Personal injury attorneys do not have the greatest reputation since they are often portrayed as ambulance chasers who are just out to make a buck. Although there are some dishonest people in any profession, most personal injury attorneys help people get the money they need to recover from injuries.
A personal injury attorney’s job will include negotiation, research, and litigation. There are several different types of cases that an injury attorney will handle, but many personal injury firms will specialize in a specific area of personal injury law.
Car Accidents
The majority of personal injury attorneys handle car and truck accident cases. There are about 5.25 million car accidents in the United States annually.
When a person is injured in an accident in New York, they will file an insurance claim with their own insurance company. In most cases, the amount of money an insurance company is willing to pay will be less than an injured party should receive.
A personal injury attorney will call the insurance company on a client’s behalf and negotiate with them. They can also file a lawsuit and represent their client in court if it becomes necessary.
Slip and Fall
When a person is injured at a business or home, it is often because the owner is negligent in their duty to maintain safe premises. The business or homeowner’s insurance should pay for a person’s injuries.
The owner may try to deny responsibility, or the insurance company may try to lowball the injured party. An injury attorney can assist their client in proving negligence. They can also negotiate with the property owner and the insurance company for a fair settlement.
Wrongful Death
When a person loses a family member to an accident, they will be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In the state of New York, you have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit after the accident happened.
According to rmfwlaw.com, a personal injury attorney can represent the surviving family members in a wrongful death case. They can file a lawsuit for their client and negotiate with the attorney of the negligent party. They will thoroughly research the case and interview witnesses, and represent the survivors in court if the case goes to trial.
Product Liability
Sometimes people are injured when they use a product. It may be because of a fundamental flaw in the design of the product, the result of shoddy manufacturing, or in some cases, a company will simply fail to instruct consumers how to use the product properly.
Product liability lawsuits often take place after multiple people have been injured and can result in class action lawsuits.
In a product liability case, a personal injury attorney will have to determine if the designer, manufacturer, or marketing company is responsible for the defective product. They will have to do extensive research to prove their case.
A product liability case can last for years. If a case goes to trial, there is a good chance it will get media attention. A product liability case may involve extensive research, but it is usually the most lucrative type of personal injury lawsuit. Cases against companies such as Philip Morris and General Motors have resulted in awards of millions of dollars.
If you have been injured in an accident or by a product, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer. They will have years of experience dealing with insurance companies, and they will work hard to get you the money you deserve.