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Injured and Confused? Here’s When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Key Takeaways
A personal injury attorney from Wettermark Keith will get you the compensation you deserve.
When you’ve been injured, it’s hard to think about anything else. Your first thought should always be tending to your injuries, but as soon as you’re able, you should seriously ask yourself, “When should I hire a personal injury lawyer?”
Suffering from a personal injury due to another individual’s negligence can be a challenging, stressful experience, since the pain and emotional trauma is often overwhelming. Paying for medical bills, missing time at work, and negotiating with insurance companies adds to this burden. Injuries caused by the negligence of others can often be devastating, not just physically, but emotionally and financially as well. The aftermath of an injury can involve a long and arduous recovery process, medical bills, lost wages, and even permanent disability. In such situations, it's easy to become overwhelmed and feel helpless. This is why it's crucial to understand when to hire a personal injury lawyer to protect your ability to secure the compensation you deserve.
It's important to remember that you have legal rights and options available to you. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of the legal system and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. It's natural to focus on your recovery first, but as soon as you're able, it's important to ask yourself when to hire a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and secure the compensation you need to move forward. By doing so, you can focus on your recovery while leaving the legal work to an experienced professional. In order to understand personal injury claims, you must start with understanding when to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Determine the Severity of the Accident and Injuries
If you have been in an accident, it is important to evaluate your injuries and seek medical care immediately. Even if you feel fine, it is advised to seek medical attention; some injuries could develop hours or days later. Refusing to seek or accept medical treatment could give the impression that your injuries are not as serious. While seeking immediate medical attention should always be your first priority, contacting a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible can help you navigate the legal process and maximize your chances of a successful outcome. If you are not needing immediate medical care, we recommend calling a personal injury lawyer as soon as the injury occurs. A personal injury attorney is always a great person to call in these situations, and the sooner you call, the better.
Take Note of How Much Time Has Passed Since the Accident
If some time has passed between the accident and your decision to call a lawyer, we recommend you still call a lawyer immediately. Quick action is always preferred in a personal injury case and even if some time has passed, you can still pursue legal action so long as your case has not reached the statute of limitation for your state. To check that you can still file a personal injury claim, call a lawyer to discuss your case details and to receive guidance on how to take action before it is too late.
Additionally, if your injury causes ongoing pain or has resulted in long-term disability, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover the money necessary for your future medical expenses. A personal injury lawyer can also help you navigate the complexities of dealing with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other parties involved in your case. If you suspect that the other party's negligence was intentional or involved criminal activity, contact an attorney as soon as possible. In such cases, a lawyer can help you pursue additional damages as long as you catch it within the statute of limitations.
You must act quickly to protect your rights and ensure maximum compensation in your case. Even if you're unsure whether you have a case or if too much time has passed, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to make sure you do not run out of time. If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer, contact Wettermark Keith to schedule a free legal consultation.
Should I Know About Injury Law Before I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
It is definitely not necessary to have a complete comprehensive understanding of injury law when you look to hire a lawyer. While it is always a good idea to have basic knowledge of the personal injury legal process, your attorney will be your ultimate source of legal knowledge. Yet, in order to hire a personal injury lawyer, you need to know your rights as a victim. Therefore, you need a baseline understanding of injury law to hire a lawyer, as well as to make informed decisions and communicate more effectively with your lawyer.
In order to have a baseline understanding of injury law, you should have a general understanding of the types of damages you may be entitled to, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. You should also be aware of the time limits for filing a personal injury claim, known as the statute of limitations, which can vary by state and type of case. You should also know the basic details of a personal injury case, including proving negligence or fault, establishing causation, and demonstrating damages. A lawyer from Wettermark Keith can explain these concepts in more detail and guide you through the legal process, but having a basic idea of these details can help you understand your case.
When hiring a personal injury lawyer, you must find someone with the expertise, experience, and compassion to represent your best interests and get the compensation you deserve. They should be able to explain the legal process in terms you can understand, then you can work together to develop a strategy for securing just compensation. While it's helpful to have a basic understanding of injury law, it's not a requirement for finding a qualified lawyer.
What Should You Expect During the Personal Injury Claims Process?
Once you do make the call to hire a personal injury attorney, you should have a general sense of the process that will follow. The claims process does vary depending on details of your case, but there are several common steps that most cases will go through. These steps include:
As stated previously, your first priority should be to seek medical attention for your injuries, even before contacting a personal injury lawyer. It's important to document your injuries and receive proper treatment in order to support your claim – this will be very important evidence. Failing to accept treatment or seek medical help could send the wrong message and cause others to question the severity of your injuries.
Once you have received medical treatment, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case as soon as possible. During the initial consultation, the attorney will evaluate your case and advise you on your legal options.
The attorney will conduct an investigation into the accident that caused your injuries. This may involve reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, and collecting other evidence such as photographs or surveillance footage. This will all serve as important aspects to back up the demand letter they write to the insurance company.
Once the attorney has gathered enough information, they will send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company, outlining the damages you have suffered and the compensation you are seeking. This is normally used as the basis for negotiation in the case.
In many cases, the at-fault party or their insurance company will respond to the demand letter with a settlement offer. Your attorney will negotiate with the other side to try to reach a fair settlement that covers all of your damages.
