Is Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit Worth It?
A lot of individuals don’t understand the purpose behind filing a personal injury claim. Some believe that filing a claim is a quick route to a big payday, but these individuals forget that a plaintiff needs to be injured to have grounds for filing a claim. And just because you’re injured doesn’t mean you’re entitled to a high damages figure right off the bat. Damages are meant to be redress for injuries, and a total damages figure is based on sustained injuries and seldom influenced by other factors.
That being said, if you’re involved in an event or accident and sustain injuries from it, it’s likely you’ll ask yourself right away if filing a lawsuit is worth it or not. There are some things you should consider before you reach out to personal injury lawyers to discuss your situation, and these points of consideration are the focus of this blog.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 when you’re seeking best-in-class legal representation. The personal injury lawyers in Woodside we partner with are sought-after, and they’ve secured hundreds of favorable judgments for individuals who were injured through no fault of their own.
How Bad Was the Damage?
Before bringing a lawsuit, you must consider how much property damage was caused by the event or accident, and you must consider all injuries sustained as well. Of course, it’s best to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer when you’re unsure about the extent of damages and injuries sustained, as they’ll have a good idea of what damages you could seek after you tell them some specifics.
However, there are instances when approaching a lawyer isn’t necessary, such as:
- You only sustained minor scrapes and bruises from the event or accident.
- The total cost of damage and medical expenses is below $5,000.
In an instance where damage and injury expenses total less than $5,000, you can file a claim against an at-fault party in small claims court and get things handled without help from a lawyer. However, you can pursue damages of a few thousand dollars with help from a lawyer, though this is uncommon.
Should You Seek Medical Attention?
Seeking medical attention immediately following an injury-causing event or accident is one of the most important steps. You may not know the full extent of your injuries right away, but a doctor can thoroughly examine you and figure out precisely how you’re injured. Often is the case that injuries don’t present right away after an accident. However, a doctor can identify injuries that haven’t presented yet and document these so there’s a link between these injuries and the event or accident that caused them.
If you don’t get injuries documented in a timely manner, it’ll be harder to prove that these injuries are related to the event or accident in question, and therefore seeking damages for these will be much more difficult.
Moreover, you may have to take multiple medical exams, and it’s best to get examined by a physician of your choosing before you get evaluated by an insurance provider’s medical professional. This way you can compare records after the second evaluation.
Are You Within the Statute of Limitations?
You may not be able to pursue compensation if you wait too long. The statute of limitations in most NY personal injury cases is three years. However, there are instances when you’ll need to abide by a different statute of limitations. For example, if you succumb to your injuries, your beneficiaries will have two years (not three) from your time of death to file a wrongful death suit. And if you’re involved in a car accident with a government employee, you’ll have just 30 days to file a claim. Medical malpractice suits also have a shorter statute of limitations.
Note: Of course you can look up relevant statutes of limitations online to see if you’re still within the filing window or not, or you can get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Woodside, as they’ll know your status after you provide some essential information.
Do You Share Fault for the Accident?
Determining fault is one of the most integral parts of a lawsuit. Often, determining fault is challenging, and rare is it that one person bears 100% fault for an accident. Even if you bear most of the fault, you may be able to recover damages under certain New York statutes. For this reason, you should reach out to an attorney following an accident, regardless of how much fault you believe you bear. They’ll be able to ballpark how much fault you bear during the initial consultation, and they’ll help you secure what you’re legally owed.
What Kind of Injuries Did You Sustain?
The kinds of injuries you sustain following an event or accident will determine what you do next. Injuries can be minor or severe, and it’s best to get looked over by both medical and legal professionals so you know the full extent of your injuries as well as what damages you can seek to redress these. Here are common accident injuries:
- 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
What Damages Are Recoverable Following an Injury-Causing Event or Accident?
The extent and nature of your injuries will determine what damages are recoverable as redress. Below are the kinds of damages that are sought in accident cases. Keep in mind that general damages are more difficult to calculate, whereas economic damages are easier to calculate because these are usually tied to fixed expenses.
General Damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Dismemberment
- Disfigurement
- PTSD
Economic Damages:
- Medical bills
- Long-term care bills
- Lost earnings both past and future
Do You Know Any Good Personal Injury Lawyers?
Ask around to see if your friends, family members, colleagues, or neighbors have had good experiences with personal injury lawyers. You can also look online to see which personal injury lawyers are highly rated across the popular reviews sites. And of course you can reach out to personal injury lawyers to discuss the details of your case, as the initial consultations will be free.
What Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for Their Client?
A personal injury lawyer will first and foremost ensure their client pursues damages properly. They’ll also take care of the tedious processes so their client can focus on recovering. If you bring on a personal injury lawyer, they will negotiate with involved parties’ lawyers and insurance companies, and they’ll be by your side whenever you have to engage with opposing entities. And should your case go to trial, they’ll represent your interests in court.
It’s no secret that finding a good personal injury lawyer can be tough. This is why we’re a one-stop solution dedicated to helping injured individuals get in touch with top-tier personal injury lawyers. The lawyers we work with have recovered over $1 billion for those they’ve represented. Here’s why they’re preferred:
- They speak your language.
- They know how to win cases like the one you’re looking to bring.
- You only pay if you win.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 now, as time is of the essence.
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