A personal injury lawyer protects your legal rights whether you are hurt in an automobile accident, a slip and fall, or by a defective product or dangerous drug for which someone else may be legally responsible (due to negligence or carelessness).
After an accident, numerous questions need to be addressed. Hospitals, doctors, and other medical professionals want to know how they will be paid while insurance companies want to know what happened in a recorded statement, and everything in between.
Having a personal injury attorney act on your behalf means they will handle the continuous flow of communications and tasks, allowing you, the victim or plaintiff to focus on your recovery.
This is a general overview of what a personal injury lawyer may do for you. The specific tasks will vary depending on the type of case, the specialty area, and how the case progresses.
A personal injury is an injury to one’s body, mind, or emotions; not to one’s property. Personal injury law enables a person to go to civil court and receive compensation after suffering injuries due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness.
Personal injury accidents may include:
Automobile, motorcycle, and truck accidentsYour attorney will seek compensation for the damage you, the plaintiff, have suffered. This may include:
The responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer vary depending on the type of case and specialty area. Common activities include:
Investigating claims. Screening clients and evaluating the merits of your case before taking it on.
Gathering evidence. Obtaining relevant documents such as police reports, interviewing witnesses, obtaining photos, videos, or diagrams of the accident scene, documenting adverse conditions, and gathering medical and employment reports.
Obtaining evidence is a critical step because it can help establish liability for who caused the accident and, in reality, sometimes it can disappear or be destroyed.
Product liability. If your injuries were caused by a defective product, the product itself is crucial evidence. If you have it, give it to your lawyer. If not, secure it before the manufacturer or insurance company does. Your lawyer will also search for prior product liability lawsuits to establish a pattern of negligence.
Negotiating with insurance companies. Reviewing insurance policy details and determining the maximum level of compensation. Handling all communications with the insurance companies.
Sending demand letters and preparing pleadings. Sending demand letters to insurance companies or other relevant parties, stating the facts of the accident and demanding damages. Preparing pleadings if the insurance company refuses to settle.
Discovery. Preparing for settlement and trial by sending interrogatories to the defendant, deposing witnesses and experts, hiring expert witnesses, and conducting on-site investigations.
Representing you at trial. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will represent you at trial.
Consult an attorney who knows personal injury law.
Consult an attorney who knows personal injury law.
You want to concentrate on recovering from your injuries, which may include extensive rehabilitation. Meanwhile, your personal injury attorney can focus on obtaining a fair settlement for your damages and preparing for trial.
When you need a personal injury lawyer, contact the capable counsel of Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600. One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case. We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.
START YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATION
Would you like to receive news and blog updates regularly? Sign up to receive our email newsletter. Your email address will only be used to send you our newsletter and respond to inquiries.
Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements.
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally written and published on December 23, 2022; it was reviewed for content and accuracy on February 5, 025, and republished at that time.
