Category: Blog Page 1 of 3

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, I can understand why you might hesitate to reach out to a personal injury attorney.

You might ask yourself questions like, “if I wasn’t injured, do I need legal representation?” Or, “the insurance company will surely take care of it for me, right?”

And you’ll no doubt ask yourself, “aren’t attorneys expensive?”

My answer to each of these three common questions is: it depends. 

There are many undeniable benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney, whether you suffered an injury or not. On the most basic level, an experienced personal injury attorney understands the legal process and has an informed opinion on the best path towards a resolution. But at the end of the day, it is up to you to decide whether you want to seek legal representation or not.

To help you make that decision with confidence, I’ve written this article to share my best advice on when it’s worth hiring an attorney and when you might be able to handle your case on your own.

Is It Worth Hiring an Attorney For Your Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injuries in the workplace or injuries resulting from an auto accident can be potentially life-changing events. As a rule of thumb, the more serious the injury, the more complex the case, and the more beneficial a personal injury attorney will be for you.

If you’re skeptical, trusted referrals can help you find a reputable, accomplished attorney to give you peace of mind that you’re making a smart decision with your case.

Now then, below, you’ll find six clear reasons that it’s time to lawyer up and get serious about putting your case in the management of a legal professional.

6 Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

1. You Suffered Injuries from the Accident

As I mentioned, serious injuries are common in motor vehicle accidents. They may even be the norm for accidents that occur at very high speeds. 

And if you’ve suffered an injury yourself, a personal injury attorney can be the valuable asset you need to get the compensation you deserve for your damages.

A personal injury lawyer can help you get the most out of your injury claim or lawsuit. And if your accident left you with any of the conditions below, you should definitely seek professional legal representation.

• Permanent Disability
• Temporary disability
• Pain and suffering
• Severe Injury

If you are suffering from an injury that resulted from someone else’s negligence, then you should be more concerned with your recovery and getting well than fighting for your rights to fair compensation. Allow an attorney to fight for you. 

2. Liability is Unclear

If it is unclear who the negligent party was—who is to blame for the accident—you should contact a lawyer.

If liability is unclear, it is your responsibility to prove your innocence. To do this, you will need an abundance of evidence proving your injuries resulted from someone else’s negligence.

In the case of a car accident, for example, police records, photos of the accident, the official accident report, medical records, and eyewitness testimony are all pieces of evidence you must collect, organize, and use to make your case. 

If you believe someone else was at fault for your injuries because of negligence, then you must prove the responsible party’s negligence to have a legitimate case. 

And if you were partially at fault for the accident—or completely at fault—, then you should definitely seek the counsel of an attorney.

3. You Need Help Negotiating with the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters are notoriously challenging to work with. An experienced attorney who is skilled in the art of persuasion and negotiation can help.

Your goal as an injury victim is to fight for maximum compensation for your injuries. Suppose you have medical bills or property damage or pain and suffering that require significant financial resources. In that case, you owe it to yourself and your future to do everything you can to get the most money possible (fairly, of course).

Injury victims want a fair settlement, but insurance adjusters will do everything in their power to limit your offer. Make no mistake: their definition of “fair settlement” seldom matches yours. 

On your own, an insurance adjuster will almost certainly have the advantage over you. They know the law. They know how to convince you that a low-ball offer is in your best interest when it isn’t.

An experienced attorney will intervene, handle the insurance company for you, and help level the playing field with effective negotiation to prove your case’s true worth.

4. Victims With Legal Representation Receive Larger Settlements

As I just explained, on their own, claimants are not always capable of reaching the best possible outcome for their case (in terms of compensation) because they are not trained, negotiators. Claimants who seek the services of a personal injury attorney, on the other hand, tend to receive larger settlements across the board.

According to a report conducted by the Insurance Research Council, settlements were 40% higher when claimants were represented by a lawyer. 

Think about it. An attorney who knows all the tricks and the strategies understand what levers to pull that will lead to the ideal resolution. 

In a way, attempting to manage a personal injury case on your own is akin to learning how to drive for the first time. If you have never done it before, you may be in for a bumpy ride.

5. There’s No Cost to You if You Don’t Win

One of the most common concerns about hiring an attorney is the subject of cost. 

