A personal injury case can be complicated and tedious, but you don’t have to face it alone. Personal injury lawyers specialize in helping individuals who have suffered personal loss or injury. A personal injury lawyer will advise and help you negotiate a settlement. If you are not satisfied with the negotiation proceedings, then the personal injury lawyer will also go ahead with further legal proceedings.  

Let’s look closer at the types of damages and how a basic personal injury claim process works. 

When do you need a Personal Injury Lawyer? 

There are three major types of personal injury cases. 

• General Damage in Personal Injury Cases:

In case of general damage, there is non-economic loss. Some examples of personal injury cases are emotional distress, pain, suffering, etc. Since there is no exact economic value of such emotions, general damages are tricky to calculate. 

• Special Damages in Personal Injury Cases: 

Those damages measured by direct economic loss come under special damages. Some examples of special damages are loss of property, loss of income, medical expenses, and other measurable economic harms caused by the defendant’s negligent actions. 

• Punitive Damage in Personal Injury Cases:

Punitive damages punish the defendant for negligence or reckless behavior. It is used as a tool to warn the defendant in order to prevent such reckless behavior in the future. Thus, when calculating the punitive damages, the court considers general and special damages. 

You qualify for a personal injury lawsuit claim if you have suffered any of the above mentioned damages. 

Role of Personal Injury Lawyers in Resolving a Personal Injury Claim  

The first step after meeting with an accident is to receive medical treatment. An immediate medical report will help gather evidence and help you start the legal claim process. The second step is to contact a personal injury lawyer in a more complex situation. After that, the personal injury lawyer will proceed with the claim entitlement and negotiation process.

Here are some key roles and responsibilities of personal injury lawyers:

• Personal injury lawyers will clarify your legal rights and provide advice.

One of the most basic duties of personal injury lawyers is to provide clients with expert legal advice, explaining their rights and legal course of action. They will help you understand how the accident has violated your rights and the complicated legal procedures to get through the paperwork. 

A good personal injury lawyer is also a good counselor. After this step, you should feel at ease and aware of your legal rights and the next steps of your legal proceedings. 

• Personal injury lawyers will gather the evidence for you.

Depending on the type and severity of your case, a personal injury lawyer will gather the evidence to support your claims. The evidence could be your statement, medical reports, eyewitnesses, collecting records, photographs, videography of the accident scene, and other documents. 

A personal injury lawyer must gather all the evidence and have a clear plan regarding the case proceedings before entering into negotiations.

• Personal injury lawyers will evaluate the damage and investigate your possible claims

Based on your legal rights and gathered evidence, personal injury lawyers will evaluate the damage and conduct investigations throughout the case’s lifetime. A personal injury lawyer will also calculate how the damage has affected you in the present and the future repercussions of the damage. 

Proper damage evaluation and personal injury investigations are essential to building a strong case and establishing liability for the injuries sustained by the victim. Damage here refers to all three– general, special, and punitive damages.

• Personal injury lawyers will conduct negotiations with the insurance company for you

Let’s say you are involved in a vehicle accident; in this case, both your insurance company and the opposition’s insurance company will want to talk to you to take your recent statement. Anything you say to these companies might be used against you to undermine your claim. 

Personal injury lawyers understand the tactics insurance companies and opposing parties use to minimize or deny claims. As a result, personal injury lawyers can assist in dealing with these insurance companies. An SEO law firm will control the flow of information and supervise your statements so that your compensation equals the damage you experienced.

• Personal injury lawyers will launch lawsuits for you

Negotiations fail when both parties cannot agree on the same settlement amount. After that, a personal injury lawyer will file a lawsuit on your behalf. 

In general, a court will try to settle a lawsuit between the parties. In case the parties still struggle to reach a common law that does not occur, then a court date is assigned, and a trial commences.

• Personal injury lawyers will present your case in court.

When the parties cannot reach a fair settlement through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution method, the case will proceed to trial. In such situations, personal injury lawyers act as advocates for their clients. They will present themselves before a judge or jury and fight for their rights and fair compensation.

A personal injury lawyer will present your case. They will cross-examine witnesses if required and argue on your behalf to advocate for fair compensation. 

• Personal injury lawyers will walk you through a variety of legal processes.

A personal injury lawyer’s job is not limited to negotiations and courtrooms. After winning the case, a personal injury lawyer will also do all the legal paperwork for you to get the amount dictated by the court. 

Alternatively, if the settlement offer is not satisfactory to the client or the claim is denied, the personal injury lawyers may proceed with a further legal procedure. 

The Bottom Line

Personal injury lawyers usually show up at a chaotic time in your life with their in-depth knowledge and expertise in the area of law. They can be crucial in protecting your rights and navigating complex legal procedures. Moreover, personal injury lawyers understand the physical, mental, and emotional turmoil the clients go through. Thus, personal injury lawyers provide more than just legal support.