When Do You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer: A Guide For Accident Victims

Published on: 09 March 2024 Last Updated on: 19 March 2024

Accidents are unexpected and traumatic events that can have far-reaching consequences for those involved.

But if you are involved in a serious accident and it has left you with severe injuries, you might wonder if it would be worth hiring an attorney.

Thus, you would need an injury lawyer in every situation, but there are a few exceptional cases where you might suffer a severe injury. Hence, it might be best to seek legal advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer.

To mitigate your situation, you can contact an injury lawyer in Grand Rapids, as they will be able to give you the best advice.

In this article, you will discover when and where you would need a personal injury lawyer.

When Do You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?

Many accident victims hire lawyers to assist them and navigate the steps of filing their claims. However, you might need to decide when to hire a lawyer after having an accident or whether you need legal assistance.

Hence, you do not have to meet specific criteria to hire an injury attorney after an accident. Thus, here is a list of situations when you need to hire a personal injury lawyer.

1. When You Have Significant Injuries

In recent days, the number of car accidents has increased to a significant level. The reports published by the WHO claim that the number of annual road traffic deaths has risen to 1.19 million.

If you have experienced a serious injury from a car accident, then you are likely to face hefty medical bills. Thus, you would need an attorney to mitigate this situation.

Hence, the personal injury lawyer will help you fill out the proper forms in order to receive your medical bills covered.

Similarly, auto accidents that produce injuries can warrant legal action against the defendants for compensation. Having legal assistance from the beginning can help you anticipate the best way to proceed after your serious car accident.

2. Your Accident Includes Different Parties

When an accident involves different parties, it becomes complex. Some countries follow a contributory negligence policy that permits insurance companies to assign a percentage of faults to all parties in an accident.

As a result, you need to hire a personal injury attorney to make sure you understand which insurance company to file your claims.

Therefore, car accident attorneys have extensive experience navigating various car accident cases.

Hence, hire an attorney to help you understand the procedure for filing an insurance claim. Moreover, they will communicate on your behalf with the insurance adjuster and all parties involved.

3. No Cooperation From Insurance Company

When you file for a claim with the at-fault party insurance company, you should be provided with payments to cover the accident expense without any issue.

Thus, the insurance company is in the business of incurring money. Moreover, they need to offer more payouts or even deny the claim outright to save money.

However, if the insurance company is not cooperating, you might need an attorney to negotiate for a higher offer and a wrongful claim denial.

4. Planning To Take Legal Actions

If you plan to take legal action against the at-fault driver or their insurance company, you need a personal injury lawyer.

Thus, if the insurance company completely cooperates with your claim, then at-fault driver’s insurance coverage might not be enough to cover your expenses.

On the other hand, you might want to pursue non-economic damages, for instance:

Emotional distress.
Pain and suffering.
Loss of enjoyment of life.

Thus, with the help of a lawsuit, you can seek compensation beyond what you might qualify for through an insurance claim.

Furthermore, you need a professional car accident attorney to guide you through the legal process, present you at the court, and help you gather the right evidence.

5. Difficulty In Compensation Claims

If you have difficulty receiving your claims, a personal injury attorney will help you obtain them.

However, you might feel stressed, traumatized, and overwhelmed when you file your claims or even talk about your accident. Thus, the professional will help you mitigate the situation and maximize your compensation. The attorney will determine for which you are entitled to make claims.

This will make sure that you are not taking advantage of the person held responsible. In return, you are offered a fair amount for your loss and suffering.

Hence, an attorney can take this burden off your shoulders, thereby assisting you move forward.

6. Difficulty In Carrying Out Details

Evidence plays a huge part in personal injury cases. Thus, when you face an injury, you must prove negligence and the duty of care.

However, personal injury lawyers are aware of this and will help you take your time to work with the evidence.

Moreover, in other cases, you can hire a lawyer to work with an accident reconstruction professional to help you establish a strong case.

Therefore, as a part of the investigation process, the lawyer will help you meet the eyewitness, gather surveillance camera feeds, and make sure the desired outcomes are met.

List Of Cases Personal Injury Lawyer Handle

Personal injury lawyer deals with a variety of cases.

Here is a list of some of the most frequent cases we deal with:

During a motor vehicle accident. It can involve a car, boat, motorcycle, and other vehicle.
During a wrongful death. It might be a traumatic situation, but a lawyer will help you receive compensation for many things.
Slip and fall accident.
Birth injuries. This situation can be traumatic for the families, and if it is due to a negligent mistake, then the family is entitled to compensation.
During a dog or animal bite. This accident can be more serious than a person might expect.

Hire A Personal Injury Attorney Today

Thus, we suggest you get an attorney as soon as possible after an accident to ensure that your claim is as strong as possible.

This is because the greater the evidence against the negligent party, the greater the chance of receiving a settlement.

So, appoint a lawyer quickly, as they can help you gather the evidence before it gets lost. Similarly, the lawyer will help you set settlements with an insurance company.

