What to do if your dog bites someone?

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WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR PET DOG BITES SOMEONE

You are walking in a park with your dog, like any other day, and all of a sudden, your dog bites a stranger. The biting happened faster than you could imagine. You do not know now what to do. You feel extremely anxious and responsible for what has just happened.

At times, dogs chase after strangers or suspicious-looking people in public places. Then there are times when they become violent and pose threats to the people around them. They may even bite small children in the park. Can you imagine a parent’s terror when they find out that someone else’s dog has bitten their child? When your dog bites someone, it is 100 percent your responsibility to fix the situation. Continue reading this article to learn practical tips to handle such a situation.

Take The Dog Away: When the dog bites someone in a public space, take the dog away and lock him somewhere safe for the time being. The victim might be too stunned to do anything. The dog might be barking at the victim if he is not immediately removed from the scene.

Attend To The Victim: Once the dog is at a safe distance, you need to attend to the victim. Let them know that you care and take full responsibility for the situation. Help them wash the wound with antiseptic soap and warm water. You must call the doctor on their behalf and make a quick appointment. If the injury is severe, call an ambulance to take the victim to the hospital as soon as possible. Even if the bite does not look serious, one must seek medical attention because a bite mark can infect the skin in a matter of days if not treated properly.

  • It is natural if the victim asks for your insurance information. Your insurance company must pay for the medical bills of the victim. Therefore, be sure to provide your contact number and medical information to the victim.
  • Show proof of your dog’s rabies vaccination to the victim. It will show that you are a responsible dog owner and that the victim does not have anything to worry about. Once the wound heals itself, he will be good as new.
  • However, if the insurance company denies the claim and refuses to pay for the medical expenses, contact an experienced lawyer. The experts at Creed and Creed Law know how the insurance company works. Therefore, a lawyer will be able to assist you in getting the money you need to pay the victim for his medical expenses.

Inform Authorities: If possible, inform the local authority of the situation and state that you do not want to avoid responsibility for what had happened previously. You should do what is necessary and take your dog to the vet. Let the Veterinarian know the details. The doctors may be able to identify the reason for such violent behavior. The dog may have to be quarantined if it is not vaccinated recently. Your dog may even be labeled a “dangerous dog” if it has a history of biting people.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

Where Do Most Burn Injuries Occur?

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Just like most car accidents happen within 20 miles of your home, most burn injuries happen at or near home. On a global scale, most burns happen in low- to middle-income countries. The American Burn Association found that over a recent decade in the US, 73% of burns occurred at home. On a personal scale, most burn injuries occur on the hands and fingers.

The legal team of Varcadipane & Pinnisi has put together this report for you on where most burns occur.

Types of Burn Injuries

Regardless of where on the planet or where on your body a burn occurs, there are three main types of burns:

  • Flame burns (direct contact with flames)
  • Scalding (direct contact with hot liquid)
  • Contact Burns (direct contact with hot solids)

There are also thermal burns (caused by a heat source), chemical burns (caused by a caustic chemical such as lye), radiation burns (caused by UV rays like X-rays or the sun), and electrical burns (caused by electrical current).

The other way burns are classified is by their seriousness, with first-degree burns being the least serious (superficial burns affecting only the top layer of skin) and third-degree burns being the most serious (painful burns going down to the bone).

Burn Injury Statistics

According to the American Burn Association, burns are a public health problem. Looking at the numbers, it’s clear to see why:

  • In the United States, 486,000 people received medical treatment for a burn injury in a recent year. 3,275 people died of smoke inhalation, and 40,000 people were hospitalized for burn injuries (30,000 being treated at special burn centers around the country).
  • Beyond the home, 8% of burns occurred at work, 5% in car accidents, 5% through sports or recreation, and 9% occurred in other locations.
  • The rate of fatal burns in children is more than 7 times higher in low- to middle-income areas than it is in high-income areas.

Burns can happen due to electrical problems in a building, inadequate safety equipment at work, defective smoke detectors or home appliances, and many more factors. There is always a chance a burn injury can happen to you or someone in your household.

Where On the Body Do Most Burns Occur?

