Car accidents, dog bites and a workers compensation claim. What do each of these have in common? Each of these incidents have the potential to become a personal injury lawsuit. Despite having very different causes, they can all have very similar outcomes. These include injuries which can, and ny personal injury attorney sometimes are, life threatening or life-altering. They can also make it impossible for someone to earn a living as well as devastate them financially with medical bills.
What is a personal injury lawsuit?
This type of lawsuit is filed by either the person who has been injured or by their family members who are directly affected. In these cases physical harm and financial damage has been caused because of the negligence of another person or a company. Medical malpractice, a slip and fall on an unsafe surface or food poisoning from a restaurant are other examples of the incidents which can create the circumstances where a personal injury lawsuit are involved.
What about insurance?
Some people may feel that if they have insurance then they are not eligible for a lawsuit. This is not the case. Insurance will rarely cover the full costs of a significant incident, even in an at-work accident. They are also not going to include anything extra to cope with the loss of someone when an accident occurs. While there has been some talk about lawsuits being how people profit from the death of a loved one, this is not what the lawsuits are about. The money from these suits cover medical bills, loss of income and counseling.
Is legal counsel needed?
Technically, no. You are never required to seek legal help for any case. But personal injury attorneys understand the system, they know how insurance companies work and they know how to be certain you get everything you deserve. You potentially risk losing tens of thousands of dollars by attempting it on your own.
There are many lawsuits filed every year by California lawyers, but only 4 percent of these actually ever make it to court. For the majority of these, they are settled out of court, often with substantial settlements for the injured claimant. Most bay area law firms offer the opportunity for people to hire a lawyer with no fees upfront. Instead, a portion of the final settlement is used to pay for their services after the case has been finalized. This method allows those who are already financially strapped to get the legal representation they deserve.