Blog

5 Questions you NEED to ask When Looking for An Injury Lawyer

Injury lawyer in Englewood

If you find yourself a victim of a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, it’s crucial that you immediately begin looking for an injury lawyer in Englewood. While of course, your initial concern is seeking medical treatment, but who is going to pay for that medical treatment? As a victim of a car accident, it is your right to seek damages for medical bills, pain and suffering and a loss of wages.

The sooner you get the process underway, the better, as memories can fade, eyewitnesses can be challenging to track down, and evidence may be lost. The sooner you find an injury lawyer in Englewood to take on your case for maximum compensation, the better. Here are five questions you should be asking an injury lawyer before you agree to let them take your case.

1. What Does “No Win, No Fee” Really Mean in Injury Lawyer Terms?

Many law firms offer a “no win, no fee” agreement when you consider them to represent you as their injury lawyer in Englewood. For some people, this can be a little tricky to understand. In lawyer terms, this is known as a contingent fee agreement. A contingent fee agreement means that an injury lawyer in Englewood will only recover funds for their time if you, the victim, recover funds from the other party. However, you still pay for expenses pertaining to your case.

Expenses can include anything your injury lawyer in Englewood covered to bring your case together. These expenses might include filing fees, physician report fees, expert witness fees and money paid to court reporters and for medical records. These are costs your injury lawyer initially paid for, which must then be passed onto you. The time your injury lawyer put into your case would only be passed onto you as fees if your case was successful, and this cost is typically between 33 and 40 percent.

2. Can You Give My Case Your All?

When you’re looking for an injury lawyer in Englewood, it’s critical that you find out whether that particular lawyer has the financial and staffing capacity to give your case their all. Your chosen injury lawyer’s aim should always be to give your case 100 percent for maximum compensation, but if they don’t have the skills, funds, or staff capacity to do so, you’re at risk for either losing the case or settling for a figure far less than what you’re owed.

Some cases can be more complicated than others, such as medical malpractice or serious injury against a major corporation, and with their very best legal team on the case, you need to have yours as well.

If your injury lawyer in Englewood isn’t able to involve the right experts in your case to prove without a doubt that your case is worthy of compensation, there’s every possibility you won’t get the desired outcome. What’s more, an injury lawyer without enough funds can cut corners at the expense of your final settlement.

3. Do You Specialize in Injury Law?

One of the most critical questions to ask your injury lawyer in Englewood before you consider utilizing their services is whether they specialize in injury law. There are many highly-skilled lawyers out there, and while they have their finger on the pulse of some areas, they may only dabble in personal injury on the odd occasion. There’s no denying general lawyers are good at what they do but do they know the complexities of personal injury law? For the right outcome for you, it’s always a good idea to find out exactly what the lawyer you’re looking to hire is capable of. How much experience do they have in personal injury law? Can they take your case all the way to trial if necessary?

Insurance companies typically only hire the best injury lawyers around, and if your lawyer isn’t a seasoned specialist, you’re at risk of settling for a smaller claim or losing altogether.

4. How Many Years of Experience Do You Have?

It’s all too easy to pick the first injury lawyer in Englewood you come across purely because time is of the essence. However, their years of experience can most certainly make a difference to the outcome of your case. Often, less-skilled injury lawyers can charge the same fees as a seasoned lawyer but do not have the experience to back up these fees.

Always opt for an injury lawyer who has many years of legal experience, is skilled in trial advocacy, and can take your case to the very top.

5. How Do I Get Medical Treatment After A Car Accident?

At the time of your accident, it’s essential to receive medical attention as soon as the accident or injury occurs. However, the average person may be a little dubious to do so without truly knowing who will cover those costs. If you are not at fault, the person who is, or their insurance company, is responsible for paying for your medical treatment. Typically, though, you do not see this money upfront. Instead, it’s included as reimbursement in your final settlement. So, in the interim, who covers your costs?

If you have private health insurance, which is recommended for every American, your insurance company will cover the initial costs following on from your accident or injury. Once your claim is settled, they then are entitled to be reimbursed from your settlement.

However, if you don’t have private health insurance, there are other avenues you can go down. Your injury lawyer in Englewood can talk you through the various options, but it might be agreed upon that your care provider agrees to payment upon resolution of your case.

Get The Best Injury Lawyer in Englewood

Choosing the best injury lawyer in Englewood is not a decision to be made with haste, and there are several things you must consider first. When you believe you’ve found the right one, ask them these five questions above. It may just give you the peace of mind you need to know the right injury lawyer is representing your case.

How to Ensure You’re Taking Full Advantage of Your Legal Resources

legal resources

Making the Most of Your Legal Resources

When you find yourself in an accident through no fault of your own, it’s critical that you understand the legal resources you have at your disposal. Even more important is knowing that you have a right to fair compensation if the liable party was found to be negligent.

Did you know that if you are in an accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you can file a claim seeking damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more? If ever there were a more appropriate time to flex your legal muscles, it would be now. 

1. Exchange Contact Information

When you’re at the scene of an accident, it’s crucial to exchange contact information with those involved. Take note of their names, phone numbers, addresses, license plate and driver license numbers, and even information from the passengers. What you shouldn’t exchange, however, is apologies. Never admit fault at the scene of an accident, especially when the exact cause isn’t apparent. Be sure also to gather insurance information as this will all be helpful when you’re collecting all your legal resources.

2. Become a Photographer

When you’re involved in an accident, it’s helpful to become a photographer. Take photos from every angle of your vehicle and have someone photograph you if you’ve been injured and require medical care. As part of your legal resources, these photos will come in helpful should your case move to court. Be sure to have ‘before’ shots of your vehicle as well, as these can help the courts compare the damage to what it should have been before the accident.

3. Talk to Witnesses

Unless you’re in need of an immediate trip to the hospital, it’s a good idea to talk to witnesses. When you’re gathering all your legal resources, you want to have a decent number of witness names and phone numbers that you can call upon later if required. What’s also important is to see whether they’ve seen accidents in that spot before. If they have, there’s reason enough to believe the area itself has liability, and that’s an avenue your legal team can follow up.

4. Hire an Attorney Immediately

Once you’ve been involved in an accident, it’s crucial that you hire an attorney as soon as possible. While the accident and what happened is fresh in your mind – and in the minds of witnesses and victims – you have a better chance of getting the desired outcome. It’s also a good idea to hire the best personal injury lawyer you can find. You will often find that they provide a contingent fee agreement which can make your financial outlay more bearable.

A contingent fee agreement essentially means no win, no fee. You pay for expenses related to the case, but if you lose your case, you will not have to pay for your lawyer’s time. If you do win, and that’s always the goal of a personal injury lawyer, you typically pay between 33 and 40 percent of your compensation to your lawyer.

5. Leave It Up to Your Lawyer

Aside from ensuring you’re keeping paper trails with your medical records and hospital stays, it’s time to leave your case in the capable hands of your personal injury lawyer. Get in touch with your insurance company with your personal injury lawyer present, and discuss what happened at the scene, and let the case take its course.

Your lawyer is trained in fighting for compensation on your behalf, and they will keep you involved in the entire process. Now is the time for you to utilize your legal resources wisely and let your personal injury lawyer do what they do best.