When you have been seriously injured in a car or truck accident, slip and fall or another type of accident, questions abound: what if you are off work for an extended period of time? who pays the medical bills for your injuries? will you be disabled and able to return to work? Do you need to retain a personal injury lawyer and when should that take place?
The shortest answer to this last question is as soon as possible.
The sooner, the better after medical treatment has been obtained. The first step is to set up a free consultation to review your case details. Your attorney can tell you if you have a case, who can be held liable, what you can expect to recover, and more.
Your legal team may need to investigate the cause of the accident to figure out who is responsible. And, you want to make sure you adhere to the statutes of limitations, too. Both reasons to retain a lawyer sooner rather than later.
It is best to consult with a personal injury attorney, someone who is an expert in personal injury law, to get an experienced opinion. Most lawyers will offer a free no-obligation consultation before taking a case.
This is when the discovery process starts. Both parties send written questions and requests for documents to each other. Depositions will be taken from witnesses, experts, physicians, and others as needed. In general, this is the time for lawyers to prepare their cases for a jury trial and/or negotiate a fair settlement with the responsible parties.
Your attorney will tell you what will be needed for your claim but plan on keeping documents such as:
Your personal injury lawyer will handle all communications regarding your case.
Again, another easy question. Once you have an attorney, you refer the adjuster to him or her.
Obtaining a lawyer means that all communications will go through him. This saves you from revealing too much information to the defendant’s side (defense lawyers, claims adjusters) and, quite frankly, relieves you of the need to speak to the other side. In addition, your legal team can guide you in what to say to family and friends and refrain from making any comments on social media.
Questions? Call us at (877) 284-6600.
Economic damages are tangible damages that can be easily quantified and their value does not change. They may include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, household services, vocational rehabilitation, property damages, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost earning capacity.
Non-economic damages may include pain & suffering from the injury, emotional anguish, reputational damage, loss of enjoyment of activities, or loss of consortium.
Your specific injuries will determine what damages may be recovered. Every case and every situation is different so there is no guarantee as to how much compensation you may receive.
Some cases can be resolved in a matter of weeks if there is no formal litigation. If there is, it can take a year or more. The more complicated the case, the longer it can take to reach a settlement or trial verdict. Your attorney should be able to give you a general estimate based on how long other similar cases have taken. Again, this will depend on your specific situation.
Many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis – they do not get paid unless you win your case. If there is a successful outcome, they take a percentage of your compensation plus any expenses they paid upfront so that you could proceed with your case.
Have you been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, a slip, and fall, or some other accident in which you suffered serious injuries? Call Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600. We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.
Having an attorney who is your advocate can offer you peace of mind during your recovery. And, in the Kansas City area and across Missouri, the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm will fight for your rights. Contact our legal team today at (877) 284-6600. One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
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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 post was originally published April 8, 2021. It was reviewed on July 5, 2023 and updated for content and accuracy.
