If you’ve been injured by another party, you may have grounds for a lawsuit to receive proper compensation. Whether you have steep medical bills to pay from your injuries or an inability to work after the accident, or you have experienced emotional damage and the loss of your life’s enjoyment, your compensation should cover the damages you’ve suffered.
To get your highest settlement, you may need a Richmond personal injury lawyer who cares. Turn to the legal team at Estes Law Firm for support. We’ll answer your questions and help you jumpstart your journey to getting the compensation you deserve. Below are a few of the questions we find helpful to answer for clients like you.
How Do I Know If I Have a Case?
After you’ve suffered an injury, determining whether you’re eligible to file a personal injury claim begins with looking at the details of your claim. If you can prove that you were injured by a negligent party and their actions were the cause of your injuries, you can file a claim and seek a settlement for your injuries.
Your personal injury attorney will evaluate your specific circumstances to determine whether you’re eligible and whether they suggest moving forward and filing a personal injury claim.
What Is Negligence?
Negligence is the failure to take proper care in doing something. For personal injury cases, a driver who is operating their vehicle in a distracted manner may be negligent. If they hit another individual while driving without focus, their negligence is the cause of that person’s injuries.
Negligence can also occur in medical settings or the workplace. Doctors may be negligent if they fail to take your medications and allergies into account before prescribing a medicine. Employers may be negligent for failing to display signs and warnings if an area of the workplace, like a wet floor or a portion under construction, is dangerous.
When another party is negligent and their negligence leads to your injury, it’s time to file your case if you want to receive compensation.
Investigate the Incident and Gather Evidence
If an attorney determines that you can file a claim and receive compensation for your damages, they’ll start their investigation right away. Here, your injury lawyer gathers evidence like speaking to eyewitnesses, consulting experts, and compiling this information to build a strong strategy for the claim.
With years of experience, they’ll know how and where to find such evidence easily.
Helping You File a Claim
A personal injury lawyer can also help you with the process of filing a claim. They’ll take care of all legal procedures like sending a demand letter, handling communication with the insurance company, filing the necessary documents, and so on.
Having a lawyer at this stage ensures that the insurer is not taking advantage of you by insisting on offering a low ball settlement.
How Long Do I Have to File My Case?
In Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, the sooner you file, the better.
As time passes, you may lose access to the critical evidence you need. Your bills and expenses may also pile up, and if you’re unable to return to work due to your injury, this leaves you spending more time suffering without the aid of your settlement.
As soon as you file your case and choose a personal injury lawyer to represent you, your attorney will get to work. Our team is ready to develop a comprehensive case to get you the compensation you’re owed.
Negotiating and Taking Your Case to Trial if Necessary
Handling the insurance company after suffering a personal injury is one of the crucial reasons to obtain an attorney. A few days after the accident, an insurance adjuster may call and ask you questions to get you to admit fault. If unsuccessful, they might convince you to accept their settlement offer—but they’re almost always insufficient.
With legal help, you don’t have to speak to the insurer at all. If their offer is not enough to recover complete damages, the attorney will negotiate with the insurance company until you get what you deserve.
And if they’re unwilling to settle your proposed offer even after mediation or arbitration, a legal professional can take the case to trial, where a judge or jury makes a verdict.
How Long Will It Take to Receive My Settlement?
Courts operate slowly, and personal injury claims can stretch on for months or longer. With an experienced, hardworking personal injury lawyer dedicated to pushing your claim forward, you may be able to speed up the process since you won’t have to worry about your lawyer being inefficient or delaying the gathering of evidence or the filing of necessary components.
The extended length of time it can take to receive your settlement makes it even more clear why it’s so important to file your claim as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you benefit from your settlement.
I’m ready to file my claim. Where do I begin?
When you’re ready to begin the process of fighting for the compensation you deserve, the first step is to speak with your chosen lawyer. The skilled Richmond personal injury attorneys at Estes Law Firm are here to help. We work hard and fight for our clients to get the money they need to recover.
We also offer free consultations for injury victims seeking guidance before they make a decision about their claim. Contact our team today by calling 281-957-3238 or filling in our online form.