In personal injury litigations, the cases don’t always involve personal injuries sustained from car accidents. In fact, there is more to personal injury law than just motor vehicle accidents and car collisions. While a considerable portion of such cases involves car accidents, personal injury litigation is also applicable in any situation where an individual is harmed as a result of another person’s carelessness.
So if the cause of your injury is in connection with a product liability from a faulty home appliance, injuries sustained at hazardous premises, or due to a bite from a neighbor’s dog, you may file a claim under personal injury law. But before doing so, you need to understand everything about it first.
4 Things To Know About Personal Injury Litigation
You should know many things about personal injury litigation. For example, you have to find out whether an alternative dispute resolution, where a mediator or arbitrator will help you reach a settlement, is possible. Apart from this, understanding the following factors are also crucial:
1. Not All Cases Are the Same
The legal actions involved in a personal injury case follow the same basic procedures. However, the claims files vary depending on the cause and nature of the injury and other elements. The length of such cases and whether they must go to trial also differ.
Another thing to note is that certain cases will take time before reaching a litigation settlement or resolution. Some personal injury victims feel extreme pressure due to piled-up hospital bills, especially if they’re unable to work, and they are compelled to accept the first option offered by the insurance company. So before embracing an unfair settlement offer, it would be best to speak with a lawyer who understands the difficulties you’re facing due to your personal injury if you don’t want to get the shorter end of the stick.
Some cases can get resolved after just a few months. But if your case goes to trial, it might take a year or even longer before you get the settlement you deserve. So if you don’t want to waste your time and money, you should discuss everything with your lawyer, including your demands and expectations.
2. It’s Crucial to Work With an Experienced Attorney
Serious injury victims often have to pay huge amounts of money in hospital bills, may need a lengthy recovery process, and may not be able to work again due to their injuries. And the best chance of getting fair compensation is hiring an experienced lawyer to handle your personal injury claim. You need to ensure that your attorney knows the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of serious injuries.
Having a reputable and reliable attorney handle your personal injury case can reduce some of your emotional pressure and stress and let you concentrate your energies on getting better.
3. Physical Injury Cases Can Go to Trial or Be Resolved Outside of Court
As mentioned earlier, some injury cases can be resolved outside of court. Alternative dispute resolution can be via mediation, arbitration, or negotiating with the legal counsel of an insurance company. Your lawyer should work hard and do everything to reach a fair and quick settlement that will be favorable to you.
4. Settlement Offers From Insurance Companies Are Not Always Reasonable
To preserve their company goals, insurance firms usually try to reduce the compensation they give out for the damages and hospital expenses of physical injury victims. Therefore, if you don’t know how much you should receive as fair compensation, underestimating your claim can put you in grave financial trouble – particularly if your physical injuries prevent you from working for a while. Your attorney should be experienced enough to know all these things, especially if you need to go to court because you can’t accept an unjust settlement offer.
Get the Settlement Offer You Deserve
Most clients can’t afford a lawyer who charges them by the hour, especially when medical expenses are mounting by the minute. That’s why you should seek the help of experts like Judge Dennis Cavanaugh, who works hard to resolve your case. So if you were hurt or a family member was killed due to the negligence of another, make sure to contact a personal injury attorney dedicated to helping injury victims.