In general, hands and fingers are the most commonly injured body parts to be treated in hospital emergency rooms. So it makes sense that the most common location for burns on the body is there as well. Let’s look at the example of fireworks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that fireworks are responsible for over 11,000 injuries a year (predominantly burn injuries). Here are the “location numbers” specifically for firework-related burns:

  • 33% of firecracker injuries involve the hands and fingers.
  • 28% involve the head and face.
  • 18% involve the legs.
  • 12% involve the torso (ribs, shoulders, back, and belly area).
  • 9% involve the eyes only (without injuries to the head or face).
  • 8% involve the arms.

Most Common Causes of Household Burns

Aside from lighting off fireworks, which is a completely preventable burn injury, here are other burns common to the household environment. Considering the house is where most people get burned, use extra caution during the following activities:

  • Running hot water from your faucet
  • Barbequing
  • Drinking a hot beverage like a coffee or a tea
  • Curling your hair
  • Burning a fire in your fireplace
  • Operating a heater
  • Ironing clothes
  • Cooking a pot of something hot on the stove
  • Removing microwaved food from your microwave oven
  • Operating an oven

We Are Experienced New Jersey Burn Injury Attorneys

Varcadipane & Pinnisi, PC has a long history of fighting back in personal injury cases, such as burn injuries. As New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers, we are passionate about fighting for those who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Contact us right away for a straightforward, free legal evaluation of your burn injury claim.

 

Author Bio

Jeffrey W. Varcadipane is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey; a designation given to less than five percent of civil litigation attorneys in New Jersey.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

Law CPLR 4549 – The (New) New York Speaking Agents Rule. It’s About Time!

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Picture yourself walking down the aisle of your local supermarket.  You’re pushing a full shopping cart, not noticing an open box of rice on the floor directly in front of you.  Your foot hits the rice, and you slip and fall.  You know immediately that your leg is broken because you felt it snap.  X-rays confirm the diagnosis, and you are told that you need surgery and will be in a cast for at least 6 weeks.  You begin to wonder – will all your medical bills be covered; what about lost wages; and will you have a viable claim against the store for pain and suffering?

You’re not feeling very happy, but you are relieved about one thing.  A maintenance employee from the store witnessed your fall and stated, “Oh, I was supposed to clean that up a half-hour ago, and I just didn’t get to it.  I’m so sorry!”

Common sense would tell you that that statement is an admission by a store employee that he was negligent – he knew about the dangerous condition which caused your accident; he was supposed to clean the condition, and he failed to do so.  You figure that since the store employs the maintenance guy, the store would be responsible for his actions.  So, while your leg may hurt, you find some comfort that at least you’ll be able to prove negligence against the store.

Until very recently, however, the law in New York would have excluded that statement at a trial against the store.  Prior to the addition of New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) Section 4549, that statement was considered to be Hearsay, and therefore inadmissible in Court.  The reasoning was that the employee was not authorized to speak for the store; he was merely authorized to clean the floor.

Traditionally, out-of-court statements are not admissible in evidence under the Hearsay Rule; generally speaking, a witness is not permitted to testify as to what someone else said.  However, there are exceptions to that Rule.  One example is known as the “excited utterance”.  If someone blurts out a response to a startling event, the law considers that statement to be more reliable, and therefore admissible as an exception to the Hearsay Rule.  In your case, the maintenance employee was pretty startled; he just saw someone fall on a condition that he was supposed to clean up, and he’s pretty sure that he’s going to get blamed.  And yet, the statement was previously inadmissible.

What does CPLR 4549 actually change?

Happily, CPLR 4549 now permits the use of statements like the one above.  That means that you as the accident victim (or anyone else that heard the statement, such as your friend, sibling, spouse, or any other witness) can testify that the statement was made, and a jury can consider that statement as proof of the employee and store’s negligence.  As another example, say you are a pedestrian and are hit by a truck that was delivering furniture for a local store.  You were in the crosswalk, the light was in your favor, and for whatever reason, the driver just didn’t see you.  When he gets out of the vehicle, that’s the first thing that he says.  That statement is now admissible in Court pursuant to CPLR 4549.

