If you suffered an injury that was caused by the negligence of another party, you might have a strong enough case to file a personal injury lawsuit.
However, the injury you sustained should be serious enough to justify a personal injury attorney spending dozens of hours conducting an investigation of your case.
A vast majority of personal injury lawyers get paid on a contingency fee basis, which means clients do not have to pay upfront legal fees.
For a personal injury attorney to accept a personal injury claim, the case has to show signs of returning a legal judgment that awards a client monetary damages.
Is My Injury Severe Enough?
It is not an easy process to determine whether you suffered a severe enough injury to warrant the filing of a personal injury lawsuit.
You might not have sustained a serious enough injury to even validate the filing of a personal injury claim with your insurance company.
The most effective way to determine the severity of an injury involves having your healthcare provider run diagnostic tests. For example, if you tripped and fell while shopping at a mall retail store, the physician you visit must diagnose a serious injury for you to have a strong enough case to file a personal injury claim.
Examples of Common Types of serious Personal Injuries
What appears to be a serious enough injury might not qualify you to receive a substantial amount of money in monetary damages.
A serious injury should prevent you from working, as well as generate medical bills that run into thousands of dollars. The key is proving you suffered a serious injury requires you to demonstrate the injury has put you in a deep financial hole.
An injury such as brain trauma, severe burns, and spinal cord damage represent examples of serious injuries that might lead to filing a personal injury lawsuit for substantial monetary damages. Other examples of serious injuries include paralysis, amputation, and loss of vision.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim
If you suffered a serious injury, you should file a personal injury claim to receive the compensation you deserve. The first step in the process is to get medical attention for your serious injury.
A healthcare provider runs a series of diagnostic tests that you use to prove your case. You also receive treatment for your serious injury, as well as complete physical therapy sessions that allow you to get back to work.
After you receive a medical diagnosis, you should contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in handling your type of case.
For example, if you slipped and fell at a convenience store, you want to work with legal counsel that specializes in litigating slip and fall cases.
A personal injury lawyer then conducts a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your injury. One of the key steps to filing a successful personal injury claim involves reviewing the official report that describes what happened before, during, and after the personal injury incident.
After gathering and organizing evidence, your personal injury attorney contacts the legal counsel representing the other party to negotiate a favorable settlement, If your lawyer cannot reach a favorable settlement, then the next step might be to file a personal injury lawsuit.
To learn more about the personal injury legal process, schedule a free consultation today with an attorney who can guide you through the legal process.
