When to Call a Personal Injury Lawyer and How to Find The Right One

When you have been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, knowing what to do can seem confusing and daunting. While we hope you never need to work with a personal injury lawyer, there are several steps to take immediately after an accident or incident where you have been hurt.

First, get medical attention. If an ambulance arrives on the scene and paramedics recommend going to the hospital, follow their advice. If you do not need to be rushed to the ER, see your family physician or go to a walk-in clinic to be examined as soon as possible to be sure.

Second, if you do not need immediate medical attention, collect all of the facts. Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of anyone else involved in the accident or incident as well as those of people who may have witnessed what happened. If it was a motor vehicle accident, be sure to get the driver’s license numbers of others who were involved. If possible, take pictures of any damages, injuries, and the general area where the accident occurred.

Fourth, contact a personal injury lawyer at PMP LAW. While a lawsuit may not be at the top of your mind in the immediate aftermath of an accident or incident, it is important to protect your rights. There are deadlines in filing a claim and we will act quickly to ensure that you will be able to get whatever compensation that you might be entitled to.

Here are four things to keep in mind when choosing a personal injury lawyer:

1 – Retain a lawyer who specializes in personal injuries. Personal injury law is complicated and it is always evolving. Select a lawyer who has the necessary experience and expertise to represent you properly while aggressively protecting your rights.

2 – Be sure you understand the fee arrangements. Pay particular attention to what percentage of the eventual settlement or award you receive the lawyer will keep as their fee, how disbursements for things such as copier and courier costs are handled, and what your personal obligations might be if you decide to change lawyers or decide to discontinue your case at any point.

3 – Feel comfortable with your lawyer. Most personal injury cases take at least a year to be concluded, sometimes longer depending on its complexity. Be sure that you and your attorney have compatible personalities, and that they explain how often they will communicate with you about any developments in your case. Also find out if they will keep you updated by phone, email or in-person meetings.

Never Too Late

Even if you have started to handle your own personal injury claim, it is never too late to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. In fact, it is especially important to contact a lawyer when your claim for benefits has been denied or discontinued by an insurance company. If someone from an insurance company wants to meet with you, speak with you, or take a statement from you, it is important that you have a personal injury lawyer at the meeting who will protect your rights.