FAQS ABOUT PERSONAL INJURY CASES

We have provided you basic answers to some of the most common questions you might have. Our goal as a free service is to provide you with as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision and do what is best for you. While we hope this information will help, it is in no way a substitute for a competent experienced lawyer that can guide you through this difficult, and stressful time. To speak to a lawyer for free in your area, Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline
(1-800-426-4878) or fill out the online form to schedule your free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

  1. What is personal injury?
  2. What do I do after I have been injured or in an accident?
  3. How do I know if I have a case?
  4. Do I need a lawyer? My insurance company says I don’t.
  5. How do I find a lawyer I can trust?
  6. How soon after I have been injured do I have to file a lawsuit?
  7. How much will a lawyer charge me to take my case?
  8. How much is my case worth?
  9. If a lawyer takes my case, what will I have to do?
10. How long will my case take to conclude?

WHAT IS A PERSONAL INJURY?

Personal injury is a broad term that means any kind of accident or occurrence that leads to physical or emotional injury. Here are some examples:
Dog bite case- If you are bitten by a dog and suffer injuries, the owner of the dog can often be held      “liable” (responsible).
Car, Motorcycle, truck, boat accidents- Injuries resulting from these accidents can be severe. You      may be entitled to receive a large compensation settlement.
Defective products and drug injury- defective products, including drugs and manufactured     products, (power tools, hairdryers, cars to name a few) can cause serious personal injury. Personal     injury lawyers have the expertise needed to help you pursue these claims.
Exposure to toxic material- toxic materials used in the workplace and those that leach into the     environment through groundwater contamination and other methods are often the cause of     personal injury claims.
Job injury- construction accidents, industrial accidents, and other on-the-job accidents often result     in personal injuries. A personal injury lawyer can help you with such a case.
Medical malpractice- Mistakes by doctors, dentists and hospitals can result in serious personal     injury claims. You want to have a personal injury lawyer representing you that has the experience     dealing  with these cases.
Nursing home abuse- (also known as “nursing home neglect”) A person injury claim can be     made when a resident of a nursing home is subject to physical abuse, mental abuse, or     abandonment. Many personal injury lawyers handle these cases.
Slip and fall injury- when someone injures himself while on another person's property, the owner of     the property can be held liable for his injuries - also known as premises liability. A personal injury     attorney can tell you how to proceed.
Wrongful death- when someone is killed as a result of another's negligent actions, the family of the     deceased often has grounds for a wrongful death claim. 

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WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE BEEN INJURED OR IN AN ACCIDENT?

There are a number of things you can do in the first few days and weeks after an accident or injury to protect your right to compensation, such as:
1) As in any situation in which you get injured, you should get immediate medical treatment. It is
    important to give your doctor or health care provider a detailed description of all your pains and     injuries and the manner in which you were hurt. It would be a good idea to also have photographs of     your injuries if they are visible.
2) Write down as much as you can about the accident itself, your injuries and any other losses (such      as wages) you've suffered as a result of the accident.
3) Make notes of conversations that you have with people involved in the accident or the injury claim.
4) Preserve evidence of who caused the accident and what damage was done by collecting physical      evidence and taking photographs.
4) Locate people who witnessed the accident and who might be able to help you prove your case.
5) Notify anyone you think might be responsible for the accident of your intention to file a claim for your      injuries, especially if a government agency or employee may be involved.
6) Getting qualified legal advice from an experienced and skilled personal injury attorney can help you      receive the greatest possible compensation or settlement that is available under the law, giving you      piece of mind and allowing you to continue to live a better life.

Take the first step toward getting the money you deserve.
Call today the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline, (1-800-426-4878) or fill out the form online. We are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

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HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A CASE?

You have a personal injury case if you have an injury or disease caused by someone else's negligence, or intentional misconduct. Injuries can be physical, emotional or both. The most common personal injury claims involve auto accidents, slip and fall injuries, injuries or diseases caused by defective products, and medical malpractice.

It may be obvious to you that you have suffered a personal injury, but that does not mean the insurance company, hospital, doctor, or manufacturer of the defective product will admit that your injury is their fault.

You need a lawyer on your side that will fight to protect your rights and get you the money you deserve. Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline (1-800-426-4878) or use our online form. Speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer for FREE in your area.

DO I NEED A LAWYER? MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS I DON’T

YES! You really should talk to a lawyer before you speak with an insurance representative or negotiate a settlement of your claim. You do not want to make a mistake and sign your rights away or settle for too little!

The insurance company is not on your side. They are for-profit companies and want to pay you as little as possible to protect their bottom line! They are representing the person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally injured you. The insurance company’s job is to look after the person you are accusing. Insurance companies have a team of lawyers on their side.

In addition to fighting the insurance companies, your attorney will be able to preserve valuable evidence in your case by conducting a thorough investigation of events surrounding your injury. A delay in seeking legal representation quickly may result in the loss or destruction of important evidence.

Getting qualified legal advice from an experienced and skilled personal injury attorney can help you receive the greatest possible compensation or settlement that is available under the law, giving you piece of mind and allowing you to continue to live a better life. Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline (1-800-426-4878) or fill out the online form to schedule your free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

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HOW DO I FIND A LAWYER I CAN TRUST?

1) Look for a lawyer whose law practice’s primary focus is personal injury. Make sure they have      handled cases similar to yours. For example, if you have been injured in a car accident, choose a      lawyer who regularly handles vehicular accidents. An experienced lawyer will have a better      understanding of your situation and may be able to offer you more effective representation.
2) Look for a lawyer you are comfortable with, treats you with respect and is genuinely interested     and excited about your case. You want a lawyer who believes in your case, is highly motivated and     will aggressively fight to get you the money you deserve!

