Being injured in an accident can be very traumatic for the victim. Accident victims may suffer from life-changing catastrophic injuries and emotional distress. An injured person who is unable to work will worry about the medical expenses and the recovery period for him or her to be back on track. Injuries sustained in accidents are called “personal injuries”, commonly caused by slip and fall accidents, car accidents, or defective products. These unfortunate incidents often lead to serious injuries such as spinal cord or brain injuries, neck injuries, whiplash, fracture, or even wrongful death. Even injuries that seem minor may have major and long-term effects on a person’s life.
Personal injury laws may vary depending on the state. In West Virginia, there are state laws that you need to follow when you deal with a personal injury case. If you are injured due to the negligence of another person, it is highly advisable to consult a credible Wheeling personal injury attorney to help you deal with your personal injury case in compliance with the state laws. The article will give you an overview of how to choose the best personal injury lawyer by answering the following questions:
- What Do Personal Injury Lawyers Do?
- How Do I Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer?
- What are the Questions to Ask My Potential Personal Injury Lawyer?
What Do Personal Injury Lawyers Do?
Before choosing a personal injury lawyer, it is important to know their major duties and responsibilities. Experienced Wheeling personal injury attorneys are responsible for providing injured claimants with the legal advice and representation required to successfully win the personal injury case and receive fair compensation. The general responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer are as follows:
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Investigate injuries and review medical records
- Calculate damages and expenses
- Interview witnesses
- Draft pleadings and motions
- Represent clients through trial
- Counsel clients throughout the entire claims process
- Protect clients from insurance companies and the legal system
A reliable personal injury attorney in Wheeling will fight for your right to the full compensation you deserve for your injuries. This includes:
- Medical bills
- Property damage or vehicle damage
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Loss of ability to take care of your family
- Loss of income, current, and future
How Do I Find a Competent Personal Injury Lawyer in Wheeling?
Looking for a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can be overwhelming and daunting. Here are some suggestions to help you find a good one:
Find a personal injury lawyer who practices in West Virginia
It is an advantage to hire an attorney who knows the personal injury laws of the state where you live in.
Choose a lawyer who handles your kind of case
For instance, if you were injured in your workplace, find a personal injury lawyer who deals with workplace injury cases.
Ask for lawyer referrals from your family or friends
Many of your friends and family members may have already worked with personal injury attorneys. You may ask them about their respective experiences. You have to check if they were satisfied with the outcome of their case, if their concerns were heard, or whether their legal needs were fully addressed throughout the case.
Research personal injury attorneys online
Aside from the referrals, you can look for dependable personal injury lawyers by searching online. You can visit the website of the lawyers and check the content, reviews, and ratings.
Review the lawyer’s credentials and track record
As a personal injury victim, your goal is to win your case. Therefore, you need a personal injury lawyer who has extensive experience with a high rating of successful cases. It’s also important to consider the experience a law firm has. A lawyer with less experience may be part of a firm with decades of experience and may represent you well.
Schedule an initial consultation
Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. During your first meeting, you will be asked to explain your case and provide details regarding the accident. It’s advisable to bring all the documents relevant to your case for the lawyer to review.
What are the Questions to Ask My Potential Personal Injury Lawyer?
The initial consultation will give you a chance to know a lawyer specializing in personal injury and decide if you want to hire him or her. Here are some of the questions that you can ask a lawyer during the initial consultation:
- How many years have you been practicing?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- Do I have other options besides filing a lawsuit?
- How long do you think it will take to resolve my claim?
- How many personal injury claims have you handled? How many were successful?
- How much do you charge for your legal services?
- How much do you think my case is worth?
- If there are anticipated expenses that I must pay, what are they?
- What is the statute of limitations on my claim?
- Will you handle this case yourself or will it go to another attorney?
- What kinds of resources do you bring in if the case goes to trial?
This set of questions can help you determine if the lawyer is a good fit for you, how they can help, and how they work in handling a case. While you are deciding whether you’ll hire the lawyer or not, they are also thinking about whether to take your personal injury case.
Getting Help With Personal Injury Case
If you have been in an accident, seriously consider contacting a personal injury attorney rather than trying to sort things out on your own. Personal injury attorneys have experience negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies and those at fault. Choosing the right lawyer to help file your personal injury claim is the best thing you can do to increase the chances of winning your case.
For legal help, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with our competent Wheeling personal injury attorneys at Ghaphery Law Offices, PLLC. Our personal injury law firm will assist you throughout the application and negotiation process until you get the compensation that you deserve for your personal injuries.
