There are many different types of law, some of which are more common for people to encounter than others. One type of law someone may deal with in his or her lifetime is personal injury law. Here are five things you should know about personal injury law.
1. You Should Research Legal Representation Carefully
People involved in legal situations need to have legal representation, but you need to make sure you have the best representation for your needs. You may start out by asking people in your network for references, researching a specific firm, such as Collins & Collins, P.C. or searching online for personal injury lawyers in your area. Review the firm’s lawyers, their qualifications and their legal experience. Ask for an initial consultation to discuss your case, ask questions and see how you feel about the attorney.
2. You Should Understand What You Need
Every case is different, which means your case will have specific needs. If you’ve been injured, for example, then you may need medical attention and should keep all records of your treatment and communication between you, your healthcare provider and your insurance company. Ask your attorney about what you will need to provide so that he or she can successfully represent you. Keep all records and other potentially important materials in a safe, secure location until you need them.
3. You Need To Learn About the Legal Process
Even though your attorney will be the one representing you, you will still need to learn as much as you can about the legal process so you can assist your lawyer as needed. Learn about what a typical personal injury case such as yours looks like and how you can expect it to proceed. Make sure you understand how to file a lawsuit and what happens if you settle your case outside of court or proceed to trial. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have a limited amount of time in which you can file a lawsuit, for example.
4. You Need To Talk to Your Lawyer About Your Options
Because every case is different, you’re likely to have different options and potential outcomes. Your attorney can explain all of these to you. You may have your own ideas about how you want your case to be resolved, but your lawyer should be able to tell you whether your hopes are realistic and what you need to do to get the best result out of your case. Be sure to ask your attorney how likely he or she thinks you are to win your case, what will happen if you win or lose and whether you should settle your case.
5. You Need To Know About the Different Reasons for Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury law encompasses several different types of incidents. There are two types of personal injury law: damages and liability. Depending on the type of incident you’ve been involved in, you may seek out an attorney with general personal injury law experience or one with experience in a specific type of personal injury law. Some of the reasons a personal injury claim may be filed include an accident while at work, product liability, medical malpractice and negligence. One of the most well-known reasons for filing a personal injury claim is being injured in a car accident.
Most people who deal with personal injury cases aren’t going to have much knowledge of personal injury law. This is why it’s so important that you hire an attorney if you’re ever involved in a personal injury case. Your lawyer can help you understand the law, your case and your options.
