The Benefits Of Having A Personal Injury Attorney
Wednesday, April 13th, 2016
A personal injury results when you sustain an injury due to the fault of another person. For example, you may be hit by someone in a car because they were texting and driving. That person is at fault for your injuries because he or she were being negligent. However, if someone hit you because their brakes gave out and they lost control of the vehicle, they may or may not be at fault. The car manufacturer or vehicle owner’s mechanic may be at fault in this situation, depending on the nature of the breakdown. Whoever may be at fault, it is important to understand what a personal injury attorney can do for you before you are in a major car accident.
Time limit to bring a claim
In Texas, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. This date begins the moment you are injured or the moment you knew you were injured. Two years may seem like a long time. However, between recovering from your injuries and getting your life back together, it can be easy to lose track of time. A personal injury attorney can gather evidence, interview witnesses, and prepare your court documents in a timely manner. Hiring an attorney will save you time and stress while you recover, and allow you to file your claim in the required time frame.
Properly filing paperwork
Filing your personal injury claim in court is only the beginning of the process. Depending on your jurisdiction, you will likely have several court forms to fill out before your lawsuit is accepted. If any one of these forms is incorrect, the court can reject the lawsuit. Learning these forms is time consuming and costly. Improperly filling out the forms could even jeopardize your lawsuit if you are working close to the two year deadline. A personal injury attorney has experience at filling out court forms and preparing written arguments.
A lot of legal work consists of ensuring that you comply with printing and form requirements from the court. Something as harmless as using the wrong colored paper or incorrect font can result in your paperwork being rejected. Your personal injury attorney can help prevent these types of mistakes from happening because they know exactly what the courts will require.
Negotiated settlements
The vast majority of personal injury lawsuits are settled outside of a court. A personal injury attorney gives you more flexibility in negotiating a settlement to your claim. You may not even be aware of all the damages you are owed.
For example, if you are injured in a car accident, you are entitled to your medical bills and the cost to repair your car. You may be entitled to your lost wages if you were unable to work. You could also receive money for pain and suffering related to the accident.
Planning for the future
What many people fail to consider is that you only get one chance to collect your damages after a car accident. If you suffer an injury from which you never recover, the only time you can collect damages for your injury is this lawsuit. A personal injury attorney can find experts that can anticipate your future medical and financial needs. The last thing you need is to be dazzled by a large settlement offer that does not include your future medical costs. A personal injury attorney can help you plan for the future.
Peace of mind
Undertaking a personal injury claim can be overwhelming if done alone. However, a personal injury attorney deals with these problems and issues every day. If you find the right personal injury attorney that understands your situation, he or she can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind. The claims process is complicated and the last thing you want to worry about is gathering evidence and writing arguments while you are trying to recover. A personal injury attorney relieves you of this burden so you can focus on getting your and your family’s lives back together.
If you have been in a car accident in the Texas or Oklahoma areas, it is important that you understand your rights to compensation. A personal injury attorney can get you the answers you need. Contact Attorney Dean Boyd for more information about personal injury claims and our services. Give us a call at (806) 242-3333 or Contact Us via email. We also welcome you to visit our office at 4423 SW 45th Ave in Amarillo, Texas or 10623 Quaker Ave #102 in Lubbock, Texas.