It can be tough to set a dollar amount on injuries you suffer in an
accident. There are so many things to consider: doctor bills, time lost
from work, medical costs for ongoing injuries, pain and suffering and
so on. Insurance companies take all of them into account when deciding
how much to offer — and ultimately pay out — for a personal injury
claim. Sometimes simply utilizing the skills of an experienced personal
injury lawyer will present a threat to an insurance company. But there
may be complex legal rules involved in your particular claim, or the
severity of your injuries might cause your compensation to vary greatly
from the norm. If your personal injury question is not answered here,
please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys of Benkie & Crawford at (888) 508-7425.
We’ll help get the compensation you deserve.
Q. What is a personal injury?
A
personal injury (sometimes referred to as bodily injury) is any
physical or mental injury to a person as a result of someone's
negligence or harmful act.
Q. What are some examples of personal injury?
- Car and truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Home accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Wrongful death
Q. Can I get financial compensation in a personal injury claim?
Compensation
for your injuries depends on several factors, including physical and
mental pain and suffering, economic hardship or financial loss,
decreased earning potential and physical impairment, including
disfigurement. Depending on the type and extent of your personal
injury, you may be eligible for compensatory (actual) damages, and
punitive (criminal) damages. The damages may include the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages, including overtime
- Pain and suffering
- Physical disability
- Disfigurement
- Permanent scars
- Emotional trauma
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of love and affection
- Embarrassment
- Mental disability
- Property damage
- Out of pocket expenses (transportation charges, house cleaning, grass cutting and others)
Q. How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?
To have a personal injury case, you must be able to show that you have
been injured, either physically or emotionally, by someone else under a
negligence, strict liability or intentional misconduct theory. In some
cases it may be necessary for you to show that the other party was more
at fault for the injury than you were.
Q. Can I still have a claim if the accident is partly my fault?
Yes. In most cases accident victims can recover money even if they are
partly to blame for the accident.
Q. When is a personal injury attorney needed?
If
you have been seriously injured or are unsure as to the outcome of your
injury, you are better off hiring an attorney as soon as possible. You
should always consult an experienced personal injury attorney before
you give any statements or sign papers of any kind. A qualified
personal injury attorney will ensure you receive fair compensation for
your injuries.
Q. What if an insurance adjuster offers me a settlement?
Before accepting a settlement, it is always in your best interest to
consult an attorney. An attorney's expertise is vital for accident
victims when an insurance adjuster is trying to settle the case.
Adjusters work for the insurance company — not for you — and their job
is to settle the matter for the lowest possible expense to the company.
Since a consultation is free, it won't hurt to ask us if we can help.
Q. Can't I just estimate the cost of my own injuries right away?
Because the full extent of many injuries may not be known for quite
some time after the accident, an attorney can help you evaluate your
potential losses. It's devastating to sign away your rights only to
later discover that your injuries and losses were worse than you
originally thought.
Q. How much do you charge for a personal injury case?
We
charge on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay us anything
unless there is a settlement or a winning verdict at trial. Typically,
when we win your case, we take a percentage fee of the total case
recovery, in addition to case costs. | 
