A personal injury claim is a lawsuit that seeks financial stability for those that have been injured because of an accident caused by a third party. Some of the most common personal injury claims happen after:
• Traffic accidents
• Accidents in the workplace
• Product defect
• Medical accidents
If you have suffered from any of these types of accidents, there are some things you need to know and understand about personal injury claims before going to a lawyer to claim one.
1. Do I Need a Lawyer to Make a Claim?
You are not required to have a lawyer in order to make a personal injury claim; but a lawyer is very useful when it comes to understanding and protecting your legal rights. If the accident was your fault, your insurance company will provide you a lawyer to handle your case. This is why it is always important to contact your insurance company as soon as an accident occurs.
2. How to Find an Attorney
One of the best ways to find an attorney you can trust is to get a referral from a family member or friend. I found my attorney at Miami Injury & Accident Law Office of Saban & Solomon because of a referral from one of my closest friend; and it was the best decision for my personal injury claim I could have made. When you are looking for your attorney always make sure to ask these questions:
• What kind of cases have you handled before?
• Are you prompt and attentive when it comes to your clients?
• What is your specialty?
By asking these questions it will help you get a feel of what kind of lawyer they are and if that is the type of person you want to be represented by. It is always wise to hire a lawyer that specializes in cases that are similar to your own.
3. How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Filing a claim is only necessary when you are unable to agree on an amount with the other party or with the insurance company. In most cases, you must file the claim within two years after the accident. But always be careful, because some deadlines can be as short as six months after the accident. It depends on the different requirements.
4. How are Personal Injury Attorneys Paid?
How a lawyer is paid depends on which lawyer you have chosen. The most common way for a personal injury lawyer to receive payment is by taking a percentage of the money you obtained from the settlement. This type of payment is also known as a contingency fee. A couple other ways that a lawyer may ask for payment is based on the hours he works on your case, it could be a flat rate he has set up depending on what kind of case it is. With almost all lawyers, they will agree with the client that if they fail to obtain any settlement money, than they will not hold the client responsible for paying any fees.