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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What You Need to Know About Medical Malpractice

There is a certain standard of care expected when a medical professional is tending to your ailments – but what happens when that standard is not met or completely strayed from, resulting in further personal injury or harm? Medical malpractice is often cited as one of the top causes of death in the United States and is also a situation that can be nuanced and require much work to garner a positive outcome for those who are victim to it. Knowing what this term entails and how it applies to your situation – as well as enlisting professional help – may make the journey easier. Many people make the mistake of going at it alone. In other words, they feel that getting to the bottom of a medical malpractice lawsuit can be a simple DIY exercise. Not quite. If you are not working with top legal experts that have extensive experience in taking million-dollar medical institutions to court, you are not going to get the compensation you are looking for. Make sure to work with the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. if you are looking for a trained and qualified attorney that can help you with your medical negligence case. What is medical malpractice, and have I been a victim of it? The basic definition of medical malpractice is when a medical or health care professional deviates from the professional standards of care, thus providing inadequate care for the patient. Standard of care is a legal term seen as the proper amount of care given among similarly qualified practitioners under the same or similar circumstances. Breach of this care must be proven in medical malpractice and can be seen in various forms such as: Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose Errors in prescribing drugs Misreading of lab results Intentional harm Injuries resulting from negligence Lack of follow-up care What should you do when you suspect you may have a case? An important part of filing a medical malpractice claim is gathering evidence in order to prove the medical professional’s breach of standard care was the direct cause of your injuries. This evidence can come in the form of witness testimony, establishing the doctor-patient relationship, proof of damages caused by the injury, and proof of how the practitioner’s actions were the cause of harm. Request medical records from your provider, begin to keep notes on your health and any incidents or outcomes related to your injury and contact an established medical malpractice lawyer to help navigate things. Understanding your case and how to move forward The process of medical malpractice can be complex, so you’ll want a professional on your side. A lawyer who specializes in this can review all aspects of your case to determine if it’s actionable and take the proper steps to ensure all paperwork and evidence are readily available to file a claim within your state’s statutes of limitation. Each state handles and defines medical malpractice differently, so having someone who is well-versed in it on your side is an advantage. When the breach of standard care occurs and is documented, you can file for damages such as medical expenses, pain, and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of wages, to name a few. A lawyer will help determine the best course of action for you. According to a 2020 Journal of the American Medical Association study, approximately 2% of those suffering from medical malpractice file claims for compensation- and even fewer receive the compensation they deserve. Understanding the why and the how of medical malpractice is the first step to healing and setting things right when you’ve been wronged. Don't forget to go through our exclusive discussion on medical malpractice problems in Miami. Read Also: Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury Cases Tips To Choose The Best Lawyer In Your Country How Cutting Edge Technology is Helping Dubai Improve its Healthcare Services

Q&A: Things You Need To Know About SSDI

In the United States, almost 10.9 million people receive Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI benefits. This benefit offers them an average pay of $12,000 per year. Despite the benefits SSDI offers, for most of our working lives, SSDI remains a background concern. Most people avoid this insurance program because of how much the federal government charges to run this program. However, people are now getting aware of the importance SSDI has to offer. What Is Social Security Disability Insurance? Social Security Disability Insurance is a federally supported benefit program. The sole purpose of this program is to offer financial assistance to individuals with disabilities. In general, the SSDI benefits can only be offered to individuals who can no longer work or for at least 12 months because of their disability. SSDI is an earned benefit. This means that in order to benefit from this program, you must invest in this program and accumulate credit points. The credit points accumulation is also determined by your work history. Why Does SSDI Matter? Most people realize the importance when tragedy strikes. When people are unable to continue with their work, they think about how they will support themselves and their families. Guess what? If you have taken SSDI, you wouldn't have to worry. After an accident or illness that takes away your capability to work, SSDI becomes the lifeline for those who can no longer work. SSDI is a federal-controlled program where you pay a certain amount every month. And when you are ill or injured and cannot continue to work, you receive a certain portion of your paycheck to support yourself. How Is Eligibility Determined? To qualify for the SSDI benefits, you must - Have worked in jobs under the protection of social security.Have medical conditions and documents to prove the condition. The general rule states that if a person is diable and is unable to work for one year, they receive a monthly benefit under the SSDI program. The benefits continue until you can return back to work and continue working how you used to before disability. If you want to get a clear view of how this transition happens, get help from a Paducah disability attorney. What Do We Mean by Disability? It is important to understand that the definition of disability under the SSDI benefits is different from other programs. SSDI benefits are liable for paying only complete disability. No benefits are payable for any partial or short-term disability. You can qualify for the benefits under the disability program if the following stands true for you. You cannot work or engage in any activity that helps you earn because of your medical condition.You cannot work a previous job or any similar job after your current medical condition.Your condition has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months. This is the strict definition of disability that SSDI follows. This is because the Social Security program assumes that the person will have access to all the necessary things from their family members, including worker’s compensation, savings, and investment. Consider Reading the facts we have shared for which most of the SSD claims get denied When Does the SSDI Payment Start? Under the law, the payment won't start unless you have been disabling it for 5 full months. That means SSDI payments start from the 6th month. However, you can avoid the waiting period if your disability originates from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and has the approval of Social Security benefits. When you receive your confirmation notice, the notice will clearly talk about how much you will receive as a benefit and from which exact date the benefit will start. How Long Does The Payment Continue? The tenure of payment is decided on your medical condition. The general rule states that an individual will keep receiving the benefits till they recover and get back to work. If the medical condition is not improving, they will keep getting benefits. However, the benefits will not continue indefinitely. The official will keep a close eye on what the individual is doing to recover themselves. That being said, with advanced medical science and rehabilitation techniques, many people recover from injuries and disabilities. When an individual is receiving the benefits, officials will keep track of them, and the individual will be responsible for answering any question asked by the officials. Do You Need To Stop Working To Collect The Retirement Benefits? No, you don’t have to stop working to receive retirement benefits. Once you have crossed the retirement age, you can work and still enjoy the retirement benefits. But, if you are below full retirement, your monthly benefits will be reduced. Only after you reach retirement age will the reduction be eliminated. And the benefits will be increased to make up for what you have lost over time. How Can You Boost The Number Of Benefits? The longer you wait for the payment, the more amount you will receive. Let’s understand this by an example. Let’s just say you were born in 1960. This means your current age is 62. So, if you start receiving the benefits, it will be 70% of your last paycheck. However, if you wait for more than 5 years till you reach 67 and then claim the benefits, you will get 100%. This is because delaying past full retirement age and Social security increases your benefits by 8% per year until you hit 70. After 70, it becomes constant. Do You Owe Taxes On Social Security? Social Security Disability benefits are subject to tax. But most people end up not paying taxes on it. The taxation of SSDI benefits depends on your total income. However, there is a way to avoid paying tax on your SSDI benefits. If your total income - one-half of your disability benefits + tax-exempt interest - is below the bottom line where taxation starts. If you are single, the threshold of the tax amount is $25,000. And if you are married and file the benefits jointly, the amount increases to $32,000. Additionals: How To Replace Your Social Security Card OnlineIs Social Work Getting Enough Praise In Today’s Society?Social Entrepreneurship – Entrepreneurship Strategies And Many More!Why You Should Hire A Social Security Disability Attorney Vs. Taking On The Legal Matters Yourself!

