A personal injury attorney is responsible for advocating for accident victims after another party’s negligence has harmed them, creating financial and emotional damages.
Summary
- A personal injury lawyer represents accident victims, helping determine liability, collect evidence, and lead negotiations with insurance companies.
- Common personal injury cases include car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall incidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death.
- Negligence plays a crucial role in personal injury claims, where the responsible party breaches their duty of care, leading to the victim’s injury.
- Hiring a personal injury lawyer increases the likelihood of securing fair compensation, particularly when dealing with insurance companies.
- Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if the client recovers compensation.
If an accident occurs because of another person’s negligence, it falls under personal injury law. According to the Legal Information Institute, “Personal injuries include every variety of injury to a person’s body, emotions, or reputation.”
A personal injury lawyer can be hired to:
- Determine who is liable for your injuries
- Investigate the accident and acquire evidence
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Take your case to trial if needed
If you’ve been injured in an accident because of another person’s wrongdoings or negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your damages. To speak with an experienced attorney, contact us online or by calling (800) 320-HELP.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
At Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, we handle a wide variety of personal injury cases. Here are just a few types of cases that fall under personal injury law:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common personal injury cases, often resulting from driver negligence, speeding, or impaired driving. These incidents can lead to a variety of injuries, ranging from minor bruises to severe conditions such as whiplash, fractures, or even traumatic brain injuries.
Engaging a skilled personal injury attorney can help navigate insurance claims and secure compensation for medical expenses and property damage.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents typically involve larger vehicles, leading to more catastrophic outcomes. Causes often include inadequate vehicle maintenance, driver fatigue, or overloaded trucks. Victims might experience serious injuries like spinal cord damage or internal injuries.
Professional legal representation is crucial in handling the complexities of trucking laws and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve from trucking companies and insurers.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents occur when drivers fail to yield or are distracted, resulting in the unfortunate collision with individuals on foot. Such accidents can cause devastating injuries, including broken bones and head trauma.
Legal assistance from an experienced personal injury attorney is vital to address liability issues and to help you obtain compensation for your injuries and recovery costs.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable on the road, and accidents can occur due to a lack of visibility by other drivers or hazardous road conditions. Injuries from motorcycle accidents can be severe, often including road rash, concussions, or spinal injuries.
A proficient motorcycle accident lawyer can assist in managing the legal and financial repercussions, ensuring fair compensation for your suffering.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents often occur due to wet floors, uneven surfaces, or inadequate lighting. These accidents can result in injuries like sprains, fractures, or head injuries. Legal guidance from a slip and fall lawyer is essential to establish liability and secure compensation for medical bills and lost wages.
Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries can arise from unsafe work environments, lack of proper training, or equipment failure. Common injuries include strains, cuts, or more severe conditions like amputations.
A personal injury attorney helps in claiming workers’ compensation benefits and ensuring that employers adhere to safety regulations.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice involves errors by healthcare professionals that cause harm to patients. Surgical errors, Misdiagnosis, and medication mistakes are common examples of medical negligence.
Medical negligence victims may suffer long-term consequences, making legal action necessary to secure compensation for additional medical costs and suffering.
Child Injuries
Children are susceptible to injuries in various environments, from playgrounds to schools. These injuries can arise from negligence or unsafe conditions. Legal intervention is crucial to protect your child’s rights and to pursue compensation for medical treatments and future care.
Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse is a grave issue where elders suffer due to neglect or mistreatment. Signs of abuse include unexplained injuries or emotional distress. A personal injury lawyer can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result from accidents or falls, leading to partial or complete paralysis. Such life-altering conditions require significant medical care. Legal support is essential to secure fair compensation for ongoing treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries often occur in accidents involving a significant impact to the head. These injuries can have long-lasting effects on cognitive and physical functions. A Werner Hoffman Greig & Garcia personal injury lawyer can help handle such cases and ensure necessary compensation.
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries, such as amputations or severe burns, have profound impacts on victims’ lives and require extensive medical treatment. Legal expertise is crucial in pursuing claims that cover the extensive costs associated with such injuries.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death claims arise when negligence or misconduct leads to a fatality. Families can suffer emotionally and financially, and legal action can help secure compensation for loss of income and emotional suffering, while holding the responsible parties accountable.