CPLR 4549 is a game-changer.  Statements which would prove liability are now admissible to do just that.  Without that statement, your case against the store might not be provable.  Under New York law, the fact that you fell on that rice does not in itself prove liability against the store.  Obviously, the rice is not supposed to have been on the floor, but you also have to prove that the store had notice of that condition.  That means that you have to prove that the store knew about the condition; that the condition was on the floor for a long enough period of time that the store should have known about the condition; or that the store created the condition.  Without the above statement, it might be difficult to prove notice, and if you can’t prove notice, the case against the store will not be successful.

So hats off to the New York legislature.  CPLR 4549 – it’s about time!

Michael Taub

Michael L. Taub, a Partner at The Platta Law Firm PLLC, has been a member of the New York State Bar for 38 years and is a graduate of the American University Washington College of Law.  He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the District of Connecticut.  He has extensive experience in Plaintiff’s personal injury cases, particularly those concerning automobile accidents and premises accidents.  He has argued multiple cases before the First and Second Departments of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division.

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?

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The Cost of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Anyone who has been in an accident, or knows someone who has, knows that the aftermath can be costly. There are material costs, but there are often emotional and financial costs. This is especially true if you’ve been injured in an accident. If this is your situation, you may be wondering if you should hire an injury lawyer, given the costs.

Hiring an injury lawyer can be expensive, but there are some benefits. First of all, lawyers often have relationships with doctors and other professionals who can help you get the care and treatment you need. They may also be able to help you get compensation for your injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Here are the factors to consider when deciding the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer.

How Severe Are Your Injuries?

Injuries are expensive to treat and are often not covered by health insurance. A mild sprain may not cost much, but a broken bone will be more involved and costly to treat. Depending on your injuries, you might have to take time off from work and pay for transportation to doctor’s appointments. All of these costs could add up quickly, and these costs are what injury lawyers fight for when they go to bat for you.

Is There Insurance For The Other Party?

The person responsible for the accident might have liability auto insurance that covers some of your expenses if they were at fault in the accident. Your lawyer may negotiate a settlement with the insurance company covering your hospital visits, lost income, and pain and suffering.

What Is The Other Party’s Insurance Company Willing To Pay?

If you’ve already contacted the insurance company of the driver responsible for the accident, you might have some insight here. The settlement offer is likely directly related to how serious they believe your injuries are and their liability exposure. In other words, they might be more willing to pay if they think they are more vulnerable. Their offer will also depend on whether or not they believed this person was at fault for causing your injuries in the first place.

How Complicated Is Your Case?

The more complicated your case, the more it will cost. For example, if there are multiple parties at fault in the accident, it can be more challenging to determine the liability of each one. There may be witnesses you need to interview or experts to talk to. Any extras like these will add up, and you’ll have to decide how much you’re willing to spend for an injury lawyer.

The Time It Will Take To Settle Your Case

If you hire a lawyer and they don’t resolve your case quickly and successfully, this can also make the cost of an injury lawyer higher than necessary. Similarly, if you feel that your lawyer isn’t doing the job properly, this can impact the price. An excellent injury lawyer will move quickly to get you the best settlement possible.

The Size Of Your Injury Claim

The size of your settlement will also impact the cost of hiring an injury lawyer. If you have a severe accident and ask for more than the average settlement, it will be harder for your lawyer to get the insurance company to agree to it. Your lawyer may need more time or money to gather evidence and interviews that could support a larger settlement. If you’re not asking for much, it’s possible that an excellent injury lawyer can get you more value out of an insurance claim.

The Results Of Your Case

Many factors can help determine how well your case will resolve in court and dictate how much money you’ll receive as part of your settlement. These include the type of case you’re bringing and the type of injuries involved. The cost of hiring an injury lawyer will vary based on all of these factors, so when deciding whether or not to hire a lawyer, you’ll have to consider each one.

How Much Do You Want To Pay?

Finally, you will have to decide how much you are willing to spend to hire a personal injury lawyer. Lawyers can vary significantly in the cost of their services. If money is tight, finding a lawyer who charges less may be possible. However, if your case is complicated and you want a lawyer who specializes in this area of the law, it might be worth paying more for someone qualified.

