Legal Support for Injured Victims

Client Expectations

Once you secure representation and file a claim, you should expect your case to be worked up appropriately. An experienced attorney should put together medical evidence and have it examined by a doctor specializing in the related medical area to determine whether the injury is permanent or transitory.

You should expect a period of negotiation with the insurance company. We try to give the insurance company every opportunity to settle the case reasonably without a lawsuit. Unfortunately, with many insurance companies, they seem to no longer be interested in settling a case reasonably. So frequently, that means we will have to file a lawsuit.

Filing a lawsuit does not mean that your case will necessarily go to trial. When you file a lawsuit, the legal paperwork will be filed with the court by our office. Interrogatories typically follow that with a request for the production of documents, depositions, and medical evidence worked up.

Personal Injury Settlement

Generally, there are two types of damages in a personal injury case. The first would be economic damages, and the second would be non-economic damages. 

Economic damages include:

• Cost of medical bills
• Wage loss
• Time off-work
• Pre-judgment interest
• Loss of future earnings
• Ongoing medical treatments
• Property damage

Many economic damages can easily be measured, but a lot of non-economic damages need to be considered as well, such as pain, discomfort, suffering, and disfigurement.

Past costs, expenses, and damages are relatively straightforward to document, calculate, and prove. The amount of property damage done to the car, wage loss, medical bills, and pre-judgment interest can be calculated from the proper documentation. However, consider the action of any future medical care and other expenses that may need to be projected to the end of the injured party’s life.

Projections should be compiled with the use of expert witnesses. Suppose there will be future medical expenses, such as MRIs, injections, surgery, or medication. In that case, we need to establish the cost of those necessary treatments and establish the frequency they are anticipated to be needed. We need to project these costs out throughout a person’s expected lifetime.

Having an experienced personal injury attorney represent you can increase your likelihood of a more significant settlement. We have seen cases where an insurance adjuster was at the victim’s door the day after an accident with a check in hand, offering a settlement of $2,500 – $5,000. However, after our firm properly worked up the case, we settled the case later for $250,000-$500,000.

Having an experienced attorney dramatically increases the likelihood of a better outcome for the client in terms of a settlement. Frequently, the injured person has little experience in negotiating, not to mention valuing and resolving those types of claims. These are things we do every day in our office, multiple times a day. We have the contacts, reputation, and staff to put everything together and help the client and their family reach a better outcome.

Work With a Legal Team That Cares

Unlike insurers, our clients are more than just a number on a spreadsheet. You’re a human with a life and responsibilities. You work hard and deserve a team that tenaciously advocates for you. You can expect our care and undivided attention from the moment we meet. We want to understand every aspect of your story to help you devise an effective legal strategy that enables you to secure an appropriate payout.