What Should Be Considered Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Queens?
It’s a sad reality of life that events which lead to injuries can happen anywhere and at any time. And while some of these events are caused by our own human error, it’s often the case that events which lead to injuries are caused by another’s negligence or even maliciousness.
If you’ve been injured recently and another’s negligence is the reason why, you should seek damages from that person (or entity). However, doing so isn’t likely to be easy street, especially if you’re doing so without professional legal assistance. So when is it the right time to hire a lawyer, and what should be considered before bringing one on to handle a personal injury case? Such are the main questions this blog answers.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 to speak with top-rated personal injury lawyers in Jamaica, Queens. For more than a decade, they’ve been helping individuals who were injured through no fault of their own get the compensation they deserve.
What Do You Hope to Gain From Filing a Lawsuit?
Before you seek help from a lawyer, you need to consider what you hope to gain from filing a lawsuit. Here are some common kinds of recoverable damages:
- Medical bills
- Long-term care bills
- Lost earnings both past and future
- Pain and suffering
- No longer able to enjoy life
- Dismemberment
- Disfigurement
How Are Damages Classified?
Medical bills and lost earnings are examples of economic damages, whereas pain and suffering is an example of general damages. General damages are more difficult to calculate, as these are largely based on judgement, whereas economic damages are usually tied to fixed-cost expenses. There are also punitive damages, and these can be recovered in the wake of an accident if the circumstances surrounding it are particularly egregious.
Is Filing a Frivolous Lawsuit Possible?
You shouldn’t file a lawsuit in spite. Civil courts are meant to legally redress injuries, and neither judges nor lawyers have time for frivolous cases. Therefore, you must consider what your motivations are before filing a lawsuit. If you’re looking to file because you want to redress injuries sustained through no fault of your own, then getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer is a good move.
What Are Some Common Kinds of Personal Injury Claims?
While the following are all common examples of personal injury claims, usually personal injury lawyers specialize in just one or a few of these areas:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Animal bites
- Wrongful death
- Defective products
- Construction accidents
- Assault & battery
- Slip & fall
What Injuries Did You Sustain From the Event That Caused the Injuries?
You need to take account of all the injuries you sustained following the event which caused them. Keep in mind that some injuries don’t present right away. The only way you’ll know the full extent of your injuries is to have a thorough medical exam conducted immediately.
Even if you don’t believe you’re significantly injured following the event, you still need to seek medical attention. When you seek professional medical attention, a record of your injuries will be created, and any injuries that are likely to present more noticeably later on will be picked up through a thorough exam.
If these are documented before they present and start to negatively affect you in a significant way, you’ll be on sound footing when you go to claim that these injuries are related to the event in question and therefore worthy of redress. The following injuries are commonly the basis of personal injury claims:
- Burns
- Animal bites
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Hand & wrist injuries
- Foot & ankle injuries
- Facial disfigurement
- Dismemberment
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Broken ribs
- Broken pelvis
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Crush injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- PTSD
- Cuts & lacerations
Do You Know What to Expect After You File a Lawsuit?
In the wake of sustaining an injury, the first thing you need to do is get medical attention. Once you’ve received proper medical care, your next move should be hiring a personal injury lawyer.
Note: If you were injured in Jamaica, Queens, then it’s best to hire a personal injury lawyer in Jamaica, Queens, as they’ll be familiar with the kinds of accidents and events that commonly lead to injuries in the area.
A lawyer will also know the best way to pursue damages on your behalf, and they’ll take care of all the tedious work while you focus on recovering from your injuries. They’ll conduct interviews—with you, involved parties, and witnesses—so they get a clear picture of the event which caused your injuries. You should give them any records you have and answer all their questions truthfully and as thoroughly as possible.
It’s likely your lawyer will first try to secure a settlement on your behalf, and they’ll be seeking this from the at-fault party’s insurance company. If a settlement can’t be reached, the claim will head to court, and here is where a final decision will be rendered.
Are You Prepared to Take the Trial to Court
Taking a personal injury claim to trial can elongate the process quite substantially and make it more expensive for your attorney. The vast majority of cases are settled out of court, but going to court may be necessary to prove someone else is at fault for your injuries. A judge and jury will deliver the final ruling in the case, and once they do this is likely to be the end of the case, though there’s always the appeals process.
Do You Want to Work With a Big Firm or a Small Firm?
You should determine what kind of firm you want to work with before you hire a lawyer. There are several advantages associated with hiring a lawyer from a large firm, and there are advantages associated with hiring a small firm too; it really comes down to a matter of preference.
Do You Know Who the Leading Personal Injury Lawyers in Jamaica, Queens Are?
We understand that searching for a personal injury lawyer can be tough, and that’s why we make it easy for people like you to get everything you need in one place. The lawyers we work with have recovered over a billion dollars for clients. Plus, there’s absolutely no cost to you unless you receive money. The lawyers we work with are multilingual, they’ve helped others who faced your situation, and they only get paid if you win. Call 1-800-HURT-511, as time may be running out!
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