What Are the Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases?

Personal injury comes in many forms for people. Whether someone suffers an emotional, mental, physical or financial injury, or even when they suffer a loss of property, that personal injury can cause an avalanche of other problems in their life, which is why it is so important for people to consider their options as soon as possible. Many times, personal injury is due to someone else's negligence, so it is important for the injured party to make sure they have all the facts of the case before they accuse someone of wrongdoing against them. All of this makes it critical that an injured person finds a reliable personal injury attorney Tampa. 

What Are the Most Common Types of Personal Injury Claims, and What Can Claimants Do to Help Speed Up the Process in Making Claims?

It might help or people to understand what a personal injury claim is to make it easier for them to determine their case. However, either way, it is best to plan to talk to a personal injury lawyer during a free consultation to see if they can aggressively pursue their case with all the necessary facts. Below are some of the most common types of personal injury cases that legal professionals handle: 

• Road Traffic Accidents. Also known as "collisions," road traffic accidents can cause havoc in an injured party's life. The injured person is often one of the drivers, but a passenger or a pedestrian can also sustain injuries due to motor vehicle accidents, so for anyone who isn't sure whether they have a claim as a pedestrian, it is certainly possible. Any number of factors can come into the reason for a road traffic accident, so it is important for the injured person to make detailed notes about the incident as soon as possible, while the facts are still fresh in their mind. Also, taking photographs of injuries before they begin to heal will help their case. Visiting the emergency room or a family doctor to provide records of injury will also help a tenacious personal injury lawyer do their work. 

• Workplace Accidents.   Anything can happen in the workplace when employees box up and lift materials. Even a spill in the office kitchen can lead to someone's tripping ad falling, which can cause a break or other injuries. Employees should report their incident right away. Even if the employer takes the case seriously, it is important for the employee to make sure the employer follows through on their commitment to take care of the employee's medical bills.

Personal injury claims: Pain and suffering damages

There is more to filing an insurance claim than just for damage caused during an accident. Some of those involved in an accident suffer injuries that last long past the time of the incident. Some claimants suffer injuries as a result of a fall, accident, defective device and/or are victims of medical malpractice. Those suffering long term pain could file a pain and suffering claim to receive compensation for their long term discomfort.

Calculating

Because it is near impossible for others to know how much pain and suffering one victim is experiencing, it is difficult to calculate the level of compensation the victim is entitled to. Because of this, most insurance companies have started utilizing a scale to help determine how much financial compensation individuals are entitled to, based on their injury.

Requirements

When filing a pain and suffering case, the claimant needs to do everything possible to prove he or she is experiencing pain and the effects could be long term. The claimant needs to keep detailed records, including pain levels, doctor’s appointments, charts, notes and prescriptions. This will help show the judge and/or jury the medical treatment needed associated with the injury and could help others related to the levels of pain the claimant is experiencing.

Photographs of the injury and/or accident will help when filing a claim. A detailed journal kept by the claimant is also a great piece of evidence to help prove pain and suffering.

Things to keep track of in the journal include levels of pain, missing work, missing family activities and other ways the injury has impacted the claimant’s lifestyle.

Compensation

When an offer has been made it is important for the claimant to make sure that the amount of compensation being offered is fair. But what is really fair? The amount being offered as compensation should cover all past medical bills, future medical bills, time off from work and other financial responsibilities of the claimant that are being missed due to the injury. A personal injury attorney Tampa will be able to help ensure the amount of compensation is fair.

Those who have been injured and believe they are entitled to pain and suffering compensation should seek the assistance of a Tampa area personal injury attorney. The attorney can help estimate how much compensation is due to the claimant and will know the procedures to filing a pain and suffering claim with the courts.

Personal Injury Costs Can Add Up Fast

Some people say that there is no such thing as accidents, and while this may or may not be true, there are certainly plenty of "accidents" that could have been avoided if everyone involved were following the rules. Accidents can throw off a person's day and affect how they deal with others for even longer. When that person is injured, the problem only gets worse, but by contacting a personal injury attorney Tampa, they can start focusing not only on the physical healing process, but the financial one as well.

The Initial Impact

When a person signs up an insurance company, their agent will usually tell them that they should contact them right away if something happens and they need to make a claim. This is usually their advice whether it involves auto insurance, homeowner's insurance, or business insurance. While reaching out is important, most people are better off placing a call to a personal injury attorney in Tampa first.

Part of the reason for this is because there is a lot of confusion that happens in the initial minutes and hours after an accident. For example, a person could be involved in a car accident, and it might not seem as if their injuries are as serious as they are because they are experiencing adrenaline just because they managed to survive. 

Often a person's instincts want to talk them into believing they are fine, because they just want things to be normal again as soon as possible. Later on, they might start experiencing headaches, back pain, dizziness or a host of other symptoms. If they have already reported to their insurance agent that they were fine, then getting the settlement they really need to take care of their injuries becomes more difficult.

Costs of an Injury

When a person is injured the first expenses they think of is the actual medical bills that take care of treating the immediate injury. It is not unusual for an insurance company to base their settlement off of. But there are other expenses that occur as well. That person may have had to take time off work, or go on short term disability where they were paid a reduced wage. They may find they experience intermittent pain even after they have "recovered" that needs physical therapy, 

There's also a psychological component to being injured, especially if the injury is serious. Conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can impact a person for the rest of their lives, and reduce their overall earning potential. All of these things are looked at by a personal injury attorney in Tampa and are presented in any negotiations for a settlement.

