Personal injury lawyer specializes in fighting for the legal rights of injury victims. When someone gets injured by another person’s negligence, a personal injury lawyer gives them support, legal guidance, a chance to seek legal recourse by way of financial compensation. As the name implies, personal injury lawyers help people who sustain personal injuries and give them voice in the justice system.
Most cases of personal injury through the defendant’s negligent acts are based on liability or intentional acts (such as an attack or assault). Colorado defines “injury” as any harm inflicted on an individual by another person’s acts or failure to uphold a certain degree of care.
Personal injury cases in Colorado Springs come under the jurisdiction or tort law and are handled in civil court. The concept of tort law is to provide compensation for injury victims who can prove the other party’s fault and hold them accountable. The majority of Personal injury lawyers negotiate settlement offers for their clients outside of court, but sometimes cases do need to go to trial. When that happens, a judge or jury will decide on a verdict, or an award amount for the plaintiff.
In this article, we’ll go into further detail on what a Personal Injury Lawyer does and how they can help you with your case.
What Types of Legal Cases to Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
The most common types of cases that personal injury lawyers handle are car accidents and other motor vehicle accident cases. But auto accidents and other personal injuries can occur in so many different ways and can involve countless different parties, requiring extensive knowledge on how to handle different cases. Some examples of cases Personal injury lawyers handle include:
- Bus accidents
- Bad faith insurance
- Dangerous roadway accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Passenger injuries
- Seat Belt injuries
- Electric scooter accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Burn injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Product liability (or defective products) injuries
- Train accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Wrongful death
What Do Personal Injury Lawyers Do?
Personal injury cases require strategizing and legal expertise. One of the most important things a lawyer can do for you is conduct an investigation into your case and help collect vital evidence. This will be the foundation of your personal injury claim. From medical records to the police report and interviewing witnesses, your lawyer knows what evidence is necessary to obtain for your case.
They also help ensure that injury victims don’t miss the deadline to file a claim or take legal action. In the state of Colorado, there is a time limit for personal injury claimants to take action, known as the statute of limitations. If you miss the deadline, you no longer have a right to file a claim for that particular accident or any injuries associated with it. So having a lawyer will help you get it done on time and not miss your chance to get compensation.
Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Know How to Create Tailored Legal Strategies
In order to protect your rights, a personal injury lawyer will assess your case in all of the unique circumstances. Then, they will devise a very specific plan for you and devise a strategic approach to get you the best outcome. Part of that involves being able to anticipate legal issues before they arise and have a strategy for mitigating those issues.
Skilled Personal Injury Lawyers Will Handle the Legal Proceedings For You
From the investigation to establishing liability in your claim, once you find a quality lawyer, you can count on them to handle all of the legal dealings on your behalf. Here are some examples of what an lawyer can do for you:
- Conduct a through investigation
- Collect evidence to support your claim
- Use the evidence from the investigation to clearly establish liability
- Negotiate your claim with insurance companies
- And let insurance companies know you have legal representation so they don’t try to engage in unfair tactics, often through formal letters of representation
- An lawyer can review your insurance policy to make sure you fully understand your rights and what you’re entitled to
- They can help you determine a fair value for your claim
- For product liability claims, an lawyer can arrange for the defective product to be tested
- They can help you identify and claim for all damages you’re entitled to
- A lawyer can prepare your case for trial if necessary
- And they will represent you in court
You Get to Focus On Healing With Trustworthy Legal Representation
No matter how you were hurt, after the accident, you need to recover. Hiring a lawyer allows you to concentrate on your health and your recovery. You might require extensive medical treatment or physical therapy and rehabilitation after the accident. Handling that and also having to worry about your personal injury claim can become too much.
This is where a personal injury lawyer becomes beneficial; they can handle all of your legal matters and represent you while you focus on what matters the most – your health. You’ll have some peace of mind knowing a skilled professional is handling your case rather than having to guess or spend countless hours doing research to navigate legal complexities.
You might also be feeling stressed about your hospital bills and other medical expenses piling up. And the hospital may start putting pressure on you, asking for payment. When you end up injured from someone else’s negligence there’s just too much at stake to try and handle your case independently. The best thing you can do for yourself and your financial future is hire a lawyer to be your legal representative. They can deal with all communications with hospitals, insurance companies, and more.
Be Sure to Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer Who Communicates With You Throughout the Entire Process
When you work with a personal injury lawyer, although they will handle legal proceedings on your behalf, you probably still want to know what’s going on with your case. Be sure to find a lawyer who is responsive and discusses the case with you all throughout the process. They should also listen to you and be interested in getting clarification about the facts of your case. A good lawyer will not only advise you but also ask for clarification to make sure they have all the details of your case. They should be asking you questions about everything from your injuries to insurance, to your pain, suffering, and recovery.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Many people worry about being able to afford a personal injury lawyer or therefore hesitate to seek legal assistance. It’s understandable that no one wants another expense to add to their accident damages. Sometimes people simply don’t have the resources to pay for legal help upfront but need legal help to get a fair outcome after getting injured. Those left with catastrophic injuries or life-altering consequences especially need legal assistance to help them recover financially and secure a good future for themselves.
However, most personal injury lawyers understand how difficult the aftermath of an accident is and the concern clients have about the cost. That’s why most of them get paid on a contingency structure rather than asking for an up front payment. Contingent fees vary by lawyer but most are around 33%. You’ll need to consult with your lawyer to check with their contingency structure, which may be slightly different depending on the type of case you have. IF your lawyer doesn’t win you a financial award, they don’t take a fee.
Consult a Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you are now injured from an accident that caused you pain, suffering, mental anguish and more, you may want to seek out the services of a personal injury lawyer.
We offer free initial case reviews so call us today
