A personal injury is when a person suffers an accident because of another party’s negligence. That basic definition implies that there is a wide range of personal injury categories. Some of the more common kinds of personal injuries include car accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, and motorcycle accidents. When a person suffers a personal injury, they are entitled to receive compensation to pay for their damages. Those damages can include things like medical bills, repair bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. The accident victim receives compensation from the insurance company of the party responsible for the accident.
To get the best chance of maximum compensation, a personal injury attorney in Oxnard recommends that the accident victim hire a personal injury lawyer to represent them. There are many reasons why a lawyer would be beneficial, but they all boil down to the fact that an attorney will be able to get them the maximum compensation they deserve. Of course, the accident victim will need to find a lawyer first.
Why A Personal Injury Attorney Is Important
A personal injury attorney can be invaluable since personal injury cases can get complicated. That is because the party that caused the accident will often try to deny their guilt. To prove that they were responsible requires a lot of work, and if the victim is recovering from their injury, they may not be able to perform the legwork required. The victim may also be unfamiliar with the procedures regarding a personal injury case. An attorney can perform all of the heavy lifting on behalf of the victim to make their life easier.
The following are some of the tasks that an experienced personal injury lawyer can perform for their client:
- Evidence Gathering - The attorney can find evidence that proves the liability of the party responsible for the personal injury. Evidence can include surveillance footage, cell phone records, police reports, and more.
- Settlement Calculation - An attorney can accurately calculate how much compensation you are owed. They will tally expenses like current and future medical bills, repair or replacement costs for damaged property, current and future lost wages, and more. They can also help calculate the value of non-economic damages like pain and suffering or emotional distress.
- Settlement Negotiation - The insurance company will try to reduce or deny the settlement claim, but an attorney can negotiate with them to ensure they offer the amount their client deserves.
Most personal injury cases are settled out of court, but if the case goes to trial, the victim will need a lawyer to represent them.
Choosing A Personal Injury Lawyer
So, now you know why a personal injury attorney is crucial, the next step is choosing one. The following are some useful ways to find a personal injury lawyer for your case.
- Referrals - If any friends or family recently retained a personal injury lawyer, ask them what their experience was like and if they would recommend them. You can also ask other attorneys you know who don’t specialise in personal injury law because they might know some attorneys who do.
- Online Directories - Sites like Nolo have a comprehensive list of attorneys with useful information like their education level, experience level, fee structure, and more.
- Local Bar Association - The website of the local bar association will have an extensive list of all the attorneys in the area and their various practice areas. However, their information might not be as detailed as what is provided in an online directory.
- Consultations - Personal injury attorneys usually offer free consultations. Take advantage of this to speak with different attorneys directly and ask them about their experience with cases like yours, their success rate, and other questions that are important to you.
- Client Testimonials - Try to find out what previous clients thought of working with that lawyer. You can ask an attorney to put you in touch with previous clients or check online review sites like Yelp.
