When you or a loved one is injured, it’s important to have a lawyer by your side. Personal injury attorneys help you resolve issues like monetary compensation for your medical expenses and wrongful death claims.
They are also skilled negotiators who can help you obtain maximum compensation for non-economic damages such as your pain and suffering.
Reputation
When it comes to personal injury law, you want a Manhattan lawyer with a solid reputation. The best way to find one is by getting referrals from friends and other legal professionals. Then, you should comparison-shop, talking to the lawyers over the phone or via video call or meeting them in person to see who feels right for your case.
Most attorneys will have a page on their website that displays their case results and other information. Pay special attention to the size of the settlements and verdicts they’ve obtained for their clients. This is a good indicator of their experience and ability to get maximum compensation for their clients.
It’s also important to ask about trial experience. Many personal injury cases will settle outside of court, but it’s a good idea to have a lawyer who has argued cases before a judge and jury, in case yours does end up going to trial. Insurance companies may try to take advantage of a lawyer who hasn’t argued in court before by offering low settlements, hoping that the attorney will avoid going to trial.
You should also consider how long the attorney has been in practice and how much of their practice is dedicated to personal injury law. You should also consider the size of their firm. Larger firms will have a lot of cases on their plate and you may not get as much attention from your lawyer as you would from a smaller firm.
In addition to their legal skills, a good personal injury lawyer will be able to help you navigate the medical side of your claim. For example, you might need to get a doctor to certify your injuries. And you’ll need to keep track of your expenses and submit them to your attorney for reimbursement. They can also assist with obtaining any reports related to your accident, including police reports and witness testimony. They can also help you file a claim with the appropriate insurance company and negotiate for your maximum recovery. Whether your injuries are minor or severe, an experienced personal injury lawyer can provide the guidance you need to ensure you get full and fair compensation for your losses.
Experience
The best personal injury lawyers have years of experience handling cases like yours. They know how to get you the most money for your case by presenting solid evidence of your injuries and losses. They are also familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to reduce your claim amount.
When you meet with an attorney, bring any documents that may help your case, including police and accident reports, medical bills and records, receipts, photographs of the scene and damage to your vehicle or property, and any other documentation related to your losses. Your NYC personal injury lawyer will review all of this information at your free consultation and help you decide which are relevant to your case.
If you have been injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another, you deserve to be financially compensated for your damages. These include economic damages, which pay for your medical expenses and lost wages, and non-economic damages, which cover other parts of your life that were harmed by the accident, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and disability.
A good personal injury law firm will work hard to ensure that you receive all of the compensation you are entitled to, and they will fight aggressively against any attempts by the insurance company to shortchange you. In addition, if you were injured at work and have been denied workers’ compensation, an experienced personal injury attorney can represent you in a claim with the Worker’s Compensation Board.
When choosing an injury lawyer, make sure you compare the different attorneys’ experience, fees, and reputation before making a decision. You should also consider whether the attorney’s practice is primarily plaintiff-focused or defendant-focused. A lawyer who has defended insurance companies or large corporations in the past might have an entrenched way of thinking that does not align with your interests and will not give you the best representation possible. You should also choose an attorney who is licensed to practice in your state. Enjuris suggests asking the attorneys you are considering for references and speaking to these clients about their experiences with the firm.
Fees
Injured people often worry that hiring a personal injury attorney will cost them more than they can afford. They already have medical bills, property repair costs, lost wages and other expenses, and they worry that a high-powered lawyer will only add to the bill.
The good news is that most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they win the case and there is a monetary recovery. This makes it easier for injured individuals to hire legal help than if they had to come up with the cash to pay an attorney on an hourly basis throughout the duration of a lawsuit or injury claim.
It is important for injury victims to understand what a contingency fee covers before hiring an attorney. Some attorneys will require clients to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, photocopying expenses and expert witness fees. These expenses will be subtracted from the final compensation award when the case is settled.
Another expense that is sometimes overlooked is the time an attorney spends on your case. Some attorneys will spend much more time on your case than others, and it is important to find out what kind of experience an injury lawyer has before making a decision. You can ask friends and family members about their experiences with an injury attorney, or you can use a lawyer referral service to narrow your search.
A common concern that injured people have is whether they can reach their attorney if they need to speak with them. This is especially important if the case involves a complex matter or if it is going to trial. Some personal injury attorneys only answer their phone during business hours, while others will make themselves available around the clock. Some lawyers will even provide their phone numbers so that their clients can contact them at night or on weekends.
A personal injury lawyer can provide the support that an injured individual needs after a serious accident or other incident. They can help to negotiate with the insurance company, ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the maximum compensation possible for your damages.
Insurance
If you or a loved one have been injured by the careless actions of another person, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for your losses. A personal injury lawyer can review your case and explain what damages you may be entitled to recover through a civil lawsuit or settlement. Common accident-related damages include medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
Having an experienced attorney by your side can help you avoid costly mistakes that can jeopardize your legal rights and your ability to get the compensation you deserve. For example, a personal injury lawyer can advise you on what questions to ask the at-fault party’s insurance company and how to avoid missteps such as posting details about your accident on social media.
When choosing a personal injury lawyer, consider whether they have experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants. A lawyer who has primarily represented defendants or insurance companies may have a harder time fighting for your best interests because their way of thinking is shaped by their former employers’ positions. You might also be hesitant to hire a personal injury lawyer who has a close relationship with the at-fault party’s attorneys because their loyalty could potentially taint your case.
Most Manhattan personal injury lawyers do not charge clients an upfront fee to take on a case, instead opting for a contingency-based model in which they only get paid if they win your case through a court award or settlement. This can make it easier for injured victims to afford a lawyer and can prevent them from having to worry about paying an hourly fee throughout the case’s duration.
In addition to the cost of an attorney, you will also have to pay for other accident-related expenses, such as lost income and repairs or replacements for damaged items. An NYC personal injury lawyer can help you obtain copies of your accident report and use invoices and other evidence to calculate the amount of money you may be owed for these costs.