Understanding Negligence in the Context of Personal Injury Law
To have a valid personal injury claim, someone else needs to be legally liable for your injuries. The principle of negligence refers to a breach of duty of care. In society, we owe each other a certain level of care in everything we do. For example, when you get behind the wheel of a car, you owe everyone else a certain level of safety and responsibility.
When someone texts and drives, speeds, or drives recklessly, they’re breaching this duty and acting negligently. If their negligence causes an accident and another person’s injury, they can be held legally liable.
Negligence applies to all different types of personal injury law, not just car accidents. In a slip and fall accident, the negligent party is often the property owner. In medical malpractice cases, the negligent party is often a doctor or nurse. For motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, it is usually a driver.
Learn more: Types of Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
How Hiring a Personal Injury Accident Lawyer Can Help for Your Case
When you choose to represent yourself against an insurance company, nine out of ten times, they’ll take advantage of you. They hold the power over injured individuals, and they use it to deny claims and offer minimal settlement amounts.
By hiring a lawyer for your case, you’re bringing a skilled negotiator with resources and experience into the discussion. Personal injury lawyers can use their resources—such as connections and funding—to make your case impenetrable and impossible to deny.
When you choose to hire a personal injury lawyer for your case, you’re basically guaranteeing more money than you would ever be able to get on your own—even after fees!
Learn more: What Car Accident Damages Can An Attorney Help Me Recover?
How Long Does It Take For A Personal Injury Lawsuit to Settle?
A personal injury lawsuit can take anywhere from a few months to even a few years. Here’s a brief timeline of what you can expect from start to finish.
Initial Consultation: Your lawsuit will start with an initial consultation. During this consultation, you’ll be asked about your accident and resulting injuries. This consultation will help us determine whether or not you have a viable case.
Investigation: During our investigation of the accident, we’ll gather evidence, speak with eyewitnesses, hire expert witnesses, and review medical records and other documentation. This will help us build an iron-clad case to bring to the insurance company.
Filing the Lawsuit: Your lawsuit will be filed by a personal injury lawyer with years of experience. They’ll be able to answer any questions you may have throughout the process.
Negotiation: We’ll negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring that you get full and fair compensation for your damages. If they do not agree to pay a fair settlement, we’ll take your case to trial.
How to Find the Best Personal Injury Accident Lawyer
Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad lawyers out there. Many lawyers take on tons of cases in quick succession and settle them early. These are called settlement mills, and they should be avoided at all costs.
Instead, you should choose a law firm like Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia. Our team will dedicate time, resources, and effort to your case, making sure that you get the most compensation possible. We’re not looking to settle quickly. We’re here to fight for you.
To make sure you’re choosing the best lawyer possible for your case, you should:
- Make sure they have experience in your specific field. If you’re hiring a car accident lawyer, make sure they’ve worked on car accident cases before
- Ask questions! Learn about their communication style, experience, past results, and more
Contact Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia to Speak with a Personal Injury Attorney About Your Potential Case
If you or someone you love has been injured in a personal injury accident, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers are here to help you. To learn more about how we can help or to schedule a free case evaluation, please contact us online or at (800) 320-HELP.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we only get paid if you do. When we win your case, and you receive a settlement offer, we take a percentage of that payment—often much more than you would have received without a lawyer.
How long does a personal injury case take?
Personal injury cases can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The negotiation process can be long, as insurance companies are often stubborn. Your attorney will be able to give you more information about the length of your case.
Can I represent myself in a personal injury case?
You can always choose to represent yourself in a personal injury case, but it’s unlikely that you’ll receive enough compensation to cover all the damages you’ve experienced. However, you can take measures to protect your claim. For example, taking steps after a pedestrian accident to document the scene and seek medical care can help your case in the long-run.
How do I know if I have a valid personal injury case?
If you’re curious about whether or not you have a valid personal injury case, speak with one of our experienced attorneys. We offer a free case evaluation, where we can determine whether or not you have a valid case.