The jokes around this subject are a dime a dozen. Indeed, most legal professionals’ hourly rate exceeds that of the average work occupation, but here’s the thing: almost every personal injury attorney in the country operates on a contingency fee basis. 

Which means you pay nothing unless you win. 

If you have ever visited a personal injury law firm website, you’ve no doubt seen the invitation to schedule a free consultation. I have the same offer at my own firm, Bruscato Law. 

There is no cost to you upfront—no legal fees of any kind. It is only when your case is won that payment enters the picture. 

In most cases, the attorney’s fee will be a flat percentage, usually between 20% – and 40% of the final settlement award. In this sense, there is no out-of-pocket cost to hiring an attorney. It is simply deducted from your settlement offer if a satisfactory outcome is achieved. 

6. An Attorney Can Go to Trial for You

If the settlement offer is too low, or if the opposing party refuses to settle, an attorney can move to take your case to court.

Attempting to represent yourself in a court of law can be a reasonably daunting proposition. Bruscato Law Firm can represent you and try your personal injury case in a court of law, should it come to that. 

Contact Bruscato today for a free case evaluation.

Managing Your Own Case

I have just covered six reasons why it makes sense to hire a personal injury attorney. If you are still thinking of managing your case by yourself, I’ll explain the conditions under which it might make sense to do so.

Typically the circumstances have to be just right for someone to successfully manage their own case and get a fair settlement offer. If you fall under any of the following scenarios, you may be able to manage your case alone, but even then, I would still recommend you seek legal advice before making that decision.

Minor Injuries, or No Injuries At All

Minor car accidents happen every day, and in many cases, nobody is physically injured.

Parking lot accidents, rear-ends, and other low-speed accidents can cause vehicle damage, but if they don’t result in an injury, then you may be able to handle the situation yourself.

Filing an insurance claim with your insurance company or the other driver’s maybe enough to claim compensation for the accident. If it turns out you are satisfied with the service and the settlement awarded to recoup your damages, then you may not need to involve an attorney.

You Live in a No-Fault State

Another reason why you might consider handling your case by yourself is if you live in a no-fault state. 

The no-fault states are: 

• Florida
• Hawaii
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Utah

No-fault states don’t allow you to sue a negligent driver unless your injuries surpass a certain degree of severity. Severity is determined by the seriousness of the injuries or the cost of treating them.

In a no-fault claim, you are limited to covering your damages and losses with personal injury protection insurance coverage (PIP). But if your injuries are severe enough and exceed this coverage, then contacting an attorney may be a good idea.

You’re a Confident Negotiator

If you are looking to claim a fair settlement, you must be prepared to negotiate with the insurance adjuster.

If you are the rare breed of human who is a confident, capable, and effective negotiator, then handling your case solo may be just fine. 

To get the maximum settlement offer on your insurance claim requires that you make the best possible case for your injury and convince the insurance company to award you a payout you believe is fair. 

Insurance adjusters are not interested in giving you what you want. They are looking to provide you with the bare minimum that your insurance policy permits. 

Effective negotiation is key to maximizing your payout. But if you aren’t confident in your abilities, an experienced attorney can negotiate on your behalf.

You’re Willing to Become an Amateur Attorney for a While

If you are the kind of person who insists on figuring out everything on your own, then handling your own case may be the right decision. There are many moving pieces involved in the legal process that you must understand if you want to make a convincing case. 

Whether it’s medical malpractice or advanced personal injury law, you basically have to become an amateur attorney and put in the time first to understand the legal landscape, and second, operate in it to reach a satisfactory resolution. 

Keep in mind, that the statute of limitations in Louisiana is just one year. So if you intend to hit the books and study up on personal injury law, just realize that the clock starts ticking the day your accident occurs.

Bruscato is a Leading Personal Injury Law Firm in Monroe, Louisiana

As you know by now, there are many clear benefits to hiring an experienced attorney to manage your personal injury lawsuit or claim.

A personal injury lawyer will not charge you upfront, and they will have a deep understanding of the legal process and know how to fight for your legal rights to fair compensation. 

If you have questions about your case or want to speak with a personal injury attorney, contact NWWlC.Org today for a free initial consultation. NWWlC.Org is a personal injury attorney with in-depth knowledge of car accident cases, workers’ compensation, and personal injury. He works on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless you win.

