Personal Injury Lawyer: When Should You Hire One?
Personal injuries caused by another entity can leave you not only with scars but with emotional and economic damage too. As you heal from the physical pains or wounds, you also have to think about other costs that aren’t part of your common expenses.
This is when the service of a personal injury lawyer can come in handy. You would have someone who understands the nitty-gritty details of the law and would push for your best interests.
Personal injury isn’t all about being involved in a car accident (though this is one of the most common cases). Listed below are some instances when your personal injury lawyer can help you claim damages or compensation.
1. Product Liability
People buy products for convenience or enjoyment. However, there are times when a company or business produces defective products.
As a result, consumers may come to physical harm. In such instances, personal injury lawyers can help a person file claims against the seller or manufacturer.
New moms find ways to make their newborns comfortable. Imagine the horror of a defective infant swing resulting in cuts, bruises, broken bones, and stressful emergency visits to a pediatrician.
A trip to Dow’s Lake Pavilion to use your new bike may not be that fun if you figure in an accident because of a manufacturing defect. Improper frame welding or faulty braking mechanisms can cause you lacerations or some fractured bones.
Finally, imagine a group date in a newly-opened ice cream shop ending in some gastrointestinal issues for the whole party. A possible angle for such illness is contamination with some bacteria like Listeria.
All these scenarios are strong cases for product liability claims. However, only personal injury lawyers can help you gather pertinent pieces of evidence to prove your claim.
2. Medical Malpractice
People come to medical professionals to have a better quality of health. Unfortunately, some negligent practitioners in the medical field may bring more harm than good.
An example of medical malpractice is when a doctor leaves a medical tool in a patient’s body after surgery. Another would be when an oral surgeon administers the wrong dosage of anesthesia during a dental procedure.
The effects of such incompetence or negligence could be irreversible or even fatal. As such, it’s important to seek legal counsel to claim damages and give the proper sanction to the medical institution or healthcare professional in question.
3. Insurance Company Acting in Bad Faith
This may come as a surprise to some people—but some insurance firms will not act in your best interests. They can give you hefty promises at the beginning and may give you crap when it’s time for settlements.
You would know when your insurance company is acting in bad faith when they fail to investigate a claim or refuse to pay a valid one. Also, some will burden you with unnecessary paperwork that would make settlement extra difficult.
It may also be that the other party’s insurance firm is falsely accusing you of contributory negligence. They may want to reduce settlement claims by proving that you are part to blame for your accident.
Take for example when you had a bad slip accident at an establishment that caused you some knee injuries. They may say that you ignored signs, you’re too busy scrolling on your iPhone, or even under the influence of alcohol.
These can be refuted by your lawyer through a thorough investigation of the scene. They may also present glaring evidence that will prove the establishment’s negligence.
Personal injury lawyers are familiar with such shady tactics and can help you get the settlement you deserve. Most often, the presence of a legal representative encourages the insurance company to grant you a fair settlement.
4. Traumatic Injury or Permanent Disability
Most people think that personal injury claims end with covering medical expenses. However, there are instances when more is needed based on the severity of the injury one has gained.
Some victims develop anxiety or trauma caused by the injury they incurred. For this, they need counseling from reputable psychologists who can help them overcome their negative thoughts and emotions.
Some injuries also cause disabilities that prevent a person from doing work and household chores. As such, personal injury claims may include coverage for loss of wages and household assistance (e.g. cleaning services or child care).
Your personal injury lawyer will study your case and see how you or your loved ones could be compensated well and let you gain back a sense of normalcy after your injury.
Injuries caused by a wrongful or negligent act of another entity shouldn’t be treated lightly. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will significantly increase your chances to get a proper settlement.
Have you used the services of a personal injury lawyer? We would love to hear about your experiences.
Aside from personal injury lawyers, some other legal representatives may help you. Read some of our articles here.