What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?

A personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation for your damages if you’ve been injured by the negligence of another. They can also file a lawsuit and defend your rights in court if necessary.

To pursue a case, a personal injury attorney will need to gather information about the incident that caused your injuries. This includes police reports, medical bills, and correspondence from insurance companies.

Damages

Personal injury is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of cases. These include traffic accidents, medical malpractice, workplace and holiday accidents, faulty/defective products and even criminal injuries.

In order to win a personal injury case, you must be able to prove that someone else caused you harm through negligence, errors or bad behavior. This requires a thorough investigation of your situation by an experienced lawyer who can gather the necessary evidence and develop a legal strategy for proving liability.

A lawyer will also fight for the full amount of economic and non-economic damages you’ve suffered as a result of the accident. These include pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages and loss of enjoyment of life.

These are more difficult to measure than monetary damages, but you deserve compensation for them as well. Your attorney can work with experts to calculate the value of these damages. They can also fight for additional compensation, such as punitive damages, if these are a factor in your case.

Liability Analysis

After collecting evidence and information about your case, your personal injury attorney will conduct a liability analysis. This usually involves extensive research to review applicable statutes, case law, common law and relevant legal precedents.

A liability analysis is an important part of a personal injury case, especially when there are complex issues involved, rare circumstances or unusual legal theories. This is because the process can help establish a valid reason to pursue a claim against the responsible parties.

Preparation for Trial

A personal injury attorney’s goal is to win a trial verdict, but it doesn’t happen without thoughtful preparation. This includes developing a theory of the case, dissecting evidence and preparing witnesses and opening and closing statements.

The longest phase of a personal injury lawsuit is discovery, during which each side can seek information and testimony from witnesses and third parties about an accident. At the end of this process, defendants can make settlement offers, which may or may not be accepted.

During this time, the plaintiff’s attorney also conducts research to build the foundation for the case. This includes gathering medical records and evidence pertaining to the accident, the injuries and the insurance company’s liability.

Preparation for a trial is not an easy task, but if done properly, it will have a positive impact on the outcome of your case. The most effective way to prepare is to create a thorough list of all the evidence that needs to be presented in the trial. This can be a long process, but it is worth the effort because it helps to avoid the risk of missing any important pieces of evidence that could affect your case.

Negotiation

Negotiation is an essential step in any personal injury claim. It helps a personal injury attorney secure the compensation you need for damages.

It also gives you an opportunity to fight the insurance company’s attempts to undercut your claim. An experienced attorney can review the insurance company’s offer and provide you with the best advice.

In most cases, the insurance company’s initial offer will be too low to cover your damages. This is why it is so important to have a car accident lawyer or an expert legal team by your side.

An attorney can prepare a settlement demand to maximize the amount you receive for your injuries, lost wages and special damages. They can also compare your claim to other similar cases and research potential jury verdicts.