Take the first step to getting the money you deserve. Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline
(1-800-426-4878) or fill out the online form. Speak for FREE to an experienced personal injury lawyer.

HOW SOON AFTER BEING INJURED SHOULD I CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY.

You should consult with an attorney as soon as you believe you have suffered a personal injury. There are number of reasons for this.
1) To defend your rights. You probably do not have the legal knowledge to negotiate with the insurance      companies who have a team of lawyers on their side. It is highly unlikely their offer is going to be      very fair or reasonable, and certainly it will not be the best possible settlement. After all, the      insurance companies are NOT on your team and their number one goal is to pay out as little as      possible. You need an experienced lawyer to get you through all the red tape and confusing tactics.
2) To keep from losing your rights. Each state has what is referred to as a Statute of Limitations or      time period within which a personal injury claim must be brought. The Statute of Limitations can      vary significantly from state to state and often depends on the type of case and who the      defendant is. If you do not file your claim within the time the Statute of Limitations allows, you could      forfeit all your personal injury rights and your claim as valid as it might have been will not be      allowed. If your case has not been filed yet, you should talk to a lawyer in the state where you were      injured to find out when your statute of limitations expires.
3) To collect, protect and preserve important evidence. The longer you wait without speaking to a      lawyer, the greater the chance key evidence related to your case might be compromised, degraded      or simply lost. This evidence could be very important to build and substantiate your case.

As we are a free service, why not take advantage of a free consultation with an experienced lawyer  in your area. You can Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline (1-800-426-4878), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Speak to a lawyer in your area for Free. Call today to arrange your free consultation or fill out the form online.

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HOW MUCH WILL A LAWYER CHARGE TO TAKE MY CASE

A lawyer should be willing to take your case on “contingency” fee basis.
This means your attorney only gets paid if the case is won. If the case is lost, the attorney gets no fee. Contingency fees can vary between 25% and 45% of the settlement. The percentage in some cases is controlled by statute. Some of the matters which affect the size of the percentages are the complexity of the case, the experience of the attorney, the expense of the case, and other factors.

In addition, the attorney will often agree to advance the costs of your suit. These include filing fees, deposition transaction and reporting fees, investigators, photography and expert witness fees. These costs usually are repaid to the attorney at the end of the case. By using a contingency fee arrangement, you are able to afford a qualified a lawyer without having to put up any money upfront, or pay an hourly fee.

As you will have no out of pocket legal expenses if a lawyer takes on your personal injury case, and the consultation is free to see if you do have a case, why not arrange to speak with an experienced lawyer in your area for FREE today. Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline (1-800-426-4878) or fill out the online form.

HOW MUCH IS MY CASE WORHT?

A number of factors go into determining how much compensation you might receive for your personal injury.
1) The seriousness and extent of your injuries.
2) The amount of your medical bills, lost wages, property damages and other financial losses.
3) The amount of insurance involved or the assets of the defendant.
4) Whether you share any fault at all for the accident or injury.
5) Your willingness or ability to spend a long period of time in litigating the claim versus your need for     a quick settlement.
6) Many other factors also weigh in determining how much you could receive for your injury and      losses.

An experienced lawyer can evaluate all the factors that might determine how much you could hope to receive for your personal injury claim. Keep in mind this is not a perfect science and your attorney will not be able to give a definite value. However an experienced attorney should be able to give an overall picture of the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Generally, an experienced personal injury attorney will not take your case unless he thinks there is strong likelihood for a successful outcome. Nonetheless there are no guarantees.

To find out how strong your case is and get a general idea of what kind of compensation you may be entitled to, Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline now, (1-800-426-4878) or fill out the online form. Speak to a personal injury lawyer in your area for FREE.

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IF A LAWYER TAKES MY CASE, WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO?

Think of yourself and your lawyer as a team working together with one goal in mind, to achieve the greatest possible compensation for your injuries. Initially your lawyer will ask you to provide him with everything you have and know about the injury or accident. All this information that you put together will enable your lawyer to build and support your case. Your lawyer will then ask that you remain in contact and provide updates about your medical condition and any medical treatments you may be receiving. Once the lawyer files the lawsuit, you will have to answer written questions called “interrogatories” and sit for a question-and-answer period with the opposing lawyer, which is called a "deposition." First, your lawyer will help prepare you then he will find a time that is convenient for you and he or one of his associates will sit with you during the deposition. The opposing lawyer might also arrange to have you evaluated by doctors that they schedule. If your case does not settle, you will have to be present for the trial.

HOW LONG COULD MY CASE TAKE TO CONCLUDE?

An experienced lawyer will be able to give you a general guideline as to how long your case may take to resolve. In general the more complex the case, the longer it takes. Sometimes a relatively simple case can take a long time to resolve because of disputed issues.

Most lawyers will not attempt to resolve your case until your injuries have either healed or have reached a plateau where a physician has reported that you will not improve any further. Only at this point of your condition, can a lawyer have an understanding of the future consequences, if any, of the injury. Your lawyer should be able to tell you at the beginning of the case approximately how long it may take to resolve.

You need a lawyer on your side that will fight to protect your rights and get you the money you deserve. Call the 1-800-I AM-HURT Injury Lawyer Hotline (1-800-426-4878) or use our online form. Speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer for FREE in your area.

Please note that the above answers to these FAQ's should not be construed as legal advice as all situations differ and you should always seek the advice of an lawyer before making any decisions regarding injury claims or other legal matters referred to herein. These answers are intended to provide general information only.