PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS KNOWN FOR CREDIBILITY & EXPERTISEPersonal Injury

If you have been injured, the immediate priority is getting medical attention. Assuming you have not been taken to the ER immediately, you should take photos or videos of the accident scene and, if possible, get witness information. Be careful what you say in the aftermath of the accident, because your words could be used against you if you make a claim. If you believe someone else is at fault for the accident, you should set up a consultation with an attorney to discuss your options. The first consultation is generally free.

Contact an attorney and set up a free consultation to go over your case in detail. The attorney will be able to evaluate your case and tell you who you should sue and what you can expect, based upon the facts of your case and the law.

While it is difficult to estimate the value of your case initially, there are a number of factors that will influence the potential payout, which is why your lawyer will need to be familiar with past verdicts in your area and other settlement data. The following will all be factored into what you could potentially receive: past medical bills, anticipated medical costs, lost wages and future income, and pain and suffering.

This depends on the statute of limitations in your state. In Kansas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. In Missouri, you have five. There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, but they are very narrow, so you should assume they do not apply. As a practical matter, you should try to pursue your case as soon as possible while the evidence is still fresh.

You should not speak to an insurance adjuster for someone else involved in the accident. Some adjusters may seem sympathetic, but remember that they are working against you and trying to coax statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. If you have an attorney, tell the adjuster to contact your attorney.

Since the insurance for the defendant will not pay bills until liability is established, you will need to cover these expenses initially. You may be able to use Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage after a motor vehicle accident. Medical Payments coverage or health insurance can apply after any type of accident. If you were injured on the job, you can use your workers compensation benefits. Some insurers will have a right to be reimbursed from the proceeds of any eventual settlement that you receive. If you have no insurance, your attorney should be able to find a doctor or hospital to treat you under an agreement that they will be paid from your eventual settlement.

You should not worry about having to pay for a lawyer in a personal injury case. Almost all personal injury attorneys take cases collect their fees as a percentage of any settlement or judgment that they obtain for you. Thus, if you get nothing from a case, neither does the lawyer. This is known as a contingency fee arrangement. The percentage that an attorney takes from a settlement varies, but is often around 30-40 percent.