Following are questions and answers concerning accidents arranged in what we
believe is a logical sequence. Additional questions and answers are added
regularly, so please visit our site often. Please feel free to make copies
for non-commercial purposes.
Q:
How do I know
if I have a personal injury claim?
A:
Talk to a personal injury attorney. Many will
provide you with a no cost initial consultation.
You must be able to show that you have an injury. This may be physical
or emotional or both. You must also be able to show that another
person, the defendant, was the cause of your injury.
Q:
How are damages
measured when an injury occurs?
A:
Injured parties are entitled to recover money
damages for all of the expenses and harm they incur as a result of
being injured by another.
Following are the types of damages collected by personal injury
attorneys:
Pain and suffering (past and future)
Disfigurement
Medical bills (past and future)
Lost income, including future income
Mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment
Loss of love and affection
Property damage
Embarrassment
Out-of-pocket costs such as house cleaning, transportation, etc
Possible punitive damages for intentional acts.
Q:
What if I can’t
afford a lawyer?
A:
Many attorneys will represent injured clients on a
contingency basis. This means that the injured person pays no fee
unless there is a recovery and then pays a percentage of the recovery.
Q:
What if I
can’t afford to pay for medical costs caused by the injury?
A:
Some attorneys will advance these costs on your
behalf until the case settles. The attorney will then be reimbursed.
Q:
When should I
talk to an attorney?
A:
As soon as possible after being injured. There are
time limits for filing claims after an injury occurs. If you don’t
file timely, you can lose all of your rights to damages. Also, most
importantly, find witnesses and obtaining necessary evidence to support
your case becomes more difficult as time passes.
