10 Things a Personal Injury Lawyer Does for You
Being injured in an accident can be confusing, frightening, and overwhelming. .While focusing on recovering from your injuries, you may also be concerned about how you will cover your increasing financial costs and whether you should file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you. Below we discuss 10 things your personal injury lawyer will do for you and why having one benefits you.
Offering Legal Advice
To ensure that you understand the legal process, your personal injury attorney will provide legal advice throughout the lawsuit or claim. An experienced personal injury attorney will provide legal advice regarding the following:
- Legal and insurance procedures.
- Applicable laws, policies, and statutes that may affect your claim or case.
- What your next steps are.
- Documents and other information you may need.
- Best- and worst-case scenarios.
Reviewing Your Rights
From your first meeting and throughout your case, your personal injury lawyer will explain your legal rights and the impact of the following factors:
- The circumstances of the accident that caused your injuries.
- Legal issues, such as proving fault or negligence.
- Applicable state and federal laws, including the statute of limitations and compensation caps.
Filing Legal Complaints
The first step in a personal injury lawsuit is filing the complaint with the court. A complaint is a legal document that details the facts of the case, your legal argument based on those facts, and any compensation or relief you’re demanding. Your personal injury lawyer will complete and submit your complaint. They’ll also arrange for the complaint to be served to the person you’re suing, also known as the defendant.
If you’re filing an insurance claim, your lawyer will assist you with completing the form and submitting it to the insurance company.
Preparing Legal Documents
In addition to preparing and filing the complaint, your personal injury lawyer will prepare other legal documents through the course of your case, including the following:
- Interrogatories, which are written questions posed to the other party.
- Depositions, which are statements made under oath.
- Requests for documents.
- Pre-trial motions.
- Post-trial motions.
- Settlement release forms.
Investigating the Facts
After interviewing you and obtaining your perception of your accident, your personal injury attorney will begin investigating the facts of your case. The investigation may be conducted by your lawyer, a member of their law firm, or an independent investigator hired by your attorney. The investigation usually consists of the following:
- Identifying, locating, and interviewing witnesses.
- Obtaining photos, videos, and surveillance footage of the scene.
- Creating diagrams of the scene.
- Collecting records, such as medical records, insurance claims, and police reports.
- Hiring expert witnesses, such as medical professionals or crash specialists.
Representing You in Court
If you decide to pursue your case in court, your personal injury attorney will represent you. Civil litigation follows a particular set of procedures and rules that must be adhered to for the success of your case.
Running Interference With Insurance Adjusters
The primary goal of insurance companies is to maximize their bottom line, and they’ll use aggressive measures to do so. To ensure your best interests are met and to prevent the insurance company and other parties from contacting you, your attorney will send out formal letters of legal representation advising that a lawyer is representing you. This letter informs parties that they’ll need to contact your attorney about any aspect of your case moving forward.
Dealing with insurance adjusters on your behalf also includes the following:
- Arranging and supervising your availability for statements.
- Providing requested documentation.
- Negotiating costs to be covered and any settlements.
- Controlling how information is exchanged.
Analyzing Settlement Offers
Although most personal injury claims are settled out of court, insurance companies regularly start low on their initial offer. An experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will analyze any settlement offers based on your injuries and other financial losses. Your attorney will negotiate better terms if the offer is too low. If the terms are satisfactory to you, your lawyer will draft or you will sign a settlement release, attesting that in exchange for receiving the settlement, you agree not to file a lawsuit against the insurance company for your injuries.
Advising Regarding Legal Strategies
After reviewing your rights and investigating the facts of your case, your lawyer will begin developing legal theories and strategies to maximize your compensation. Developing a legal strategy includes the following:
- Analyzing relevant case precedents, case law, statutes, and other state or federal laws.
- Performing a liability analysis to determine how your case may be affected if you’re found to have some fault in your injuries.
- Analyzing the likelihood of success or failure based on the facts.
The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
You can handle certain types of personal injury claims by yourself, such as simple car crashes that result in damage to your car or minor personal injuries. However, considering the complexities of Nevada personal injury law, state law violations, the costs associated with more severe injuries, and the aggressive nature of insurance companies in protecting their bottom line, it’s highly beneficial to have a personal injury attorney represent you from the beginning.
Hiring a qualified personal injury attorney will help prevent costly mistakes or delays that may negatively affect your claim. They typically provide advice and services regarding the following:
- Ensuring that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations. Nevada has a two-year statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits.
- Ensuring that your claim or case is filed properly and includes all the required information and documentation.
- Providing access to the resources and connections necessary to accurately evaluate your case.
Another benefit of hiring a personal injury lawyer is that most attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you are only responsible for legal costs if you win your case or obtain a settlement.
Contact us online to speak with one of our dedicated and knowledgeable personal injury lawyers. De Castroverde Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers handle a variety of personal injury cases from motorcycle accidents to dog bites in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas.
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