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How a Personal Injury Lawyer Works
Personal injury lawyers specialize in helping victims of injuries caused by the carelessness or negligence of others. They often help people recover for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
The most common types of personal injury cases involve car accidents, dog bites and product liability claims. In each case, a lawyer investigates the facts and determines whether there is sufficient evidence to pursue a claim against the responsible parties. Read more great facts on
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After the investigation, a personal injury attorney will perform a detailed liability analysis. This involves extensive research of applicable statutes, case law and legal precedents. It is a time-consuming process when the injury involves complicated issues or rare circumstances. For more useful reference regarding
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Depending on the nature of the case, your lawyer may hire a variety of experts. For example, a doctor may have the expertise to review medical records or a biomechanical engineer could testify about how an accident occurred.
Other professionals who can assist in the case include accident reconstruction experts, financial analysts and insurance adjusters. Many personal injury attorneys have relationships with these specialists and can use them in negotiations and at trial if necessary.
You should always consult with a personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement offer from an insurance company, as these deals are usually not fair or equitable. Oftentimes, they will be much less than you can receive if you work with an experienced personal injury attorney who operates on a contingency basis (meaning that their fee will be paid only if they win the case).
Expert witnesses can be especially valuable in the case of product liability claims where there is a dispute over fault and who should pay for the harm. For example, a product may have been defective but the manufacturer is still liable for the damages.
The attorney might also ask for narrative medical reports from your treating doctors that describe your injuries, treatment, initial diagnosis, prognosis and disability status. Having these narrative reports in hand before your trial will help the lawyer decide what damages to seek.
After all the evidence is in, your personal injury attorney will negotiate with the defendant to try to reach a settlement. This can be done in the form of mediation or settlement conferences. In mediation, you and your lawyer sit down with the defendants’ representative and insurance company to discuss the details of your case.
If a settlement is not reached, your lawyer may file a lawsuit in civil court to seek damages for your losses. This is the most time-consuming stage of the case, but it can sometimes lead to a favorable outcome.
A successful personal injury lawsuit requires a strong grasp of the law and experience handling complex litigation. This is why you need a personal injury lawyer who understands the legal system and who can aggressively represent your interests throughout the case.