Family Mediation In Toronto A Path To Resolve Conflicts

In the bustling city of Toronto, family conflicts are not uncommon. Whether it's a dispute between spouses, parents and children, or even extended family members, resolving these issues can be a daunting task. However, there's a gentle, effective way to navigate through these challenging times - family mediation. The Role Of A Mediator A family mediator plays a pivotal role in resolving disputes. They are trained professionals who act as neutral third parties to facilitate discussions and negotiations. Their primary objective is to help families reach mutually agreeable solutions. Benefits Of Family Mediation 1. Preserving Relationships Family mediation focuses on amicable solutions, preserving vital relationships during and after the process. 2. Cost-Effective Mediation is often more cost-effective than litigation, saving you time and money. 3. Confidentiality All discussions during mediation are confidential, ensuring privacy. 4. Faster Resolution Mediation typically resolves issues faster than court proceedings. How To Initiate Family Mediation If you're considering family mediation Toronto, the process is quite straightforward. You can initiate it voluntarily or be referred by a legal professional. The first step is to choose a qualified mediator who will guide you through the process. The Mediation Process Family mediation typically follows these stages: Introduction: The mediator explains their role and the mediation process. Information Gathering: Both parties share their perspectives and concerns. Negotiation: The mediator helps parties find common ground and make informed decisions. Agreement: Once an agreement is reached, it's documented and can become legally binding. Confidentiality And Neutrality In family mediation, confidentiality and neutrality are paramount. Everything discussed during the mediation sessions is confidential, creating a safe space for open communication. The mediator remains neutral and doesn't take sides. Communication Skills In Mediation Effective communication is key to successful mediation. Mediators are skilled in helping participants express their thoughts and feelings constructively. They also ensure that everyone feels heard and understood. Legal Aspects Of Family Mediation While mediation doesn't require legal representation, understanding the legal aspects is crucial. Mediators can provide information, but it's advisable to consult an attorney if you have complex legal questions. Child Custody And Support One of the most common issues in family mediation is child custody and support. Mediation allows parents to create a parenting plan that suits their child's best interests, ensuring their emotional well-being. Property And Asset Division Mediation can help couples fairly divide their property and assets. This process is typically less adversarial and more equitable than court-ordered division. Spousal Support Mediation can also address spousal support concerns. It enables couples to negotiate and agree on fair support arrangements that meet both parties' needs. Success Stories Real-life success stories of families in Toronto who have found resolution through mediation highlight the effectiveness of this approach. It offers hope to those going through difficult times, showing that solutions are possible. Family mediation in Toronto provides a constructive and amicable way to resolve conflicts. It empowers families to find mutually beneficial solutions, preserving relationships and reducing the emotional and financial toll often associated with litigation. Consider family mediation as a pathway to resolving your family issues today. Read Also: Divorce Lawyers In Houston Texas: A Short Guide On Saving Your Marriage Are Payday Loans Really As Bad As People Say? Top 7 Reasons To Hire A Private Detective Agency During Divorce Cases

When Do You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer: A Guide For Accident Victims