact an experienced attorney who specializes in personal injury cases, like the experts at Walner Law. This lawyer will be able to assess your situation and provide guidance on how best to proceed with your case. After speaking with your lawyer, you will then need to gather evidence related to your accident or incident that caused the injury such as medical records, witness statements, photographs of the scene, and more. If you want to learn more about Walner Law’s track record and history, visit WalnerLaw.com.
The next step involves negotiating with insurance companies or other involved parties for compensation for losses suffered due to another’s negligence or wrongdoing. At this stage of proceedings, it is especially important that clients understand all terms and conditions included within any settlement agreement prior to signing off on anything. If negotiations fail then litigation might be required which includes outlining details related to one’s injuries/damages sustained along with making court appearances if necessary.
If you do need to go to trial, your lawyer will coach you so you can provide complete answers in response to expected questions from both sides of the dispute before attending any deposition or hearing session. Doing so allows you time to familiarize yourself with the arguments in the case, which can prove invaluable when being questioned under pressure during actual testimony.
Why do you need to seek legal advice right away?
Now that you know more about the legal process, let’s discuss why you need to seek legal advice right after your accident. The primary reason is that there may be a statute of limitations that applies to your personal injury claim. A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit on how long a person has to file a lawsuit. If a person files a lawsuit after the time limit has expired, the court will likely dismiss the case. The time limit may be extended in some specific cases, like if the defendant fraudulently concealed the wrongdoing.
If you’re concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer, you should know that most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fees are a type of fee arrangement between a lawyer and a client in which the lawyer is paid a percentage of the damages awarded. This type of fee arrangement is common in personal injury cases because the lawyer only gets paid if the client recovers money from the other side. This allows you to avoid an expensive upfront fee and for attorneys to take cases that wouldn’t ordinarily be profitable.
Filing a personal injury claim can be an overwhelming experience, but it will be a little easier if you have a reputable personal injury lawyer by your side. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand the process and ensure that your rights are protected. By understanding the basics of personal injury law and the steps of filing a personal injury claim, you can ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Don’t delay, as you may find that your claim is subject to a statute of limitations. Follow the advice in this article and you’ll be well on your way to winning your case.
