A personal injury lawyer is a legal professional who specializes in assisting clients with claims resulting from physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by another person or company’s careless actions. An injury lawyer can help victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other damages. When selecting a personal injury lawyer, there are several important questions to ask to ensure that the attorney will have the resources and experience needed to effectively handle your case.
How Much Does an Injury Lawyer Cost?
The cost of an injury lawyer depends on the complexity of the case and other factors such as how long the lawsuit will take to resolve, how much the injured party has lost in wages or income, and other related expenses. The average injury lawyer fee is around one-third of the award or settlement amount. This fee is often based on a contingency fee arrangement, where the injured party does not pay any upfront fees to the lawyer, but only pays the lawyer once the case is won or settled.
Typically, the first offer made by the insurer of the at-fault party is low and does not adequately cover all of your losses. However, an experienced injury lawyer can use facts and legal arguments to push the insurer for a higher settlement. For example, if an insurer believes that your back injuries were preexisting, your lawyer can provide copies of your medical records and an opinion letter from your doctor to prove otherwise.
Your injury lawyer will also prepare the case for trial if an acceptable out-of-court agreement cannot be reached. This includes preparing for depositions, gathering evidence like accident reports and medical bills, and hiring experts to testify in court. The preparation work that your attorney does will give them insight into the other side’s strategy and arguments, which can be helpful when negotiating.
What If I Am Partially to Blame?
Many people worry that they will not be able to seek compensation if they are found partially at fault for an injury. However, New York is a pure comparative negligence state, which means that you can still recover damages from other at-fault parties even if you are found to be responsible for some of the causes of your injury.
It is important to keep your injury lawyer updated on all relevant information about your case, including medical treatments and a list of your losses. It is also important to be careful about discussing your case with anyone other than your lawyer or a representative from their office. If you receive calls from someone that appears to be working on behalf of the defendant, let your injury lawyer know about it as soon as possible.