If you’ve been injured as a direct result of someone else’s negligent behavior, the law states that you’re entitled to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. While personal injury cases can revolve around traffic accidents, workplace accidents, cases if medical malpractice, and other types of negligence, the basic idea is the same; you need an experienced lawyer who knows the ins and outs of legal procedures in order to see the lawsuit reach a favorable outcome. Apart from this, there are other important personal injury case facts to keep in mind:

Take the Stress Out of Your Case By Remembering These 10 Important Facts

1. There’s more than merely the injuries you can be compensated for

If your injuries have forced you to make many expensive trips to the hospital and visit numerous specialists, these travel costs can quickly add up. But did you know you can have them reimbursed by gathering travel tickets, for example, and presenting other forms of proof? You can also be compensated for lost wages, property or vehicle damage, etc.

2. You can settle out of court if it’s in your best interest to do so

Personal injury lawyers like Heuser & Heuser will help you find out what your case is worth, so if you decide to settle out of court, you’ll know right off the bat if the amount they offered you is suitable or not. Sometimes, it’s hard to know whether it’s best to let matters escalate to trial or not, so hiring an attorney will let you use their extensive experience to your maximum benefit.

3. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis

This means you won’t be paying a dime unless your victory is already safe and secure. Not having to pay anything upfront means that none of the risk lies on your shoulders, and you can focus on recovering from your injuries instead of stressing out over financial matters. It’s only after winning that your attorney gets a cut of the winnings, thus making them motivated to do everything in their power to secure a victory for you.

4. Your case can potentially be worth more than the insurance companies will offer

Since insurance companies are always on the lookout for ways to cut their costs, they will be trying every trick in the book to pay you less than your case is worth. Contrary to popular belief, they are not your friend. Due to being an unbiased third party, your attorney is a far better source of information and will help you evaluate your case far more accurately.

5. Each personal injury case is a separate story

While there are certain characteristics that apply to all of them, it cannot be denied that each single one of them has its own unique characteristics, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach one can take. A slip and fall injury case is different than a traffic accident injury case, to name one example, and hence, it needs to be treated as such.

6. Every form of proof can help tip the scales in your favor

It’s important to get your injuries examined by a doctor not only to get appropriate treatment as soon as possible but also for the purposes of documenting them. This documentation can then be used in the legal procedure as a form of proof that signifies the validity of your injuries, but also describes their severity. You should also make sure to gather anything else you can seek compensation for later on, including travel tickets and other invoices.

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   Physical and mental scars often go hand in hand

It’s not uncommon to see mental disorders develop in those who have sustained physical trauma. Psychological conditions such as depression and insomnia are likely to occur, and they need to be treated as the serious medical conditions they are. If you can successfully prove they’ve surfaced as a result of your injuries, you may be entitled to getting compensated for your pain and suffering as well, and not only for the physical aspects of your injury.

8. There are deadlines to keep in mind

By knowing there is a deadline you need to follow, you’ll be able to plan things out in advance and file the necessary paperwork in time. Even though the clock starts ticking from the date you were injured (or the date on which you discovered your injuries), in most states, you have 6 to 12 months to make a move, which is more than enough to recover from the initial shock to a suitable degree before moving forward with the legal proceedings.

9. A personal injury case always involves at least two parties

With one of them playing the role of the plaintiff and the other one of the defendant, a personal injury case can either be an individual seeking justice against another individual or a legal entity such as a corporation. However, did you know that sometimes, more than two parties can be involved in a personal injury case? For example, many people can be injured in a traffic accident.

10. There are two types of personal injury cases

A personal case can either be formal or informal, with the former mostly having to do with a government agency or legal entity being involved, while the latter often takes the form of a negotiation between the two parties outside of a court of law. The benefits of an informal settlement typically involve saving you a ton of time and hassle, and by playing your cards right, it’s possible to negotiate beneficial payment terms without even having to set a foot in a court of law. However, keep in mind that once a settlement is reached, it’s final, and you can no longer seek compensation in court.

Conclusion

These interesting facts have been designed to make legal matters much easier to comprehend, and by knowing what to expect from a typical personal injury case, you’ll stand a much better chance to make an informed decision and endure to the very point of reaching a conclusion. Did you learn anything new today? If so, let us know and we’ll make sure to gather some more of these for your reading pleasure.