While the easy answer to what a personal injury lawyer does is to say that they handle injury cases, that only scratches the surface of what these attorneys do. By understanding which cases fall under personal injury law and what your lawyer can help you with, you will know how retaining one can benefit your case.
Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury law covers instances where you have suffered physical, emotional or psychological harm due to negligence. The negligent party can be an individual, a company or even the government. Most people are familiar with personal injury attorney Columbia MD firms advertising services in traffic accidents or slip-and-fall accidents. Professional malpractice and workplace injuries can also fall under this umbrella.
Lawyer Responsibilities
When you retain a personal injury attorney, he or she will be responsible for investigating the claim, negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf and gathering evidence for the case. Your lawyer may be able to negotiate a settlement, but he or she can also argue your case in court. One of the essential duties of a personal injury lawyer is to prepare a demand letter stating the facts of the incident and demanding a specific amount of damages. This letter is written after the claim has been investigated and will lead to negotiations.
Client Benefits
Those who hire an attorney for their personal injury claim are likely to see more in damages than those who try to do it alone. Your lawyer will have more resources and be better prepared to handle the other side’s lawyers than you will. An attorney can also talk to the insurance companies on your behalf and gather evidence while you recover from the accident. He or she can also tell you whether a settlement offered by the other side is fair or if you should continue to negotiate.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer after you are injured through someone else’s negligence can help you navigate the claim process and help you receive damages from the liable party. These attorneys handle automobile accidents, professional malpractice claims and many more.