If you have met a personal injury, then it is most likely that you are having a huge medical bill burden, suffering from mental and physical pain, coping with leading a normal life, and facing the loss of wages. In this situation, it is natural to be confused and not know what to do after the incident. Get your answers in this article, and keep reading. Further, a Los Angeles injury lawyer will answer any more details about personal injury.
What To Do After An Accident?
You must go to a doctor after a personal injury and keep all the medical records safe. Later you can talk to a personal injury attorney who will guide you through the whole case. Remember, clicking the picture of the injuries and the accident scene is helpful.
What To Say To The Insurance Company?
Turn away the insurance adjuster. They might seem well-behaved and sympathetic, but they will try to persuade you to settle for a lowball settlement. Rather ask the insurers to talk to your attorney.
What Are The Damages That I Will Get Compensation For?
Your lawyer will take care of calculating the damages. They will consider all the medical bills from the date of the accident and the future, loss of wages, compensation for damaged property, etc. There are other non-economic damages that the defendant will have to pay, too, like the mental anguish you are facing and loss of enjoyment in life.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive?
The amount of compensation is subjective. They depend on the nature of your injury, the state you belong and other factors. You can ask your injury lawyer to help you estimate the compensation amount.
How will My Pre-Existing Condition Affect The Case?
You will still be entitled to compensation if you have a pre-existing condition. You must prove that your condition has worsened due to the injury.
How long Does It Take To Settle A Case?
After you file the petition, if the settlement is done amicably out of the court, it does not require much time. A few cases go for litigation. Predicting the time that involves solving a case is not easy. Cases involving severe injuries and high compensation will take longer than cases with small injuries and fewer claims.
What Are The Questions That Have To Be Answered During The Deposition?
A deposition is a session where the lawyer asks questions to the defense party. There is also a court reporter who is constantly documenting the whole conversation. There is numerous question that the lawyer can ask during a deposition and it varies from lawyer to lawyer. But to have a general idea these are the questions that are very common:
- Questions about education, job role, previous work history, family, acquaintance, etc.
- How your health must have been before the accident?
- Every minor detail about the accident and the accident scene.
- What was the medical aid one received after the accident?
- How the life of the individual has changed after the accident and what are the difficulties that have occurred?
Is Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer Mandatory?
Hiring a lawyer is not mandatory. Accepting the first offer from the insurance company and the party at fault (only if they are willing to accept their fault) is the party’s decision. But it is often seen that if a party opts to accept the first offer they receive a lowball amount. Whereas when one hires a lawyer the claim amount drastically increases. Also, there are many legalities that a layman cannot understand, and dealing with them after an accident can be traumatizing and devastating. So letting a lawyer handle the issues will be a wise idea.