More than anything, hiring an injury lawyer is about weighing the costs and benefits. The prices may be more significant than you realize and can often run into thousands of dollars. If you’re not sure whether or not to hire a lawyer, you should seek some advice from those who have experience in this area. They’ll be able to give you their opinion on whether or not it makes sense to hire a lawyer, what the cost might be, and which issues and factors you should consider when weighing your decision.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

The Most Common Accidents that Require a Personal Injury Lawyer

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Hiring a personal injury lawyer is vital regardless of whether you were injured through negligence, accident, or wrongdoing. A good lawyer will protect you from aggressive insurance companies who might try their best not to pay you fair compensation. Though you can try and navigate through your injury claim, legal procedures can be confusing.

There are many injuries that personal injury lawyers can help with when making an insurance claim. Here are some of the most common injuries personal injury lawyers see in clients:

  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Workplace injuries, including construction accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Medical malpractice
  • Wrongful death
  • Product injuries or harm from manufacturing defects or design flaws

Dynamics to Establish whether you Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

Is There a Dispute Regarding the Liability of the Accident?

Injury victims bear the burden of proving the other party’s errors, negligence, or wrongdoing were the cause of the victims’ injuries. You will only get compensation by proving that the other party was at fault, failure to which you get nothing. If there is a dispute concerning the liability, immediately get yourself an injury lawyer.

Your lawyer will conduct investigations to determine who is responsible for your injuries and how they happened. The personal injury attorney will develop a legal strategy to prove the liability with the evidence gathered.

Are You Getting Blamed for Contributing to Your Injury?

Though the other party’s insurance company might accept liability, they might claim you contributed to what caused your accident. Take, for instance, injuries after an accident. They might say you were speeding when the accident happened, making you partially responsible for the accident. In New York, there is a law called contributory negligence law. It guides that your compensation may reduce by the proportion of your contribution to the accident.

If the judge determines you contributed 50% to the cause of the accident, your compensation reduces by half. An attorney will be able to navigate out of these unfounded allegations and fight for fair compensation.

Are Multiple Parties Involved?

A personal injury case involving multiple parties can be complicated. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will help navigate the complexity of multiple parties. These are cases such as construction accidents, product liability claims, multiple vehicle accidents, and medical malpractice claims. These cases are complicated, and a lawyer will use their experience to build a case that protects your interests. Having many parties could mean more money for you, but the complex nature of these cases could also mean prolonged court battles.

Were Your Injuries Traumatic, Or Did They Leave You with A Permanent Disability?

Personal injury cases involving permanent disabilities and traumatic injuries have a complexity that is not common in other cases. For instance, if you consume a defective product and sustain a disabling condition, you could require continuous medical care. The disability might mean you are unable to work anymore. You may also incur future damages as a result of this impairment. To accurately place a value on your current and future damages, your lawyer will hire a team of professionals.

They will need financial, economic, and medical experts to consider all factors to get you the maximum injury claim value. The value of pain and suffering requires an experienced personal injury lawyer who will document the damages and maximize your compensation.

Insurance Companies Acting in Bad Faith

The other party’s insurance company will never voluntarily be interested in compensating you. Their goal will always involve trying to avoid paying you anything out of what you are claiming. Some of the ways an insurance company will act in bad faith include;

  • Failure to investigate the claims
  • Requiring burdensome, unnecessary paperwork to process a claim
  • Insurance policy terms misrepresentation
  • Refusal to pay valid claims
  • Misleading a victim concerning their legal rights

Any failure of an insurance company to negotiate a fair accident claim settlement will have your lawyer filing for a personal injury lawsuit. Insurance companies know how messy and damaging cases can be to their reputation. They avoid lawsuits and settle your claims proving how important it’s to have a personal injury lawyer.

Conclusion

Though some personal injury cases may seem straightforward, and you may think you do not need assistance, consult with an attorney to know your rights. An attorney will help you review the injury case and advise on legal rights and the merits of pursuing the case. Personal injury cases are never the same.

Sometimes it might not be a fair game. Having a personal injury lawyer is essential whether you are injured in an accident by your own fault or someone else’s negligence. Attorneys play a significant role in protecting your interests against insurance companies that want to pay you as little as possible. You deserve to have a lawyer who is only concerned about top interests on your side.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

New Developments in Civil Rights Law: Personal Injury Firm Wins Historical U.S. Supreme Court Case for Wrongfully Arrested Brooklyn Man

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A personal injury law firm based in New York, Shulman & Hill recently won their first-ever U.S. Supreme Court case on behalf of a Brooklyn man who was wrongfully arrested and maliciously prosecuted by the NYPD.

