What Does an Injury Lawyer Do?

Injury lawyers are highly specialized lawyers who focus on cases involving personal injury. They can take on cases involving car accidents and product liability, medical malpractice and the death of a loved one.

They may also bring medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors, health care providers, hospitals and other healthcare facilities that differ from accepted standards of care. These cases can be quite complex and usually require expert witness testimony.

Damages

A personal injury lawyer can assist you to obtain compensation for economic and non-economic losses caused by your injury. Financial damages like medical bills and lost wages are easy to calculate, but non-economic damages such as the pain and suffering are more difficult. However, a competent New York City personal injury attorney will work to ensure you are compensated fully for your physical and emotional suffering and other intangible consequences like the loss of enjoyment in life or a diminished earning capacity.

In a personal injury case the first step is to collect information and evidence. This involves interviewing witnesses and examining the scene of the accident. An experienced injury lawyer will also go over relevant statutes, case law and legal precedents to determine the liability. This is a lengthy process.

Once a determination of fault is made, an injury lawyer can determine your damages. This will include any real costs and financial losses that are incurred due to your accident as well as estimated future costs such as ongoing treatment or loss of income. This will also include special damages for those who were unable to return to their work, such as firefighters or police officers. You could also be entitled to specific damages if you have been afflicted with permanent impairments or disabilities. Punitive damages are reserved for cases involving gross negligence and could increase the amount awarded several-fold.

Time limits

Many injured victims are not familiar with the legal timeframes - also known as statutes of limitations that must be met in personal injury cases. New York law, for instance requires that civil actions involving claims for medical malpractice, car accidents and injury other accidents must be filed within three years of the date of injury.

However, the rules and exceptions that govern when this clock begins to tick are extremely complicated. If a case of a victim falls under an exception (also known as tolling) that extends the statute of limitations, it's essential that they speak with one of our experienced injury lawyers for a no-cost consultation as soon as they can so that they don't miss their chance to start a claim before the statute of limitations runs out.

In medical malpractice cases in New York, the law has set the deadline for injured victims to sue their medical providers for poor care. However, there are other ways that the statute of limitations "clock" can be paused in these kinds of cases.

Because of this complexity that attorneys online publish the general statute of limitations for say a medical malpractice case, it is often incorrect. This is due to the fact that these laws are constantly changing and there is no way for consumers to know if the information they are reading online is accurate on the day it was published.

Expertise

A good injury lawyer will be knowledgeable of the laws and regulations in your state, as well as the tactics employed by insurance companies. They must also have experience in handling the specific type of case, like car accidents or workers' compensation claims. They should also have testimonials from past clients.

An experienced lawyer in injury cases can help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. They can evaluate your medical documents, police reports and negotiate on behalf of you with the insurance company. They can also speak with experts to support your case and provide additional information about your accident.

Injury lawyers need to be able to empathize with and understand your situation. They will employ empathy to develop a strong relationship with you and work together to devise efficient strategies for your case. They will also guide you through the complex process of filing a claim for personal injury.

The law is very specific regarding the types of evidence that can be used in the case of a lawsuit. A competent injury lawyer will be able to collect and analyze the most relevant evidence for your case and present it to the judge or jury in a way that is able to appeal. They are also able to determine the most reliable witnesses and experts to testify in your case.

Communication

Injury lawyers can be a great way to assist victims of accidents with financial support. They can also calculate future income loss as well as other damages of different kinds. They can assist in bringing experts such as life care planners and rehabilitation experts to evaluate the potential consequences of injuries. They can assist you in communicating with the adjuster for insurance claims, and give you advice on how to talk about your accident. Your lawyer can provide advice on the best way to communicate with other parties involved in the accident including their lawyers as well as businesses that could be responsible for the injury. They can help protect your privacy so that any comments you make to others do not damage your case.

You must keep your lawyer up-to-date with any information that you receive regarding your injuries and accidents. They will be interested in knowing whether your medical treatment is completed and if you've received any new paperwork to support your claim.