If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of an automobile accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident caused by someone else, you may be tempted not to make a fuss. All that matters is that the insurance company pays your medical bills, right?
Wrong! Virtually every state – from California to Georgia to Virginia – has laws on the books that may entitle you to more than reimbursement for a doctor’s bill for treating whiplash. Here are guidelines for when and why you should consult a personal injury lawyer.
Automobile Accidents
Over two and a half million people across the country were injured in automobile-related accidents last year and 42,000 were killed, including 1,600 in Georgia alone. If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, you deserve to be reimbursed for your medical expenses, but you are also entitled to receive a settlement or compensation for loss of income, physical injury, and psychological harm.
Motorcycle Accidents
It’s heartbreaking to realize how many motorcycle accidents result in serious head injury or in loss of life. Over ten percent of all traffic fatalities are those of motorcyclists. Even when the motorcyclist survives, his or her life can change irrevocably. That’s why the law is designed to compensate the victim of a motorcycle accident or, in the case of death, his or her survivors.
Trucking Accidents
We’ve all heard horror stories of long distance truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel and causing tragic accidents. While truck drivers are very conscientious, the sheer size of their vehicles means that the effects of a crash increase exponentially. Whether because of fatigue, tire blowouts, failed brakes, or another cause, trucking accidents can cause extremely serious injuries and even death.
Consulting a Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been in an automobile, motorcycle, or trucking accident and you were not at fault, consulting a personal injury attorney will ensure that you receive all of the compensation to which you’re entitled. Although you may be tempted to work it out with the insurance companies on your own, think twice before doing so. Sustaining an injury in a traffic accident is traumatizing, and you are not in the best position to objectively take the proper course of action. While insurance companies can be extremely helpful, their ultimate goal is to minimize the amount of money they are required to pay.
In many instances, an injury sustained in a traffic accident may not be immediately apparent, or there may be recurring problems with long-term implications for your job and your medical expenses. A personal injury lawyer has the experience to anticipate issues that may arise in the future, and can act as your advocate in the present. Keep in mind that most states, such as Georgia, have a statute of limitations, so it’s doubly important to consult an attorney sooner, rather than later.
Consulting a lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean that you will end up filing a lawsuit; indeed, the typical personal injury case results in an out of court settlement. The best attorneys offer free consultations, and should be able to outline your options and the results that can be expected from a case such as yours. The law clearly recognizes that victims of traffic accidents are entitled to compensation; you should absolutely consult with a personal injury attorney in order to preserve your rights under the law.
By: Chris Robertson
If you’ve ever been physically or emotionally crippled due to the actions or neglect of someone else, then you know what the term “personal injury” is all about. Perhaps you know of someone who is suffering to regain control of their lives following a devastating accident or medical treatment that has gone wrong.
Personal injury involves injury to someone’s mind, their body, or their emotional well-being. It does not involve property. In these cases the law seeks to punish the offenders and compensate the victim by obtaining monetary settlements.
In this world there are all kinds of situations that we encounter on a daily basis. On the whole the work we perform, the services we partake of, and our dealings with professionals have happy outcomes.
However, sometimes the unexpected happens, and we find ourselves needing help. A personal injury attorney has a wealth of experience in medical malpractice situations, automobile accidents, wrongful death, product liability and general negligence.
Over the years we all have heard of high profile cases that become prominent in the papers and on the new media. We hear awful stories and sometimes we find ourselves empathizing with the folks who struggle with overwhelming adversity.
These days we often hear of the problems of asbestos. As the years go by, victims who have been exposed to asbestos have begun to come forward seeking compensation.
Asbestos was supposed to be a wonderful product, commonly used in insulation. The trouble was that the tiny fibers can be breathed in, causing a serious lung ailment called mesothelioma.
Thalidomide, a seemingly innocuous drug, commonly prescribed to pregnant women for morning sickness, is another monumental tragedy. The German company Grunenthal said it was so safe that it was sold without a prescription.
Within a few years people began suffering damage to their nervous systems, and babies were born with serious limb problems. They had short arms with fingers that looked more like flippers. Some had virtually no legs, but with toes coming out of their hips.
The personal injury lawsuits as a result of thalidomide came to more than fifty million dollars. The drug was pulled from markets all over the world, but it has resurfaced as thalomid and is being used for treatment of leprosy, AIDS, TB, and cancer.
Remember the uproar about the harmfulness of cigarettes and the huge class-action lawsuits? Yes, the world can be a dangerous place. If you believe that you are the victim of anothers negligence, contact a Personal Injury Attorney today. They will evaluate your case and work diligently to get you the compensation that you deserve.
For a free evaluation of your case and to find an experienced personal injury lawyer visit InjuryExperts.com – You will be contacted quickly by phone to schedule your free, confidential case review.
By: Nick Messe