Shulman & Hill represented postal worker Larry Thompson in a case alleging that the NYPD subjected him to a wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution before finally dropping his criminal charges. His attorneys were responsible for proving that Thompson’s criminal case ended in his favor and winning him the right to sue the NYPD for maliciously prosecuting him.

Role of the Fourth Amendment in Thompson v. Clark, et al.

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects us from unreasonable search and seizure, and the NYPD was in violation of this right when they forcefully entered Thompson’s home without a warrant. When Thompson tried to prevent law enforcement from entering, the NYPD forcefully entered anyway, arrested and detained him for two days, and subsequently charged him with resisting arrest.

Thompson’s sister-in-law, who suffers from mental illness, was the one who called the police to the premises, claiming that he was sexually abusing his newborn daughter. After medical professionals found no signs of sexual abuse on the infant, Thompson was released from jail. His charges were dropped shortly thereafter.

Police are responsible for retrieving warrants from judges who agree that there is probable cause to enter a home. These checks and balances allow law enforcement to do their job while protecting the rights of individuals. Without this step, the NYPD circumvented the justice system and sacrificed an innocent man’s Constitutional rights.

What Difference Did Shulman & Hill Make?

The success of Thompson’s case depended on Shulman & Hill’s ability to prove that his criminal prosecution ended favorably for him. However, previous case law was established in Lanning v. Glens Falls, 908 F. 3d 19, 22. set a precedent in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that a favorable outcome must include an “affirmative indication of innocence.” Because the NYPD did not give a reason for terminating their criminal prosecution of Thompson, it was impossible to verify whether this outcome affirmed his innocence.

Shulman & Hill instead emphasized the NYPD’s aforementioned lack of probable cause to set a new precedent: a lack of conviction alone qualifies as a favorable outcome to the accused party when the charges are brought without probable cause. Specifically, malicious prosecution is now understood as the wrongful initiation of charges without probable cause and does not require proof of affirmed innocence, which could make many more people eligible to file civil claims against police and prosecutors.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Civil Rights Cases?

While New York City’s claims report indicates an overall downward trend for the number of civil rights cases being filed against and settled by the NYPD from year to year, it is still worth noting that the NYPD has paid out over $1 billion in civil rights case settlements in the past five years.

Despite so many civil rights cases being filed against the NYPD every year, the U.S. Supreme Court hadn’t agreed to hear a case against the Ney York Police Department in over 40 years before this one. Regardless of whether the Supreme Court will hear another case involving the NYPD, Thompson v. Clark, et al. opens the door for many individuals who were maliciously prosecuted by the NYPD and police organizations in other cities and states to sue law enforcement directly for damages.

What to Do if You Were Maliciously Prosecuted

Anyone who has been arrested without probable cause or whose rights have been violated by law enforcement is well-advised to seek legal representation from a personal injury law firm with experience in successfully litigating civil rights claims. It is even more advantageous to work with an attorney like Cary London with Shulman & Hill who has experience with civil rights claims against the police and other government organizations.

When it comes to protecting your civil rights, it is in your best interests to work with a legal professional who is familiar with the law and its recent developments. Call Shulman & Hill if you believe you may have a valid case against the NYPD for prosecuting you without probable cause.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

Can you Sue for Pain and Suffering in NYC?

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New York Wrongful Death Lawyer

Only medical bills lost earnings, and certain other expenditures linked to your injury are recoverable under New York law. You cannot sue your employer for grief, suffering, or emotional harm caused by a loved one’s death. However, you may be able to obtain this compensation by filing a third-party damage claim against someone other than your employer.

A third-party injury claim seeks compensation from a negligent person other than your employer for your pain and suffering. For example, if you are injured in a vehicle accident in New York while on the job, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver for financial damages.

You may be able to recover financial damages through your or the transportation authority’s no-fault insurance coverage, and you may also be able to pursue further compensation through a lawsuit.

Like any other property owner, you may be able to hold the transit authority accountable for accidents caused by improper upkeep of its properties, such as stations, platforms, staircases, and elevators. You may be able to claim premises responsibility if you slipped and fell on accumulated water from a leaky pipe on a station platform, for example.

