Accidents are by definition disruptive and highly traumatic events in anyone?s life. Hospitalization for injuries, medical treatment, bills and insurance claims, and concerns about the future all combine to create a major physical and emotional trauma. You may be aware that if the accident was the fault if another person or entity, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and loss of income. But you can?t do it alone. A personal injury lawyer can help you get past all the logistical and administrative hurdles to achieve a fair settlement.
What is a personal injury claim?
If you?ve been in a traffic accident, or suffered a slip or fall or other injury that was due to some action or negligence by another party, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, for loss of income resulting from the accident, and for the emotional distress you have suffered.
In general, personal injury cases arise when someone is seriously injured or killed by another at-fault party, and/ or sustains significant damages to property. Some typical cases are:
- car accidents with substantial injuries such as catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, etc.
- large commercial truck and semi accidents
- people who have been hurt by drunk drivers
- wrongful death
- pedestrians hit by cars
- bicycle and motorcycle accidents
- construction accidents
- workplace injuries
How traffic accidents occur
Traffic accidents are all too common, and the ubiquity of mobile devices has added one more factor to dangerous driving on the roads. In just one year, 2015, there were 32,166 fatal traffic accidents. Some groups are more vulnerable than others: younger drivers, pedestrians, and motorcycle riders are disproportionately represented among the victims.
For instance, worldwide, more than half of all fatal traffic accidents involve adults in the ages between 15 and 44 years. Motorcyclists account for 14% of all traffic fatalities and 4% of all injuries in traffic accidents, as of 2013. Weather, road conditions and drunk and distracted driving account for the majority of accidents.
How a personal injury lawyer can help
If you or someone you know, such as a family member or close friend, has been injured, a personal injury attorney can help you get your life back on track. The victim and those close to him or her will be dealing with a range of traumas and issues, including hospitalization, medical bills and insurance claims, loss of income due to inability to work, and worries about the future decisions. There is physical and emotional trauma.
While you may be entitled to compensation, it?s difficult for most people to know where to begin. Most personal injuries cases, as many as 95%, are settled out of court. Experienced personal injury lawyers will know exactly how to go about filing a case and providing supporting documentation to win the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.
Accidents and injuries can cause severe emotional and physical traumas. With help from an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can file for and win the maximum compensation to which you are entitled, from the at-fault party. That?s the first step to beginning to put your life back together again.
