Personal Injury FAQs:
Do you have questions? We have answers. Here are some legal FAQs that our team of attorneys often receives from clients.
I am injured; will you take my case?
Not every personal injury case is one in which suit is appropriate. Generally, for your case to be actionable, there must be a permanent injury and long-lasting pain. Furthermore, there must be a liability on the part of the defendant. Before Hardesty, Tyde, Green, Ashton & Clifton, P.A. agrees to take a case, these factors, among others, must all be analyzed to determine whether we will enter into an attorney-client relationship. We provide a free initial consultation to consider these issues, to let you get a feel for our firm, and to decide whether you would like us to represent your interests.
What is liability?
Liability may result from being “at fault” in an accident. Liability is a term used to express whether a party is responsible for damages. Multiple parties can be deemed liable for your injuries, including yourself. If you are partially responsible for your injury, then you will be deemed “comparatively negligent,” which will reduce the amount you are awarded in a lawsuit.
What are damages?
Damages are the amount of injury suffered by the plaintiff, expressed in monetary terms. In the American legal system, money is the measure of how much damage has been done to you, the plaintiff. Damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, medical bills (past and future), and loss of wages (past and future).
How do I get paid for my damages?
The parties involved usually settle, even when a lawsuit has already been filed. There are, however, situations where you may be required to go to trial to try to recover the full amount of damages.
How do I pay for your legal services?
The answer to this question turns on the nature of the case. Every case is unique and presents its own challenges. The nature of the case dictates the length of time necessary to bring your action to its conclusion. During your initial consult, your personal injury attorney should be able to give you a better idea of how long your particular case might take. Understand, however, that this is an estimate, as facts and circumstances often change during the course of a case.
Should I talk with a representative from the insurance company?
No, you should not speak with a representative from an insurance company. It is recommended that you speak with a reputable personal injury lawyer prior to thinking about reaching out to an insurance company. Insurance companies have an obvious conflict of interest with you and are focused on reducing the payout during a claim process. Jax Lawyers has only your interests at heart and works tirelessly to increase the compensation that you receive.
What constitutes a personal injury?
The most common personal injury is an auto accident, but the broad definition encompasses any situation where a person suffers harm due to the negligence of another person or entity. Early identification of a personal injury is important to the legal process. Many serious injuries occur each year involving:
– Auto accidents
– Premises liability accidents such as injuries caused by a slip and fall
– Medical malpractice/nursing home injuries
– Wrongful death
– Work-related accidents
– Animal attacks
– Faulty or malfunctioning products (product liability)