In some cases, injuries are so severe, that the case turns into a wrongful death case rather than a personal injury case. A personal injury attorney in Tampa works these types of cases as well, and are skilled in showing the family of the victim the compassion they need, while working hard to get them the compensation they deserve..

Top Five Reasons Someone Will Want To Hire A Lawyer

It is important to know that not every situation or legal matter requires the use of attorneys. Speeding tickets and other traffic violations can often be handled at small claims courts. But in other situations that involve legal disputes or challenges, including personal injury claims, a person will find it wise not to risk going without sound legal advice from a personal injury attorney Tampa. 

This option may not be cheap or even viable for all people, but it has proven again and again to help get offenders out of trouble, including those related to DUI violation and any type of personal injury incident.

Here are the top five reasons to hire a lawyer

1) It is better to avoid any problems rather than trying to fix them after they arise.

By hiring a lawyer, this will help to avoid any legal headaches down the road. After all, an attorney understands the fine print on contracts and plea deals, which is paramount in being able to help a client avoid negative consequences.

2) Attorneys have the understanding on how to correctly handle legal procedures and file court documents.

A lot of people struggle with the protocol and deadlines that come with properly filing legal documents. One incorrect or late filing can derail a case, or have a case thrown out altogether.

3) Lawyers have to know how to challenge and in some cases suppress evidence.

Some clients may not know about the key evidence that is being against them. A lawyer can look into the matter and come up with a proper defense. Or in the event that a client is claiming to be the victim, the lawyer can look at the evidence and present it to the court so that the personal injury case can be won.

4) By not having a lawyer, it can actually cost more in the long run.

When considering hiring a lawyer, it’s imperative to consider all that is at stake. A criminal case can lead to a client having to spend time behind bars, while having a civil case can hurt a person financially. Most civil attorneys will not collect money unless they win the case.

5) Law is complicated. 

Even experienced lawyers do not represent themselves in certain instances. This is why it’s important for a person not represent him or herself. A solid case can unravel if one does not have the help of a trained attorney.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Helps His Clients Receive Proper Care

An accident victim is someone who has been wrongfully injured by another party and required medical intervention as a result. The incident could be a slip and fall injury at a Tampa mall that hasn't properly maintained its flooring, or a car accident that resulted in serious injuries to the victim along with the loss of the vehicle. There is usually an assumption that the insurance of the offender or property owner is going to take care of the medical bills that result. 

When insurance is involved, and it usually is due to various reasons, it can make things worse instead of better. This may sound strange since the popular notion of insurance is that it's there to help. Usually insurance does help, but not to the extent that it's needed to. The insurers prefer to protect their profits and make efforts to pay out as little as possible on insurance claims. 

This is one reason to call a personal injury attorney Tampa after an accident, no matter how big or small. 

Retaining a personal injury attorney is more than just getting a lawyer to work on the case. An attorney can take care of medical care for his client in the event no one else is able to or capable of doing so. He takes on the legal aspects of the situation, informing the client of their legal rights and responsibilities along with how the case is most likely going to progress. The lawyer also becomes the proxy, or legal representative for his client, and handles all contact with the insurance companies. In summary, the client is left to heal in peace while the lawyer takes care of the paperwork. 

There is one very compelling reason to retain a lawyer after a serious accident: the insurance company wants the accident victim to sign away their rights to sue for damages. The insurer might make an offer of what sounds like a reasonable amount in settlement, but the catch is that the victim has to agree to not sue for further damages. 

This can become a problem if the injuries are such that there needs to be ongoing medical care. Personal health insurance may not be sufficient to cover these costs, or may not cover them at all. A personal injury attorney in Tampa won't let his client sign away their rights, and fights to get the best possible settlement instead.

A Slip and Fall in a Retail Store Requires a Lawyer's Assistance

When people go shopping, they make a lot of assumptions about the safety of a retail store. They assume that they are in no immediate danger, and that the store has taken every precaution possible to ensure that they make it out of the store the same way they came into the store.

Unfortunately, this is not always true. Most stores attempt to warn patrons when the potential for an accident is not apparent, but sometimes, retail stores drop the ball.

Patrons Are Protected by Law

Since there are many people in and out of retail stores, it is management’s duty to ensure that the floors are free from debris that can contribute to an accident. Liquids, dirt, and other debris on the floor that can potentially contribute to a fall must be cleaned to prevent lawsuits. Often, stores provide warning signs for patrons to let them know their floors are slippery; however, there are times when employees fail to warn customers. If customers are injured, and they are not at fault, they may have a slip and fall case for a personal injury attorney Tampa.

Seeking Legal Action

People who suffer from a slip and fall have a right to consult an attorney. Whether the injuries are felt immediately, or a few days after the accident, the law affords victims the right to sue retail establishments for being negligent. They were negligent as a result of failing to warn the injured party that there was a potential for danger. In order to have a case for negligence a few things must exist:

- A reasonable person would have known to fix the problem. -

- Management knew, but didn’t fix the problem. 

- An employee or the property owner caused the problem

Lawyers try to demonstrate the one of these conditions applied, if proven, this makes management responsible for their customer’s slip and fall in their store.

Slip and Falls Are Prevalent

Many people have suffered due to a retailer failing to warn customers about the potential for danger. About eight million people visit the emergency room each year as a result of a slip and fall. One of the most common injuries resulting from a slip and fall is a fracture, which can result in the victim missing time from work. The best way for people to hold retailers accountable is to seek out a lawyer. Slip and fall attorneys help their customers change how retail establishments warn customers of danger, which protects other people in the long run.