How to Brush Up on the Personal Injury Legal Process

The long-term damage from being a victim of an accident can be far reaching. A domino effect that causes each area of life to topple, one after another.

It starts with mobility loss or impairment, which leads to job loss, which in turn means there’s no funds to pay the mortgage… we all know how that ends.

Picture this: You wake up at 2:23am due to searing stabbing pain shooting down the length of your spine. 

It’s week three, and you’re still unable to work. You’re worried you may lose your job. You’re exhausted, getting nowhere with the claims process, and worst of all feel totally defeated and depressed.

You’re not sure how much more of this you can endure.

Frankly, it’s easy to go through life with rose tinted glasses. For many, when tragedy strikes, they are ill equipped and unsure how to proceed.

But here’s the good news: there are things that can be done to minimize the overall impact an accident has.

What’s Considered Personal Injury?

Personal injury law isn’t just reserved for car accident victims. Most people understand that personal injury law helps those who were physically injured win their case, but are not aware that it also helps those who were emotionally harmed, and those whose reputation and character were tarnished.

Here are some other situations that have warranted representation from a personal injury attorney:

• Elder abuse in a nursing home
• Accidents due to an unsafe work environment
• Assault and battery
• Medical malpractice
• Injured as a result of a defective product

Through the compensation a victim receives, they are able to afford the necessary treatment as well as recoup funds that were lost by not being able to work.

How Much Does Representation Cost?

Sometimes, people who are victims of such incidents think that a personal injury attorney is going to cost them a ton of money, or be a huge hassle. Thus, they never pursue compensation for the injuries they suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence.

Other people may even feel guilty taking that route, choosing instead to try and figure it out on their own. The problem with this is the less people are held accountable for their negligence, the easier it is for them to act in a negligent manner, and for others to do the same.

Many personal injury attorneys offer free consultations, and only charge for their services if they win your case.

The Personal Injury Legal Process

The steps and processes involved with getting a personal injury lawyer and initiating the legal process is fairly simple. Before you start your search for representation, you want to do your best to have all your documents well organized. This includes the names and contact information for anyone who was involved, including witnesses, paramedics, and any law enforcement agency that arrived on scene to make a report.

1. If you have a case, get a consultation (or a few) and see who you would like to have represent you.

2. Discuss payment. Many personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning that you only need to compensate them a percentage if you get a settlement or a jury awarded amount. On average, most personal injury attorneys ask for about 40%.

3. Provide the necessary documentation, and whatever else is needed. The amount of time it takes, on average, for a resolution is a little under a year.

An experienced attorney with a good track record will be able to represent you well, and help you receive what’s needed to help put your life back together.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Glendale, CA

Glendale California is a densely populated area with a population of over 200,000 people. As stated in this article, some of the most common occurrences there that have resulted in the need for a personal injury attorney in Glendale are car and motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, substance related accidents, pedestrian accidents, and accidents resulting from dangerous premises.

Conclusion:

Both the claims process and thinking about undergoing the legal process on your own is difficult enough as is when you don’t have any prior experience in that arena. If you are recovering physically or mentally from an accident or traumatic event, it’s even more of a challenge.

No matter where you live, it’s a good idea to at least be aware of the personal injury legal process, and understand that if you’re harmed – either physically or psychologically – due to someone else’s negligence, there is both recourse and resources available to help you.