Experienced and Reputable Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
Personal injury is a legal concept that dictates who is held responsible for injuries caused by another party’s actions or negligence. If you sustained injuries in an auto accident or while at work, or if you became injured as a result of medical malpractice, you may benefit from contacting a personal injury attorney. Personal injury lawyers are legal professionals who help accident victims seek the compensation they deserve for their damages.
Personal injury one area of tort law, in which a plaintiff — someone who files a lawsuit — has suffered some type of injury, whether physical or emotional, and seeks legal recourse against a defendant, the party whom the plaintiff alleges caused the incident that led to the injury. Personal injury cases can often be attributed to an individual’s recklessness, negligence, or irresponsibility, as well as intentional. In some cases, a defendant is strictly liable for any injury that results from a given situation, especially in the context of some dog bites and hazardous sites.
In many cases, personal injuries relating to bodily harm caused to others are often covered by the defendant’s liability insurance. Most businesses have commercial general liability policies that are designed to protect these businesses in the event that someone is injured on the premises.
Automobile insurance also exists to compensate others for injuries they suffer in an accident in which you are involved.
Different states have different rules regarding the mandatory auto insurance coverage that drivers must carry, but a driver's liability insurance generally will compensate others whom the policy holder could have injured inadvertently. Many drivers’ liability insurance policies also contain special clauses that protect policyholders in case they are in a motor vehicle accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorists.
Such insurance policy inclusions can compensate the driver for injuries caused by a driver who does not have auto insurance or whose policy limits are too low and do not provide enough coverage to adequately compensate the injured party.Personal injury cases can range from minor to devastating, and personal injury attorneys know how to evaluate a potential claimant’s likelihood of success. If you were hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, you can consult a personal injury lawyer who can help you file a claim, even in the most complex cases.
In negligence cases, a competent personal injury lawyer will know how to evaluate all of their client’s potential damages and demand adequate compensation for those losses. To receive this compensation, claimants and their attorneys must generally prove all four elements of negligence:
- That the responsible party had a duty of care toward the claimant
- That the responsible party breached that duty of care
- That the breach of duty caused the accident that harmed the claimant
- That the claimant suffered damages as a result of the accident
A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Responsibilities to a Client
When you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, many questions may run through your mind. You may wonder how you will pay for your medical expenses, how you will be able to support yourself and your family when you are unable to work, and whether you will be able to recoup your lost wages.
With so many issues to address, seeking an experienced lawyer can greatly benefit accident victims. If you choose to hire a professional, you want an attorney who understands your case and is ready to fight tirelessly to defend your rights.
Personal injury lawyers’ responsibilities include:
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Pursuing fair compensation based on your losses
- Assembling evidence to prove that the at-fault party is legally responsible for your injuries
- Calculating out-of-pocket costs, both current and future
- Determining all other applicable damages, including those for pain and suffering
Some attorneys may be able to assist with your paperwork and documentation. Your lawyer can work hard to establish the other party’s negligence, with evidence indicating that the other party failed to act as reasonably expected, creating a hazard that led to your injury. While your claim may already be strong and not require much additional evidence, some cases require that a lawyer gather substantial information to prove your personal injury.
In many cases, an attorney may be able to offer guidance and support, and it is most beneficial for a client to hire an attorney, or at least call for an initial consultation, right away. The longer you wait to pursue compensation, the weaker your personal injury claim may become.
The Roles That Philadelphia Injury Lawyers Play in a Case
Personal injury lawyers perform numerous duties on their clients’ behalf, including filing complaints and other necessary paperwork, negotiation with opposing counsel and insurance companies, representing them in court, and seeking expert testimony and other evidence to strengthen your lawsuit. A Philadelphia lawyer may even consult with other legal professionals to further examine the details of your case.
A committed injury attorney will fight tirelessly for your legal rights.
These are some of the other things an injury lawyer may do when building your case:
- A personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia PA may interview the injured person and their family members to understand the case in more detail. This also helps the lawyer to decide the next best step for pursuing compensation.
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Your attorney can depose the opposing party and obtain expert medical depositions as evidence to support your case.
- A skilled personal injury attorney will be meticulous and careful at every step of the process. From identifying pertinent causes of action to conducting exhaustive research, a good lawyer knows what how to proceed in any circumstance.
- Ethical attorneys will follow a strict code of conduct, being sure to execute a strong legal strategy while upholding their professional standards.
A Philadelphia personal injury law Firm, like the Law Offices of Samuel Fishman, P.C., will understand what it takes to competently represent you in your claim. We evaluate every client’s legal issues with care, and our legal team maintains confidentiality while advocating on behalf of our clients. Protecting your interests is our top priority.