If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident caused by another person’s carelessness or negligence, you’ll need to discuss your circumstances with a personal injury lawyer in order to determine if you have a valid claim or reason to file a lawsuit. The following 3 factors could help in the decision-making process when discussing your options.
Nature and Extent of Your Injuries
Whenever you feel as though another person’s actions or inaction have caused you mental or physical harm (or both) or put you at risk of serious harm, it’s understandable that you’d want that individual or other entity to be held responsible. However, if your injuries and losses were minor, or you weren’t hurt at all, then it’s best to re-think the idea of pursuing a claim or lawsuit. This is especially true if there are questions about the circumstances surrounding your accident such as, “Who is at fault?” or “Did you play a part in causing or contributing to the accident and your injuries?”That is why it helps to hire the services of a personal injury lawyer in Burlington to evaluate the claim and get the needed done.
Were Your Financial Losses paid for?
In a personal injury case, whenever there is accident insurance coverage in place, or if your healthcare insurance covered any medical treatment you received, the question that typically arises is “Were your financial losses paid for?” Regardless of the nature of your injuries, your health insurance may have covered any doctor’s office visits, MRI’s, physical therapy, x-rays, and other types of medical care or treatment. For example, in a motor vehicle accident, the insurance coverage of both parties may cover medical expenses and property damage.
Do You have a strong Case?
Probably the most important question that any personal injury lawyer must answer in the initial consultation is “Does the plaintiff have a strong case?” Since most personal injury cases can be relatively complex, the burden of proof rests on the shoulders of the plaintiff and their lawyer. You have to prove that the other driver in a motor vehicle accident or the property owner in a slip and fall accident, for example are legally liable for your injuries and losses.
If the liability of the other party is unclear, a personal injury case or lawsuit could drag on for weeks, months, or even years. This is especially true when there is evidence that shows that your actions or inaction contributed to or shared in the cause of the accident. In any event, you should never try to handle your own case without the legal assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