You can contact a construction accident lawyer that can help you with your pain and suffering case. As attorneys are the best advisers.

How Much Do You Get Paid for Suffering and Pain?

A pain and suffering award covers a wide variety of injuries, including both physical and emotional suffering caused by personal harm. This might involve fear and trauma, as well as other mental and emotional issues that can last a long time, such as anxiety and sadness, uneasiness, and shock.

Consider these factors when calculating pain and suffering.

Certain factors must be examined in order to assess pain and suffering damages using either method. These are some of the elements:

  • How has it affected your day-to-day life?
  • Whether you’re depressed or anxious, we can help.
  • Whether you’re experiencing a loss of appetite or sexual dysfunction, we can help.
  • If your injury has the potential to decrease your life expectancy, you should seek medical attention immediately.
  • The more serious these elements are, the more likely you are to get considerable pain and suffering compensation.

Damages for Pain and Suffering are limited.

Because these damages are so difficult to measure, many states and doctors are concerned that sympathetic juries may misuse them by awarding large sums of money – often many times more than the real economic costs caused by the event. To keep awards under control, several states have capped these damages.

While these regulations theoretically reduce the risk of abuse, they also restrict the amount of compensation accessible to persons who have been really harmed and are in great pain or anguish.

Visit an experienced attorney for help with your pain and suffering lawsuit.

If you were injured as a consequence of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek financial compensation from the individual who caused your injury.

This award covers more than just the expense of your medical care; it also covers your pain and suffering.

To book an initial evaluation and explore your options with a New York City personal injury lawyer, contact a New York Wrongful Death Lawyer right immediately. Our lawyers are very experienced and can definitely help you with your case. Our attorneys from our law firm can provide you will all of the necessary information too regarding your case

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

Expert Tips for Maximizing California Personal Injury Compensation

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After the accident, once you’ve decided to file the lawsuit against the at-fault party, you would want to do everything to get the maximum compensation for your suffering. Besides the physical recovery, financial recovery is another critical part of a personal injury case.

In order to help you get the maximum personal injury compensation, we’ve shared seven expert tips. Before we get into it, you should know that getting a professional legal consultation is essential for personal injury cases. Because personal injury lawyers are experts in their field, they have years of experience handling insurance companies, proving liability, and evaluating settlements.

So, if you have been in a car accident, you should contact the California Car Accident Lawyer and schedule a free consultation.

#1: Evidence Collection

Evidence plays a critical role in personal injury cases. In order to get the compensation, you need to prove liability first, and to do that, evidence is required. Evidence determines the strength of the case and makes the other party settle with you. Even if the other party is at fault and you don’t have solid evidence to prove the liability, then you are most likely to lose the case.

Keeping that in mind, it’s vital to preserve evidence. After the accident, if you’re able to move, then you should take pictures of the accident scene to collect information about the opposite driver and eyewitnesses.

If the police appeared at the accident scene, then you should get the police report immediately and bring all that information to your personal injury lawyer to prepare and file a lawsuit.

#2: Medical Attention

In order to get the right compensation for your injuries and physical losses, you need to document everything. Right after the accident, you should get medical assistance from a nearby hospital and take pictures of the injuries. The doctors and hospital would issue your documentation and the treatment plan. These bills and documents will help you to get a high settlement offer from the at-fault party.

#3: Right Valuation of the Claim

Besides injuries and property damage, there are several other types of damages involved in a car accident. Some of the most common ones include emotional trauma, lost wages, loss of joy in life, etc. So, when filing a lawsuit, you should value your claim fully and add all types of damages.

An experienced California Car Accident Lawyer can guide you better for this and evaluate the right compensation for your losses.

#4: Prepare a Stong Case

Your attorney will work with you to maximize your damages by building your case methodically. This may include things like serving discovery demands to the other side and having your attorney conduct depositions or request records. Your attorney may work with expert witnesses and medical professionals who can help establish your condition in a deposition or during the trial.

Making a strong case will make the other side accept your settlement offer when they feel like they’re in it deep. However, if they think you’re not prepared and will lose the case, they may be more likely to lowball you.

#5: Add the Future Damages

The victims who get traumatic injuries and disabilities in a car accident can also claim future damages. That is why it’s vital to add future damages in the case in order to get the maximum recovery from a personal injury lawsuit.

