Ideally, personal injury (PI) victims consult and retain legal aid for representation in court. If you were involved in any personal injury, be it a car accident, construction accident, slip and fall, or medical malpractice, hire a qualified PI lawyer to better navigate the restitution process.
The duties and responsibilities of personal injury lawyers vary depending on the case and the facts surrounding the accident. However, personal injury lawyers can help accident victims generally in the following ways:
1. Explain the personal injury claims process
The process of filing a compensation claim is difficult and often unique, depending on the specific type of injury sustained. Besides, personal injury laws vary from one state to another. The statutes of limitations and regulations surrounding negligence in personal injury cases also vary, which makes it difficult for accident victims to understand.
Personal injury claims in Minnesota and other states rely on no-fault state laws. This means your claims should meet a certain threshold for consideration. Similarly, the legislations surrounding the time frame for personal injury claims have several exceptions, which make it difficult for victims to understand the category of their claims. You can avoid these challenges by hiring a personal injury lawyer.
2. Provide professional advice
Apart from explaining the personal injury claims process and victims’ legal rights, personal injury lawyers also provide professional advice about the case. In most cases, accident victims don’t know what to do after the incident. Failing to complete important steps after the accident and other common mistakes can void your personal injury claim.
That said, your lawyer will advise you on seeking appropriate medical treatment for your injuries because medical records primarily back personal injury claims. Your lawyer will advise you to refrain from providing written statements to the party at fault and insurance agents.
3. Collect and examine evidence
Obtaining evidence at the initial stage is significant for all personal injury cases, including car accidents, slip and fall, construction accidents, and truck accidents. You should take pictures of the accident scene, note witness contacts, and record all incident details. Unfortunately, this might not be possible, depending on the severity of your injuries.
Personal injury lawyers are trained in evidence collection. As such, even if you can’t take immediate pictures of the accident scene, your lawyer will find ways of collecting this evidence. This might involve hiring an investigator to contain witness statements and obtaining official police reports, medical records, or surveillance footage.
4. Handle communication with insurance companies
Personal injury lawyers also handle interactions with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Insurance companies often conduct investigations and contact victims if all signs show the insured is at fault. While this is a good sign that you’ll get compensation, insurance adjusters often underestimate and offer lowball settlements to personal injury victims.
As such, unless you are a good negotiator or willing to accept a low settlement offer, you should let your lawyer handle all communications and negotiations. Your lawyer will represent your best interests when negotiating with the insurance company.
5. Represent you in court
While most personal injury cases are settled outside court, the case can proceed to trial if both parties can’t reach a fair settlement, even with third-party intervention. In such cases, your lawyer will help you file the case in court and represent you to ensure you receive fair compensation.
However, you should choose an experienced personal injury lawyer who can take this path if necessary. Some personal injury lawyers advise clients to opt for a quick settlement offer instead of waiting for fair compensation. Therefore, before engaging a personal injury lawyer, ask them if they can take the case to court. They should also have some experience in litigating personal injury cases.
Conclusion
Ideally, you should hire a lawyer for all your personal injury cases. PI lawyers become increasingly important if your compensation claim is denied or multiple parties are involved. However, this doesn’t mean you should hire a lawyer for all incidents. For instance, you don’t need a lawyer in accidents that result in minimal injuries and damages.