When Your Personal Injury Lawyer Should Be On Speed Dial
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018 alone, there were more than 24.8 million medical cases of personal injury in the US. Given these high numbers and the broad scope of personal injury, staying informed is critical.
Many personal injury victims face the dilemma of whether to contact a lawyer. Some may pursue the case independently and discover the indispensable need for an attorney when it is too late. If you or your loved one has been injured because of another party’s fault, an expert attorney, such as Rich Godshall, can prove beneficial to your case.
That said, this blog offers insights into situations that warrant the need for an attorney. The insights ensure you can decide whether to work with an attorney early enough.
When You Need to Call Your Lawyer
Here is a rundown of some personal injury situations where you may need to call your Pennsylvania personal injury attorney:When You Can’t Go to Work
Depending on your injury, you may find yourself unable to engage in your previous daily activities.Say you work as a cashier at a grocery store and suffer a broken arm in a bicycle accident. In such a case, you may need to take time off work to recover. You need a personal injury lawyer to help you calculate the economic damages for your injury. Lost wages are one of the most common forms of economic damage in personal injury cases. It is tied to the compensation you missed out on when recovering.
Another example is loss of earning capacity, which is when your injuries force you to resort to a lower-paying career.
All the scenarios mentioned require help from a personal injury lawyer. These professionals can assess your case and calculate the actual compensation you deserve for your injury.
When the Insurance Company Denies Your Claim
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. As such, agents may use underhanded techniques to reduce their employer’s financial liability. Sometimes, they may deny your claim altogether.If this happens, you should look for a personal injury attorney. They will negotiate with the insurance agents for fair compensation. Should the talks fail, the case proceeds to court. Your personal injury lawyer will represent you during the trial and ensure the judge and jury understand your situation.
When a Third Party Caused Your Personal Injury
While workers' compensation insurance covers all major damages in a personal injury lawsuit, some fall beyond its scope.In Pennsylvania, workers' compensation covers medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, specific loss benefits, and death benefits.
It, however, does not cover non-monetary damages like pain and suffering. If you want to pursue such a claim, you must go the third-party route for additional monetary compensation. A personal injury lawyer can help evaluate your case and provide legal advice and guidance.
When You Want to Seek Compensation From a Government Entity
“Filing a personal injury case against a government entity can be tricky. The government protects itself from such claims using sovereign immunity. But Pennsylvania laws provide exceptions where you can file tort claims against such entities,” says personal injury attorney Rich Godshall.Therefore, if you want to file a personal injury lawsuit against a government entity, a personal injury lawyer can offer guidance on how Pennsylvania law applies to your case.
When You Are Not Sure Who Is Responsible for Your Injuries
In case you are unsure of who is at fault for the accident that led to your personal injury when there are multiple parties involved, you need legal advice.An attorney can evaluate the specifics of your case to investigate who exactly was at fault to be held responsible.
End Note
Contacting a personal injury lawyer is very important to get just compensation. However, knowing when to contact these experts determines many aspects of the case. From handling insurance companies to seeking compensation from a government entity, your personal injury lawyer will provide support all along the way.Do You Need An Attorney?
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