What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer is an attorney who helps or defends people injured by another person. This can include injuries from a car accident, a defective product, assault, and battery, a slip and fall on the premises of a company or property owner’s land as well as types of injury.
If you were injured by a person or entity through negligence, reckless or intentional behavior you can recover damages for the injuries you incurred from that person or entity. A personal injury attorney can also help the other side that caused the injury and help them navigate a defense. Typically, if you have an insurance policy, like an auto policy, your insurance company will provide a defense attorney on your behalf.
Personal injury attorneys also help you get the right amount of damages for injury from your insurance company. A personal injury lawyer can also help you recover from the insurance company of the person who injured you.
Do I need a personal injury lawyer?
It's good to have a personal injury help you navigate your case. A personal injury lawyer understands the nuances of the law, the likelihood of recovery for injuries, the number of damages you incurred, and what you need to prove your case and to prove the other side is liable for the damages you suffered. A personal injury attorney will also know what facts need to be gathered and what witnesses are needed to help prove your case and negotiate a proper amount on your behalf.
Most individuals don’t understand the law around the liability of another entity or person or the nuances of dealing with insurance companies. Insurance companies can appear to be your friend while you pay your monthly premiums, but they may become a big headache at your biggest time of need. Your insurance company may not fully compensate you for all of your injuries. Your insurance company may also say that both you and the other individual or entity were both at a percentage of fault where no party can recover from the other party. This requires the skill of a personal injury lawyer to assess who was more at fault.
How to find a personal injury lawyer
Sometimes it's good to ask friends, family members, or local attorneys who are not personal injury lawyers. You can also search online or check the state bar website for personal injury attorneys.
When should I hire a personal injury lawyer?
It's best to hire a personal injury as soon as you can to help you navigate and investigate your case. An attorney can help you obtain the much-needed compensation you need to help cover your injuries and incurred costs from the injuries. A personal injury attorney can also locate and find other insurance policies you can recover from that you may have not known were available. The sooner you hire a personal injury attorney, the easier it'll be to know the facts and issues surrounding the case. A good attorney can also try to negotiate a deal on your behalf.
If you hire an attorney later than sooner, some evidence or witnesses might go missing. This might make it harder to put your case together. There's also a time limit on when you can file a lawsuit with a statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you may not be able to even file a lawsuit in a timely manner. It can also prevent you from giving your attorney enough time to evaluate your case and see if you have a valid lawsuit. The failure to file quickly enough will bar you from ever receiving compensation for your case.
What can I recover in a personal injury case?
A personal injury attorney can help you negotiate a proper amount from the person that injured you. That can stop you from getting compensated for your injuries.
Compensation can include lost wages and benefits for time off work. You can also get compensation for medical expenses incurred and future medical expenses. You can also get compensation for damages to your property. Another benefit can be any out-of-pocket expenses you had to pay. This includes the use of savings or retirement benefits or borrowed money from friends and family for your injuries.
You can also get compensated for the physical pain and suffering you dealt with past and future.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
Some personal injury attorneys may charge their hourly rate to take on your case with an up-front retainer agreement. In this situation, you'd have to inquire what the hourly rate is for that firm. This will be the case typically if you need a defense attorney. Some firms may have a contingency agreement where if you recover from your injuries, that law firm will get a specific percentage of that recovery amount. That can be around 33% instead of charging you an hourly amount.
What questions should I ask a personal injury lawyer?
In an initial consultation, or at the beginning of your personal injury case, ask your personal injury lawyer about the payment structure. If it's a contingency case, it'd be good to know if you'll have to pay any fees if you don’t win your case. It's also good not to embellish your case to try and “sell” it to the attorney. You should simply tell them the facts on what happened, favorable or not favorable. You should also ask how much you could recover from your injuries and what your chances of winning are on your case. How much you could recover and the likelihood of winning can help you know if it's your case is worthwhile.
If you live in the Portland, Oregon area and need a personal injury lawyer, contact us for a free consultation. We'll help you know your options and come up with a detailed strategy going forward.
*Nothing herein constitutes legal advice. You should obtain independent legal counsel regarding your specific factual situation.