No one expects to need a personal injury lawyer. But when the unexpected happens and you find yourself injured due to someone else’s recklessness or negligence, you have good cause to find and hire an exceptional personal injury lawyer. Good personal injury attorneys have the experience, track record and skills to secure financial compensation for your losses – oftentimes, far more than going it on your own. 

5 Steps: How to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

1. Seek Referrals and Analyze Reviews

Ask friends, relatives and colleagues about any experiences they’ve had with personal injury lawyers. Many personal injury attorneys post client reviews on their websites or can be found when searching online for personal injury lawyers. Positive reviews indicate clients satisfaction, and this will help you narrow down to a small list of lawyers you may want to contact. 

When searching online for a personal injury attorney, try adding the state or city you live in to get a detailed idea of attorneys in your area. Lawyers are licensed by the state, so a personal injury lawyer in California may not be able to take your case in New Jersey. Keep in mind that many personal injury lawyers will travel locally to meet you, if needed, and have multiple locations.

2. Request a Free Consultation

Narrow down your list to a few firms to reach out to. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations to discuss the specifics of your case. These consultations will give you a sense of what kind of case the lawyer thinks you may have. Many injury cases are complex and may involve multiple liable parties. A good personal injury lawyer may be able to offer an idea of how complex the case is, avenues to pursue a claim and advise on how a settlement could work.

The consultation is also your opportunity to evaluate if the attorney is the right fit. Ask questions about the personal injury lawyer’s experience in cases like yours, their track record of success and the resources available for your case. 

3. Evaluate Your Options

An accident lawyer with years of experience is likely familiar with all kinds of injury cases. However, to back up the years of practice, a good injury lawyer should have a strong record of success in those injury cases.

Before considering a lawyer’s service for your injury case, pay attention to these critical indicators of experience and success.

• A lengthy period in handling personal injury cases. 
• An accident lawyer has a broad network that includes other case-related professionals like medical professionals and expert witnesses.  
• Trial experience.
• Proven history of maximum settlements against insurance companies.

Choose a lawyer who will navigate the complex challenges of proving your case and seeing you through the tricks of insurance companies. An experienced and successful personal injury lawyer will maximize your possibilities of fair compensation.

4. Understand the Legal Fees

Whether they’re in New Jersey, Connecticut or New York, most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee arrangement. That is, you do not have to pay any legal fees unless your lawyer settles your case (or takes it to trial) and recovers financial compensation on your behalf. Once a settlement or verdict is reached, your attorney’s fees will be paid directly from the settlement. 

Typically, personal injury lawyer fees are a certain percentage of the settlement – that is agreed upon before you hire the lawyer. In many states, like New Jersey and New York, that percentage is set by law – ⅓ of the first $500,000 awarded in the settlement. No matter where you are, a good personal injury lawyer will thoroughly review legal fees and ensure you understand your options before proceeding.  

5. Sign a Fee Agreement and Contract

Once you have made a decision, your attorney will ask to sign a fee agreement in which they agree to represent you, and you agree to abide by certain terms. Make sure to thoroughly read the agreement before signing it. Once you’ve made the decision and officially come on board as a client, you may feel a palpable sense of relief! A good personal injury attorney will take over all communications with insurance companies and at-fault parties.

Request a Free Consultation with NWWLC.Org

The attorney team at NWWLC.Org, Attorney at Law, prides themselves on aggressive representation, compassionate client care and a track record of success. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience and a history of successful claims. Our clients consistently give us top ratings and reviews.

Passionately fighting for our clients. Putting them first. Working smarter to win. If you’re looking for the best personal injury lawyers, don’t wait, contact us today for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success and our commitment to client care, we can turn your setback into a comeback. 

Suffering a severe personal injury can be traumatizing and have a significant impact on your life. Beyond the injury itself, you also have to deal with medical bills, paperwork, and insurance companies — all of which can be very overwhelming when you’re trying to focus on your recovery.

Handling a personal injury claim on your own can be very difficult and may result in a lower settlement, longer claims process, and if not handled correctly, you may not receive any compensation at all.

Hiring an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney is the best way to ensure your claim is handled correctly so that you can get the compensation you need to recover from an accident as quickly as possible.

6 Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re considering handling your personal injury claim alone, consider these six reasons as to why hiring a personal injury attorney may be a better course of action.