If a settlement is reached, you are agreeing to accept a specified amount of compensation in exchange for releasing the other party from further liability. This settlement may be reached through negotiations between the parties, with the help of their attorneys. Our attorneys will even negotiate with your medical providers, making the price you pay to them lower and the compensation that goes into your pocket higher. Once a settlement is agreed upon, the injured party signs a release form and the case is closed, avoiding the need for a trial.
If a settlement cannot be reached, your attorney may file a lawsuit on your behalf and litigate your case in court. This can be a lengthy and complex process, but it may be necessary to secure the compensation you deserve.
When you work with Wettermark Keith during this process, your personal injury lawyer will keep you informed about the status of your case. They will always provide guidance on the best course of action when it comes to settling or going to court. Our goal will always be to secure a fair settlement or verdict that covers the maximum amount of your damages possible and helps you move forward with your life.
Wettermark Keith: Find a Personal Injury Attorney For Your Injury Claims
With offices located throughout Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, Wettermark Keith has an excellent reputation as one of the most accomplished personal injury firms in the country. Our reach is not only regional, but it also includes a diverse range of practice areas, including personal injury cases, auto wrecks, insurance dispute claims, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, on-the-job injuries, social security disability, and veterans’ disability claims, to name just a few. We seek to uphold the dignity of the legal profession in our approach to clients, recognizing that our success stems from relationships, not flashy slogans or empty assurances. If necessary, we will not hesitate to take your case to trial.
Our attorneys are committed to practicing with care and compassion - to tell their clients’ stories and make their voices heard. If you or a loved one have been injured, call us at (877) 715-9300 or send us a message through our website for a free evaluation. Your attorney will listen to your story, answer any questions you might have, and work with you to understand and meet your needs. We won’t rest until you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is worth hiring a personal injury attorney if you have suffered injuries or damages due to someone else's negligence. A personal injury attorney has the legal expertise and experience necessary to navigate the complex legal system and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. They can help you obtain fair compensation for your damages, which can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Contact an attorney from Wettermark Keith to start your injury claims process today.
A personal injury attorney provides legal representation for individuals who have been injured due to someone else's negligence. They investigate the accident, negotiate with insurance companies, file a lawsuit if necessary, and advocate for their client's best interests throughout the entire legal process. The main goal of a personal injury attorney is to ensure that their client receives fair compensation for their injuries and damages.
An attorney can be invaluable when it comes to a personal injury claim, especially when it comes to obtaining necessary evidence. They can negotiate with medical providers to obtain the required documentation and ensure the evidence is correctly presented to the insurance company, increasing the chances of a successful claim. Sometimes this process even helps you minimize your medical bills through negotiations. Additionally, an attorney can assist with subrogation, which is the process of recovering any money paid by the health insurance provider for medical treatment related to the injury claim. Negotiating with the health insurance provider can reduce their entitlement to recover costs, potentially leaving the victim with more compensation. Working with an attorney who can negotiate with both medical providers and health insurance companies can ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible.
Personal injury lawyers handle cases involving injuries caused by another person's negligence or wrongful actions. They represent clients in a variety of cases including car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, product liability, dog bites, premises liability, and more. Their goal is to ensure that their clients receive fair compensation for their injuries and damages, which can range from minor to catastrophic injuries.
Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer only gets paid if they win the case and recover compensation for their client. The typical contingency fee ranges from 33% to 40% of the total amount recovered, although the exact percentage can vary depending on the lawyer and the complexity of the case. At Wettermark Keith, we operate on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay anything unless we win your case.
A personal injury lawyer can be extremely helpful if you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault. They can help you navigate the legal system, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and other related expenses. Additionally, a personal injury lawyer can provide you with valuable advice on how to protect your rights and preserve evidence in case you need to pursue legal action. Hiring a personal injury lawyer from Wettermark Keith can increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
Some questions you should ask before hiring a personal injury attorney include:
- How long have you been practicing personal injury law?
- What percentage of your practice is devoted to personal injury cases?
- Have you handled cases similar to mine before? If so, what were the outcomes?
- What is your fee structure, and how do you handle expenses related to my case?
- Will you be personally handling my case, or will it be passed on to another attorney or paralegal?
- How often will I receive updates on my case, and how will you communicate with me?
- Can you provide me with references or testimonials from past clients?
- What is your approach to settlement negotiations and litigation, and how do you decide which approach to take?
- How long do you think my case will take to resolve?
- What are the potential outcomes of my case, and what are the risks involved?
When it comes to accidents that produce legal claims, there are often many complex details for an attorney to deal with. Sometimes settlements do come easily between an attorney and the insurance company, but other times the injury claim is taken to court due to a lack of settlement on the costs of the damages between the two parties. When an injury claim goes to court, it often takes longer to produce an outcome. The length of a personal injury case can vary depending on these specific circumstances of the case. Some cases can be resolved quickly, while others may take several months or even years to reach a settlement or verdict. In order to get a settlement as quickly as possible, you should contact an attorney about recovering damages for your accident as soon as you possibly can.
Not all personal injury cases go to court. Many cases can be resolved through settlement negotiations with the at-fault party or their insurance company. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case may need to go to court to be resolved.
Ready to work together? Contact us today for a free consultation.
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