The main goal of a personal injury lawyer is to help a client recover medically and financially after suffering an injury, illness, or economic loss caused by the negligence of another party. Many people never expect to need legal representation until an unexpected accident, such as a slip and fall on private property, a car accident caused by a drunk driver, or a dog owner’s failure to control a dangerous animal. Whatever the cause of a personal injury may be, a personal injury lawyer’s primary goal in every case should be to maximize their client’s recovery.
Personal Injury Lawyer Responsibilities
A personal injury lawyer will function as your intermediary between you, the court, and the defendant in your case. Your attorney should handle all your legal concerns on your behalf, including corresponding with the defendant’s legal counsel, coordinating court appearances, submitting documentation as required by the court, and ultimately building your lawsuit from the ground up. Your attorney can also help you ensure that your case meets all procedural requirements with the court.
After meeting with a personal injury lawyer and agreeing to their legal representation, their first task is to investigate your claim fully. The attorney should review all the documentation and evidence you can provide to get the most precise understanding possible of your situation. If your case seems to have any holes in it, such as a lack of physical evidence or missing documentation, it’s your attorney’s job to locate the evidence you need to compile your claim.
Many personal injuries require correspondence with insurance carriers, too, and dealing with insurance companies is notoriously difficult in the US. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they act as your representative in legal matters and can communicate with an insurer on your behalf. Simply having an attorney is enough to diminish the chances of pushback against a valid insurance claim.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer’s Role in Your Case Proceedings
A personal injury attorney offers more than just case building for personal injury representation. The majority of personal injury lawsuits in the United States are settled outside of court. Through private settlement negotiations, this saves both plaintiffs and defendants time and money on legal fees. Your attorney can assist in developing a strong case that clearly presents the extent of your damages and your expectations for resolution.
For complex cases requiring litigation, your attorney will serve as your advocate in the courtroom. Litigation commences with discovery, where the involved parties share documentation, evidence, witness lists, and sworn statements. This ensures no surprises during the trial. Your personal injury lawyer will manage discovery, prepare necessary pleadings, and represent you throughout the trial.
How Much Can My Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me Recover?
The amount of compensation you may receive from a successful personal injury lawsuit depends on the severity of your damages. Your personal injury lawyer’s role is to evaluate all the tangible and intangible losses you suffered from the incident. The aim of a personal injury claim is to restore you as closely as possible to your pre-incident condition. Some damages that a personal injury lawyer can help you recover in your claim include:
Medical expenses
This encompasses current and future costs of medical treatment resulting from the defendant’s actions. Compensation can cover hospital bills, surgery expenses, prescription medication, necessary medical devices, and ongoing treatments until you achieve maximum medical recovery.
Pain and suffering
This aims to compensate for physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional trauma caused by personal injury. In some cases, the compensation for pain and suffering can be substantial and proportionate to the medical expenses. For instance, if you incurred $30,000 in medical expenses due to a severe injury that caused weeks or months of pain, the judge may award $60,000 or more to reflect the severity of the injury.
Property damages
This covers the cost of repairing or replacing any personal property that was damaged or destroyed by the defendant. Property damage can also encompass economic losses, such as lost business profitability or lost investment value.
Lost income
Compensation for wages lost during recovery after the injury. Your personal injury might have required you to take several weeks or even months off work to recuperate. A severe injury can sometimes result in a permanent disability that prevents you from working. Your personal injury lawyer can assist you in recovering short and long-term losses in lost income caused by the defendant’s actions. Furthermore, it may be possible to secure compensation for your lost future earning potential resulting from a permanent injury.
Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault’s Expert Personal Injury Lawyers
Ultimately, the recovery from a personal injury case could be more substantial than you might expect at first. The right personal injury lawyer will provide invaluable guidance and security throughout your legal proceedings. If you need a personal injury lawyer in Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio, contact Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault today to schedule a free case consultation.
Jonathan Ashton, Partner and Personal Injury Attorney, began his law career at GT&B in 2007 as a law clerk. He was hired as an associate immediately after passing the Ohio Bar in 2008. Jonathan practices in Personal Injury, representing clients who have been injured and need justice and compensation for them to move forward in their lives.