1. Reaching Settlement Agreements

Personal injury claims often don’t go to court. Instead, a settlement is reached through negotiations between you and the defending insurance company.

When approaching these negotiations, it’s typically best to leave it to a professional personal injury attorney to ensure you get the best settlement offer possible.

2. Expediting Your Claim

In many cases, the personal injury claims process can carry on for months or years due to insurance red tape, legal paperwork, witnesses, and other delays. However, when you’re focused on your recovery, you don’t have time to wait months for a payout.

Hiring a personal injury attorney puts someone on your side to stay on top of your claim and expedite the process as much as possible. From dealing with insurance companies on your behalf to negotiating with the defendant’s lawyers, a personal injury attorney can help you get compensation quickly.

3. Representing You in Court

If you are not able to come to a settlement agreement, your last option is to file a lawsuit which will need to be handled in court. In these circumstances, you will want a professional on your side to argue your case.

While you will have the option to represent yourself, the defending party will almost certainly have a professional litigator working on their behalf, and if you want to stand a chance, you need a personal injury attorney to match that level of expertise.

4. Objectivity

During any legal process, objectivity is very important. A personal injury can be a traumatizing and emotional event, which can make it difficult for you to maintain objectivity when dealing with law enforcement, lawyers, and insurance companies.

A personal injury attorney will carefully and objectively review the details of your accident to make the strongest case possible on your behalf.

5. Understanding the Personal Injury Claim Process

Without assistance, navigating the personal injury claim process can be difficult and confusing, and a single misstep can lead to a delayed or significantly reduced payout.

A personal injury attorney will work with you to gather facts and information, deal with law enforcement, help you understand pertinent liability laws, and more. Additionally, an experienced personal injury attorney is likely familiar with local courts, which can go a long way in expediting your claims process.

All you have to do is accurately and honestly explain the details of your accident, and your personal injury attorney will walk you through the rest of the claims process.

6. Getting the Best Medical Care

When you are injured due to another’s negligence, it is important that you seek medical care as soon as possible. If you are injured and need to see a medical specialist, given our experience and large network, we can help assure that you get to the right doctors.

It is important that you receive an accurate diagnosis for your injuries, while also receiving the best treatment. Our goal is to ensure that our client are on their road to recovery as quickly possible.

Consult With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation to aid in your recovery and make up for financial losses experienced as a result of the accident.

Contact us to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney today! We’ll do all the heavy lifting so that you can focus on your health and recovery

Basics of personal injury law

A personal injury lawyer performs many important duties. These common functions include:

• Clarifies your privileges

An individual physical issue attorney can clarify what a mishap and diverse lawful issues mean for an individual’s privileges. Various states have various laws relating to the legal time limits or what near carelessness means for a case.

• Gives guidance 

An individual physical issue lawyer can walk a customer through the framework with the artfulness of an expert local escort. They assist you with understanding confounded legitimate strategies, deciphering clinical and protection language, and overcoming the labyrinth of administrative work needed in close-to-home injury cases. 

One normal recommendation isn’t to give an assertion to the next driver’s insurance agency since it will just search for approaches to deny the obligation. A physical issue legal counselor may likewise prescribe looking for clinical treatment to archive the connection between the mishap and the injury.

An individual physical issue lawyer additionally gives you target feelings about your case so you can settle on the most ideal choice that isn’t obfuscated by dread, outrage, dissatisfaction, stress, and different feelings numerous injury casualties naturally experience.

• Represents in court
  Most close to home injury cases don’t bring about a preliminary; by far most is settled even under the watchful eye of a claim. 
• Nonetheless, if the insurance agency denies the case, it’s conceivable that the main way for the casualty to recuperate is by going through a full respectful preliminary examination. 
• Prosecution is perplexing and requires close adherence to appropriate techniques and rules of proof. This isn’t an assignment best took care of by an amateur.

At what point you need a legal advisor and when you don’t: 

• Shockingly, few out of every odd case requires the utilisation of a legal advisor. 
• On the off chance that the harms are negligible, there is no genuine injury and the settlement offer seems sensible, giving a huge piece of the settlement to a lawyer may not bode well. 
• Notwithstanding, here and there cases that appear to be straightforward at first might turn out to be more muddled, which might be best dealt with by employing an accomplished individual physical issue attorney.

