Accidents happen every day. But the question remains: When DO you need to contact a personal injury lawyer? What is a situation that warrants needing an attorney, versus one that is just an unforeseeable accident?
Here’s some information that will shed some light on when you may need a personal injury lawyer.
What You Should Know Before Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you choose a personal injury attorney, you should do some research. Find out when you actually need the services of a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer is a professional who provides representation to someone who has suffered emotional or physical injury caused by someone else. The negligent party could be:
- A Landlord
- Employer
- Retail Shopping Center Owner
- Grocery Store or Other Business Place Owner
- A Doctor
What Does My Personal Injury Case Look Like?
If you have been injured on the job or at the location of a business place or homeowner’s property, then you may be entitled to compensation. This compensation could be not only for medical expenses related to your injuries, but also pain and suffering.
Some of the injuries that are common to a personal injury lawsuit or settlement can include:
- Traffic accidents
- Falling on wet floor in a grocery store
- Tripping in a parking lot due to the negligence of the owner
- Medical malpractice
- Botched medical surgery
- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Repetitive strain
- Disease of the chest
Your medical history will be used as part of the evidence in your personal injury claim or case. Therefore, seeking medical attention immediately after an accident—even if your injuries seem minor—can either make or break your case.
When You Need a Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer here? As soon as possible. The Florida statute of limitations for personal injury claims is four years. This means that you have four years to pursue a personal injury case from the time of the accident.
While this might seem like plenty of time, it’s important to know that some personal injury cases can take years to settle.
What About Insurance?
If this was a traffic accident and you reside in a no-fault state, like Florida, then your lawyer will seek payment of your medical expenses from the person’s PIP insurance. This helps so that your medical bills can be paid without any delay.
When you get into an accident, you may also be entitled to payment of your medical bills from your own health and/or automobile insurance policy, especially if the accident was a hit and run or involved an uninsured motorist.
Most of us are are under the notion that the insurance company is there to help us…because we pay them. However, insurance companies will often try to avoid paying your medical bills. So, they will do a check to ensure that the expenses are legitimate. In order to avoid any delays here, it is always best to keep all documents and receipts handy.
Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer
If an insurance company is giving you a hard time about paying your medical bills, it is definitely time to seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney. Most personal injury lawyers have experience working with and negotiating with insurance companies in attempt to get the highest achievable settlement amount.
Attorneys are able to get other damages associated with your injuries as well. Some of these other damages are not so easy to determine or figure out on your own. They could include things like mental anguish, and pain and suffering.
There is no actual monetary value on this, and no way to prove it unless by an expert testimony. Your attorney will solicit the help of an expert to help prove pain and suffering as well as mental anguish for your case and possible damages.
There are many individuals who are reluctant to seek help from an attorney for injuries that are minor. If you were in a traffic accident and only bruised your arm and did not feel pain right away, you should still contact a personal injury lawyer. Your pain and suffering may appear later on.
Contact our personal injury lawyer right away—after any type of accident. Your attorney can help to make sure your rights are protected and that you receive the best possible settlement and legal outcome.
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