How Hard Will Pushing An Injury Claim Be?
When someone visits a personal injury law firm, it's normal for them to wonder how hard the process of pushing a claim is likely to be. No two cases are the same, but here are four things a personal injury lawyer can generally tell you about the process.
An Insured Defendant
Insurers often get a bad rap in injury law commercials. Although the companies are hardly perfect, the simple reality is that a defendant with insurance is more likely to pay than one who doesn't have coverage. The presence of an insurance claims adjuster means a personal injury attorney will have a qualified person to deal with on the other side of the case. Likewise, insurance companies aim to pay out all valid claims that come their way.
Documentable Injuries
For a personal injury law firm, reports from doctors and first responders are the bread and butter of the industry. You want to be able to provide as professional of a voice as possible to your case. A doctor can describe what your injuries were and how they continue to affect you. When paired with other documentation, this sort of evidence can make a case.
Statutes of Limitations
The majority of cases in the U.S. are governed by statutory limits of between two and three years. This means you'll have two or three years after an incident happens to send the initial notice of intent to sue to the insurance company and the defendant. However, there are a few scenarios where the statute of limitations might be different. Claims against local, state, and federal governments, for example, oftentimes move on faster timelines. This may force a personal injury lawyer and client to move forward with the case sooner than they'd like.
Notably, there are also several other types of cases when you might have longer. Cases involving toxic exposures or sexual abuse, for example, are covered in most states by statutes that either impose no limits or that only start the clock once someone is of age. The same goes for repetitive stress injuries.
Your Physical Recovery
Finally, every personal injury attorney wants to see their clients reach maximum physical recovery. This reduces the risk that something unexpected might only pop after the body has bounced back. For example, someone with swelling around the spine might not know the full extent of the injury until the nearby soft tissue heals. This is important because you only get one settlement and can't go back for more if your medical circumstances change.
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