7 Benefits Of Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or somebody you are close to has at any point been hit by a vehicle, you realize how bewildered one can become when it happens to them. In case you’ve been harmed or harmed by the carelessness of someone else, organization, or driver; it is feasible to look to pay for your hospital expenses and other related costs. You don’t need to call an individual physical issue legal advisor after auto collisions, however, these are a few justifications for why you ought to. 

 1. They Are Professional and Objective 

Auto crashes and individual wounds cause a great deal of agony and passionate disturbance. This injury might make it hard to settle on target choices to the extent your mishap/injury is concerned. An individual physical issue lawyer will document individual injury claims for your sake. They will likewise assist with bringing information, ability, and experience into your case; and truck accident lawyers will assist you with getting the settlement you merit. 

2. They Know How To Negotiate 

After a mishap has happened, and individual injury claims have been documented, the culpable party’s protection delegate handles these cases day by day and can be extremely enticing with regards to expecting lower pay. Haggling with insurance agencies can be extremely difficult and they have strategies for convincing you to acknowledge their first deal. This is the reason you need an accomplished attorney to help you through this period. Recruiting an individual physical issue legal advisor after you’ve been harmed frequently prompts heftier remuneration. 

3. They Can Help You Get Medical Attention 

Putting your own physical issue lawyer’s name as one of your crisis contacts will guarantee that they are one of the initial ones to be called when something happens to you. If they get this call adequately early, they might have the option to assist you with seeking treatment. The nature of treatment you get now addresses if you will have a quick recuperation. If your lawyer knows about clinical negligence and individual injury, they can likewise guarantee that you are getting legitimate consideration. While you are recovering, your physical issue legal counselor could be recording individual injury claims against whoever ran you over or is to blame for the wounds you endured. 

4. They Help You Make Better Decisions 

In case you’re not a legal counselor, recording an individual physical issue case might appear to be a long and confounded lawful interaction. Now and then, the culpable party takes ownership of their mix-up and will repay you. In such cases, if the payment sum is sufficient for your wounds, it is pointless to make a court motion. A certified individual physical issue attorney will break down your special circumstance and illuminate you regarding the alternatives that are accessible to you. They can likewise give counsel on the best course of activity, contingent upon the seriousness of your circumstance. 

5. They Can Provide You With Legal Coverage 

Frequently, the culpable gatherings challenge individual injury cases, and this prompts you to make a court motion. The other party will have an attorney, and you not having one will most likely turn the chances against you. Having the help of an individual physical issue attorney will assist with making everything fair. An accomplished legal advisor will give you sufficient legitimate portrayal after fender benders. They will assemble all the proof you need to win your legal dispute. 

6. They Can Help You Get Faster Compensation 

If you don’t have an attorney, you should delay until you have recuperated adequately before going to look for remuneration. This infers that it will take you significantly longer to get your settlement. You should call an individual physical issue legal counselor following your mishap. Along these lines, they can document individual injury claims for your sake while you are recovering. A certified individual physical issue attorney has huge involvement in comparable cases to yours and the legalities associated with those cases, subsequently they can evade all misfortunes and assist you with getting repaid as quickly as could be expected. 

7. They Give You Peace of Mind 

Now and then, mishaps might bring about fatalities. On different occasions, they might cause post-horrible pressure and serious passionate injury. Circling back to individual injury claims at such a period might be exceptionally upsetting. You should employ an individual physical issue legal advisor after you’ve been harmed. Experienced legal advisors will deal with every one of the confounded parts of your case, giving you the genuine feelings of serenity you need to put all your emphasis on improving.

Family law is a legal practice area that focuses on issues involving family relationships such as marriage, adoption, divorce, and child custody, among others. Attorneys practicing family law can represent clients in family court proceedings or in related negotiations. They can also draft important legal documents such as court petitions or property agreements.

Some family law attorneys even specialize in adoption, paternity, emancipation, or other matters not usually related to divorce. The matter of family encompasses so many life aspects. Lawyers in the field, therefore, help all kinds of people facing all kinds of sensitive issues that many people wouldn’t immediately assume go under the family law umbrella.

The following is a primer on family law and what it entails.

