The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
No one ever expects to become injured doing daily activities like grocery shopping or driving to work. Still, an estimated 500,000 personal injury claims are filed around the United States each year.
Choosing to pursue legal action against another person for causing your injury can be a stressful decision that comes with many questions. Before filing a claim, it's crucial to understand when you have a personal injury case, what the timeline may look like, and how an attorney can best help you through it. Read on to learn more about the personal injury process.
What Cases Fall Under Personal Injury?
Personal injury cases fall under the "torts" umbrella, in which claims are based on whether someone suffered a loss or injury by another person. Many different cases can fall under personal injury, but our Slusser Law Firm team provides legal services for clients injured by:
When pursuing a personal injury claim, negligence must be proven in order to have the desired outcome. In Pennsylvania, the opposing party must be 50% or greater at fault for the petitioner to retain eligibility for financial compensation.
Your Personal Injury Claim Timeline
Each personal injury case must adhere to the state's statute of limitations, meaning that your claim must be filed within a specific timeframe for damages to be recovered. In Pennsylvania, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of your incident; in a wrongful death case, the two-year mark is from the date of passing. One of the best ways to ensure that you are meeting this timeline is to begin working with a personal injury attorney shortly after your incident.
What You Can Do Following Your Incident
Many injured persons may delay filing their claim because they are unsure they have one or are waiting to see the actual cost of the damages. While it's often recommended that you speak with an attorney quickly following your incident, there are steps you can take in the interim if you choose to wait. Here are four things to keep a record of:
- The number of treatments you require and their cost.
- Pictures and videos of the injuries and property damages (if applicable).
- The lost wages you have accrued as a result of injury.
- Pain and suffering experienced, including loss of consortium.
Not only will these help your attorney better understand your conditions and the impacts the incident had on your quality of life, but they can provide key evidence to be used in your case.
You Don’t Have to Handle It Alone
Personal injury claims can be complicated, and depending on the nature of your case, dealing with insurance companies may come with a lot of red tape. Before giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster of any party involved, it's crucial to contact an attorney to ensure that your story doesn't get twisted. Likewise, if your claim is against a large corporation, their attorney may attempt to get you to settle for less than you deserve.
Ultimately, working with a personal injury attorney is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself following an incident that left you injured.
Questions? Contact Slusser Law Firm today!
Slusser Law Firm has been handling personal injury claims in Pennsylvania since 1999. Our highly successful team of attorneys aims to improve the quality of life of all of our clients and will work with you to achieve the most desired outcome. If you have sustained an injury due to the negligence of an individual or corporation, know that you have the right to hold the at fault party accountable.
To schedule a consultation with a member of our team, call (570) 405-9953 or fill out this short form.