#6: Don’t Use Social Media

We often forget that the Internet never forgets. What we post online can come back to haunt us, especially concerning personal injury cases. There is a real repercussion worth considering with every post on social media platforms.

If you happen to be involved in a personal injury case and you’ve posted comments or photographs on any social media sites, somebody or the offender’s lawyer might likely bring it up during the trial to weaken your case.

The defense could use something you may have said or done photographically against you in court to make it seem like you are making dishonest claims about yourself or your injuries.

#7 Listen to Your Lawyer 

Car accident lawyers have the legal knowledge, and they are experts in handling these cases. It’s vital to listen to them and don’t rush things. Never contact the insurance company or try to settle with the at-fault party directly without your lawyer’s presence.

Final Words:

Car accidents are unpredictable, but one should not delay medical treatment and legal action after getting into a car accident. If you’ve suffered any losses, you should contact the California Car Accident Lawyer right away without waiting any further. They have a team of experienced car accident lawyers and resources to take full control of the car accident cases and help the victims get fair compensation. Dial (805) 541-0300 now to talk to expert lawyers.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

5 Tips To Hire The Best Personal Injury Lawyer in 2022

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If you have sustained an injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, hiring a personal injury lawyer is a great way to recover the costs of medical treatment and other impacts of the accidents. A good lawyer will help you build a case and help you negotiate a fair settlement.

Meanwhile, it can be challenging to find the right personal injury for your case because there are thousands of personal attorneys to choose from. How do you know the best lawyer suitable for your case? Here are some 5 tips to hiring a good personal injury lawyer for your case:

1.    Identify What You Want

One of the most crucial tips for hiring a personal injury lawyer is identifying what you want from the attorney. List some of the criteria you are looking for in a lawyer so that you can narrow down your search. Are you looking for a lawyer with successful past results? A lawyer that offers good communication and is easy to reach? A lawyer in your city?  Whatever lawyer you decide to go for, ensure that they fit the criteria you have listed before hiring them.

2.    Research Potential Attorneys

Once you know what you are looking for in your personal injury lawyer, you can then start researching attorneys based on your criteria. You can ask friends and family for recommendations, use the internet to research personal injury lawyers near me, and check their website to confirm the lawyer’s professional reputation/expertise. During your research, you will be able to gather the information that will tell you whether a particular lawyer can handle your case or not.

3.    Schedule Initial Consultations

Before signing an agreement with a lawyer, it’s best to schedule an initial consultation with them. A lot of personal injury lawyers like Jason Stone Injury Lawyers in New England, offer initial consultations where prospective clients can ask questions, discuss their situation and determine how the firm would fight for them. Sometimes, you have to speak to different attorneys before finding the best one for you. Other times, you may speak with just one and immediately know that they are the right fit for your case.

4.    Ask Example of Past Cases

For most people, the best indicator that a lawyer can handle their case is their past results from similar cases. Experience really matters, and the best way to know a firm’s experience is by asking about other cases they’ve handled where the client was in a similar situation as your own. Ask questions like:

  • How many cases like mine have you handled?
  • How did it go?
  • How many years of experience do you have handling personal injury matters.

5. Don’t Skip The Money Part

Money conversations are always difficult, but they must be had. Hiring a personal injury attorney is a business transaction, so you need to know how much their services will cost. Knowing what to expect in terms of costs and fees can help you determine if a lawyer fits your budget.

Mike

Find top rated attorneys and law firms profiles with Find Attorneys Directory, the best and free online attorney directory. Guest bloggers can also publish their articles here as other bloggers are doing.

Easy Ways to Get Maximum Settlement of Your Traumatic Brain Injury Case

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5 Easy Ways to Help Your Personal Injury Attorney Earn the Maximum Settlement Key Signs You’ve Got a Traumatic Brain Injury

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, hiring a personal injury attorney is the best move in earning compensation for your suffering. Your lawyer will manage all the heavy lifting in helping you recover damages. This involves negotiating with insurance companies and navigating the legal process.

However, your personal injury attorney needs your cooperation to maximize the settlement. Success or failure depends on your ability to give them everything they need to build a strong case. In this post, we want to provide five crucial ways to help your attorney earn the maximum compensation.

