What Types of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
Ryan Zavodnick | November 10, 2020 | Personal Injury
Personal injury lawyers handle all types of cases in which a person was injured due to the negligence of another party.
Negligence is a legal term that means a person failed to act in a way that a reasonable person would have acted in the same circumstances. Typically, when a person or business fails to exercise a reasonable duty of care, they can be found liable and held accountable for resulting damages.
This can happen in many different circumstances but routinely happens in:
- Car accidents where one of the drivers who caused the accident was negligent
- Slip and fall accidents where a property owner failed to sufficiently maintain their property
- Product liability cases where a company sold a faulty product or failed to warn consumers about the dangers of the product
- Workers’ Compensation claims where a person was hurt on the job
- Medical malpractice claims arising from harm caused by a negligence medical professional
- Wrongful death actions following a fatal, and avoidable, accident
There are of course many other types of cases personal injury lawyers handle and include bike accidents, pedestrian accidents, construction accidents and more.
And, not all cases are based on negligence. In some cases, particularly those involving defective products or dog bites, strict liability laws may apply. In those cases, a defendant can be financially accountable for harm, regardless of the level of care exercised.
Choosing the Right Lawyer
While there are general principles that govern personal injury law in the state of Philadelphia, each type of case can have its own set of complex laws and regulations. Because this is the case, it is important to choose a lawyer who specializes in the type of case you are dealing with.
To find out if the lawyer you are considering hiring might be a good fit for you, investigate their website to see if they have the experience necessary to effectively represent you. Often, if a law firm’s website offers helpful information on the type of case you are dealing with, they might be a good choice.
You should also never hesitate to contact a law firm and set up an initial consultation. A good personal injury lawyer will meet with you free of charge to examine your case. In fact, most personal injury lawyers will represent you on a contingency basis. This means that the lawyer will never actually charge you a fee, but will instead only get paid if you win compensation in your case. A common contingency fee is one-third of the damages awarded in your case.
What Personal Injury Lawyers Do When Representing a Client
Personal injury lawyers do many things for their clients, ranging from communicating with insurance companies on their behalf, to representing them in court if the case goes to trial.
What many people don’t realize is that the amount of money an insurance company offers to settle a case right away is the absolute lowest amount they are willing to pay out. What personal injury lawyers do is defend your interests and make the case that you are due much more than the insurance company’s initial offer.
By investigating your case, interviewing witnesses, and researching how other, similar cases have been settled, a personal injury lawyer is an invaluable resource and essential to maximizing recovery.
Additionally, by handling communications with the insurance company, personal injury lawyers ensure you don’t say or admit anything that might hurt your case. Because they are private companies and are seeking primarily to turn a profit, insurance companies will often turn to deceptive tactics to get you to settle early and for a low figure. These tactics include convincing you to admit fault, persuading you to sign blank medical forms, and more.
Because personal injury lawyers routinely deal with insurance companies they are aware of these tricks of the trade and know how to defend against them. If you have been injured due to the negligence of another person or business, don’t go it alone. Contact a skilled Philadelphia personal injury attorney who can build your case and make sure you get the monetary damages you deserve.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Philadelphia Today To Get Help With Your Case
To learn more and get the help you deserve, call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online.
You can also visit our law firm at 123 S Broad St #1220, Philadelphia, PA 19109.
