A personal injury attorney is a legal professional who represents people who have sustained injuries in an accident that resulted because of someone else’s fault. They help accident victims and their immediate family members pursue justice and monetary compensation for their injuries, losses, and economic as well as non-economic damages.
This usually includes medical expenses, lost income/wages, loss of earning capacity, emotional trauma, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
If you or your loved were injured in a mishap due to another person’s negligence, error, or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation. You should contact a personal injury firm at the earliest and consult with a Utah personal injury lawyer, who will help you obtain justice and a fair settlement.
Here’s are a few ways in which a personal injury attorney can help you.
1. They Handle Different Kinds of Cases
The first thing that comes to mind at the mention of “personal injury” is car accidents. However, the realm of personal injury is wide and incorporates a variety of cases, all of which involve negligent acts of other people or organizations.
Experienced Utah personal injury attorneys handle cases related to car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and truck as well as semi-truck collisions. They may also handle other types of transportation accidents, such as bicycle accidents, bus and train accidents, aviation accidents, boating accidents, and pedestrian accidents.
Further, personal injury lawyers in Utah tackle cases revolving around premises liability, slip-and-fall mishaps, dog bites and/or animal attacks, construction accidents, and nursing home abuse and neglect. Medical malpractice cases are also handled by personal injury attorneys.
2. They Inform You about Your Rights
Personal injury laws vary by state, which can make self-representation tricky, especially if you’re not aware of the Utah laws applicable to your case. Knowledgeable personal injury attorneys, however, are proficient in their craft and can review any applicable rights with you.
Based on your case review, they can build a foolproof, legally-sound strategy to protect your rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.
3. They Bring Objectivity to Your Case
Personal injury attorneys start their work by gathering as much information about the case as possible. For this, they ask several pertinent questions about the accident. It’s important to answer your lawyer truthfully and in detail.
But your physical and mental trauma can make it difficult for you to think objectively about the whole incident and may keep you from making rational decisions. Your Utah personal injury lawyer can help you see the bigger picture more clearly through their knowledge, experience, and skill. They’ll file the personal injury claim on your behalf and work to obtain the settlement due to you.
4. They Handle Case Investigation and Discovery
A big part of fighting for settlement and preparing for trial is investigating the case and performing discovery. Your Utah personal injury lawyer will investigate your case with the help of expert witnesses and try to gather as much accident-related evidence as they can to strengthen your claim.
Some attorneys conduct on-site and in-person investigations to find relevant proof. Others may hire private investigators who can track down and interview witnesses, collect site photos and videos of involved vehicles, obtain police reports and other important documents, make a note of hazardous conditions at the injury site, and so on. All this evidence can help the attorney establish the other party’s fault.
Other documents that your personal injury lawyer in Utah may need to maximize your compensation include your medical records and bills. They’ll also need records of any underlying conditions you may have that could slow your healing. This is will help them prove that your recovery will be tougher and longer than in normal cases and/or that the injuries you sustained have worsened your underlying condition.
Your personal injury attorney will also prepare interrogatories for questioning the other party. Further, they may request depositions to question the other party under oath.
5. They Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Negotiating with large enterprises is probably the last thing on an accident victim’s mind. Personal injury attorneys in Utah, however, are used to negotiating with insurance companies, and handling their lawyer-backed communications and offers. By doing so, they’ll prevent the likelihood of the injury victim saying or doing anything that may jeopardize their claim.
Your personal injury attorney will review the policy details and inform you of the maximum amount of payout that you can expect. Thereafter, they’ll prepare and send a demand letter to the insurance company. The letter will mention all the accident-related facts and demand a certain amount in damages for the harm caused by the at-fault party.
6. They’ll Evaluate the Settlement Offers
Insurance companies always try to minimize the amount they’ll need to pay to accident victims, or even deny their claim. They work with a team of highly-experienced lawyers to achieve this goal, and offer low-ball settlements. If you don’t know how to negotiate with an insurer, you likely won’t be able to tell if the amount offered is fair or not.
Your Utah personal injury lawyer, on the other hand, will use their experience and knowledge to make sure you don’t end up settling for less. They’ll put up a fight to make sure you get the highest possible amount in compensation.
7. They Represent You in Legal Proceedings
After sustaining injuries, you want to avoid the stress of running from pillar to post fighting for justice and compensation. It’s no secret that personal injury cases can be extremely complex, so having a lawyer who supports you every step of the way can be a blessing.
Also, sometimes negotiations with the insurance company don’t work out as expected. In such cases, a lawsuit may need to be filed and your case may go to trial. You may also have to participate in mediation. Your Utah personal injury attorney can represent you in all legal proceedings associated with your case.
8. They Provide Support Even after the Proceedings
Whether you obtain your settlement in or out of court, your personal injury attorney will arrange to collect the money from the at-fault party. To this end, they may communicate with the relevant insurance company and have the check sent over to their Utah personal injury law firm’s office. Or they may file post-trial motions to collect the judgment.
9. They Bring You Peace of Mind
Some accidents can result in fatalities, while others may cause intense emotional trauma and stress. Following up on personal injury claims while you’re struggling with your mental condition can be extremely taxing. Working with a Utah personal injury lawyer can be beneficial as they’ll juggle all the complicated aspects of your case. You’ll be spared of the stress and so you can experience the peace of mind you need to get better.
In Conclusion
As an accident victim, it can be highly advantageous for you to have a Utah personal injury attorney in your corner. This simple move will enable you to level the playing field as the other party will most likely have an experienced lawyer to represent them.
When you retain a reputable personal injury law firm in Utah, their team will leave no stone unturned in strengthening your case. From hiring expert witnesses and private investigators to negotiating with insurance companies, everything will be taken care of in the most judicious manner so you can focus on recovering.
At Carlson Injury Law, our sole focus is on fighting for our clients’ rights. We work tirelessly to hold wrongdoers accountable and recover the compensation you deserve. If you’re looking for a trial lawyer who loves fighting for his clients and community, and who treats his clients like family, Mark Carlson is definitely your guy. Call us at (801) 845-4577 or fill out our online form to get in touch.