Let’s dive in.

1. Clearly Define Your Needs

First, you need to make it crystal clear what you’re hoping to gain in your personal injury case. Each case is unique and has many moving parts. You and your attorney must be on the same page from day one. In the initial consultation, you’ll need to be prepared to answer the following questions:

  1. What type of injury did you sustain?
  2. How severe was the injury?
  3. What hardships are you facing due to the injury?
  4. Where did the incident occur?
  5. Who was the at-fault party?
  6. What medical costs have you faced due to the injury?
  7. What other damages are you looking to earn compensation for?
  • Lost wages
  • Future medical treatment
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship?

Unlike medical bills, lost wages, and property, some damages might not have a clear dollar amount attached to them. These are known as “non-economic damages” – and may include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, reduced quality of life, and so on. Your personal injury attorney will help you calculate the damages you are seeking.

Laying out your goals for the personal injury case is very important in the initial consultation. Take your time and prepare beforehand.

2. Provide As Many Details About the Incident As Possible

The details of the incident that resulted in your injury are the bread and butter of the claim. The goal is to attribute liability and build the case.

For example, say you were hit by a vehicle that ran a red light. You are now the victim of a pedestrian accident. Following the accident, you’d need to file a police report and collect evidence.

The evidence would include (but is not limited to):

– The driver’s first and last name

– The driver’s license plate

– The location of the accident

– Road conditions

– The clothes you were wearing

– Contact information of witnesses

Pictures are going to be very important in building your claim. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to snap pictures on your phone. Try to capture images of the road conditions, the vehicle, any injuries you sustained, and so on.

Strong personal injury cases are built on solid evidence. The more you provide your attorney, the better off you’ll be.

3. Don’t Miss Doctor’s Appointments

This might seem like a no-brainer. You’re filing a personal injury claim; you must be injured. Getting better needs to be your top priority. Missing appointments and not taking your doctor’s recommendations sends a bad message.

For one, it’s bad for your recovery. Two, it indicates you’re not as injured as you might claim. The at-fault party’s attorney and insurance companies will take this into account. Always remember, insurance companies’ primary goal is to minimize the amount of money they have to pay victims. They have no problem using your actions against you. Take your medical treatment seriously.

4. Keep Records of Everything

Earning compensation for a personal injury boils down to documentation. Your goal is to recoup every single penny you had to pay due to the injury. Start a folder in your filing cabinet for everything related to the case. This would likely include (but is not limited to):

– The police report

– Your journal of the incident

– Insurance information

– All medical bills

– All medical estimates for treatment

– Treatment journal

– Medical examination and specialist reports

– Victim statements

– Repair invoices (for property damage)

– Receipts for all payments made (medications, co-payments, equipment needed, etc.)

– Pay stubs

– Workers’ compensation documents

– W-2 forms

Documentation is the best way to help your personal injury attorney. If possible, try to organize it in chronological order.

5. Smart About Communication

After suffering an injury, choosing your words wisely is very important. You may be questioned by your insurance company and that of the at-fault party. Insurance companies have all sorts of tactics to place blame on you. This includes the questions they ask and how they ask them. Do not make any indication that the accident was your fault and never agree to a recorded statement without an attorney.

Keep communication about the incident between you and your personal injury lawyer. You can always have your attorney present when you speak with insurance companies.

You also need to be cautious about how you discuss the accident with others. Your conversations might not be as private as you think. Lastly, do not post anything on social media related to the accident. The defense of the at-fault party will look into this and may use your words against you. 

Wrap Up

The goal is a personal injury case is to get the maximum settlement as quickly as possible. Much of the process depends on your ability to help your attorney. In addition to providing all necessary documentation, there are many things you can do to set yourself up for success.

Your attorney will likely advise you on how to conduct yourself and make the most of your case. Hopefully, this post has provided some good insight on personal injury cases and everything you can do as a client to help your attorney.

Samuel.Carl

Samuel R. Carl is the co-founder of Midwest Injury Lawyers, a full-service personal injury law firm that specializes in serious accidents involving car accidents, bike accidents, nursing home abuse, medical negligence. With over 10 years of experience in the personal injury law field, Sam spent years protecting the rights of injured victims and their families, securing millions of dollars for his clients through jury verdicts and settlements.