Personal injury law is a sub-division of tort law that provides compensation for people who have been injured by the negligence of another party. The victim can sue the negligent party for damages. These damages can be awarded depending on the severity of the injury and other factors. The injured are entitled to monetary compensation to pay for medical expenses, and lost income, as well as to compensate for emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical suffering. The author discusses what a personal injury lawyer does, and the benefits of hiring one.
Cases Handled By Personal Injury Lawyers
These are the types of cases that personal injury lawyers can handle:
- Animal bite injuries
- Transportation accidents
- Automotive accidents
- Boating accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Burn injuries
- Pedestrian accidents
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
- Indemnities for insurance claims
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Abuse in a nursing home
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neglecting child daycare
- Wrongful death, etc
Types Of Compensation
Personal injury cases are different because of the facts and circumstances. These are the types of damages or compensation you could get in a personal injury case:
- Profit loss compensation
- Remuneration for help and care
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning potential
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Mental angst
- Future loss of profit
- Compensation for the loss of a pleasant/agreeable company
- Clinic costs
- Marital possibilities lost
What Do Personal Injury Lawyers Do?
Personal injury accident lawyer do all the tasks a lawyer usually does, such as drafting pleadings, preparing case briefs, and research. Personal injury lawyers specialize in tort law and advocate for their clients before and during trials. The work of a personal injury lawyer includes—
Investigating Claims
Personal injury lawyers are usually paid on a contingency basis, meaning the fees are due only after a favorable settlement. This means the personal injury lawyer will get paid only if compensation is recovered. As the personal injury lawyer must finance the case until a favorable verdict or settlement, they carefully evaluate and screen clients.
Investigation And Evidence Gathering
A personal injury lawyer gathers case facts and details. This includes facts about the nature and extent of the injury. The gathering of facts and evidence helps prove the wrongdoer’s guilt. This also includes—
- Taking pictures of property damage
- Gathering accident report
- Gathering medical reports, bills, and medical records
- Gather employment documents and reports
- Collecting property damage reports
- tracking witnesses
- Obtain police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Personal injury attorneys must be good negotiators. Personal injury lawyers negotiate with insurance companies regularly. A personal injury lawyer handles all communications with the insurance company, from reviewing policy details to calculating maximum compensation.
Conducting Discovery
A lawyer for people who have been hurt in an accident can start the discovery process, which includes—
- sending interrogatories to the defendant asking for information
- deposing the parties,
- deposing witnesses and experts
Representing The Client At Trial
It’s trite that most personal injury claims are settled before trial. If the case goes to trial, a personal injury lawyer represents his client in court and argues for him just like any other lawyer would.