Helpful Terms to Know

• Emancipation: A court process through which a minor becomes self-supporting, assumes adult responsibility for their personal welfare, and is no longer under the care of their parents.
• Marital Property: Property acquired by either spouse during the course of a marriage that is subject to division upon divorce.
• Alimony: An allowance made to one spouse by the other for support during or after a legal separation or divorce.
• Paternity: Origin or descent from a father (to establish paternity is to confirm the identity of a child’s biological father).
• Prenuptial Agreement: An agreement made between a man and a woman before marrying in which they give up future rights to each other’s property in the event of a divorce or death.

Reasons to Hire a Family Law Attorney

Most family lawyers represent clients in divorce proceedings and other matters related to divorce. But family law is a relatively broad practice area, including such issues as foster care and reproductive rights. Since family law matters hit so close to home, having a trusted legal professional by your side can help you ensure your loved ones are properly represented and protected during any legal process.

The most common reasons to hire a family law attorney include:

• Divorce: Each partner hires their own attorney, who will help devise a settlement plan in order to avoid a trial. Divorce attorneys typically are skilled at dividing marital property, calculating spousal support, and proposing a plan for child custody, visitation, and support (if applicable).
• Child Custody / Child Support: Court orders and settlement agreements involving both custody and support usually are included in the larger divorce case, but may be revisited as conditions change. For instance, child support may be altered after the non-custodial parent’s financial situation changes.
• Paternity: In most cases, paternity cases are filed by the mother in an effort to secure child support payments from an absent father. But sometimes biological fathers file for paternity in order to have a relationship with their child. Paternity typically is determined through DNA testing.
• Adoption / Foster Care: Adoption is a complex process that differs according to the type of adoption, where the child is from, variances in state laws, and other factors. Therefore, it’s important to consult with a family law attorney. Foster parents sometimes adopt their foster children, but the foster process does not necessarily require legal representation.

Related Practice Areas

Family law often intersects with a wide range of other legal practice areas. For example, instances of domestic violence and child abuse typically involve criminal investigations (and may result in arrests and charges). Along with that process, family courts are tasked with determining how to best protect the victims and ensure a relatively safe environment for those involved. Other related legal practice areas include the following:

• Mediation and Collaborative Law
• Estate Planning
• Immigration and Naturalization Law

Marriage and Divorce Laws Vary by State

States have the right to determine “reasonable formal requirements” for marriage, including age and legal capacity, as well as the rules and procedures for divorce and other family law matters.

The timeframe of the divorce process, for example, depends on location. Some states have divorce laws that require a waiting period. Same-sex marriage has historically been a state matter. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, some states restricted marriage (and divorce) to opposite-sex couples only.

Need Help With a Family Law Matter? Talk to a Professional

Whether you’re in the process of a divorce, need help with an adoption, or have questions about enforcing a child support order, it’s often in your best interests to work with an attorney. Get the help you need by contacting an experienced family law attorney near you.

Not every legal matter requires the use of an attorney. Fighting a speeding ticket and going to small claims courts are two examples. However, in many other situations involving a legal dispute, challenge, or deal, you may not wish to change the risks of going it alone without the advice of an experienced lawyer who can help you out. In fact, while good legal representation may not be cheap, it can help get you out of a number of sticky situations, such as a bad divorce, lost job, or DUI violation.

While each person’s legal situation is different, there are times when you really should hire a lawyer. In fact, failing to work with an attorney in certain instances can lead to broken agreements, lost claims, or even prison time. Below are the top ten reasons to hire an attorney.

1. The Law is Complicated

If you’re not a lawyer you probably have no business acting like one in certain instances. Even experienced lawyers typically do not represent themselves in court. Also, attorneys tend to specialize in one or more legal practice areas, such as criminal defense or tax law.

A solid case can quickly unravel without the help of a trained and emotionally detached attorney. Similarly, failing to hire a lawyer when starting a business, reviewing a contract, or embarking on other endeavors with potential legal ramifications can result in otherwise avoidable pitfalls.

2. Not Having a Lawyer May Cost You More

What’s at stake? A criminal case may determine whether or not you spend time behind bars, while a civil case could hurt you financially. Besides, there are many civil attorneys who don’t actually collect a dime from you unless they win your case. Also, you may be able to claim legal fees as a plaintiff in a civil case, so hiring a lawyer can actually save or make you money.

3. Lawyers Know How to Challenge Evidence

Without the proper legal training, you may not be able to know whether a key piece of evidence against you was improperly obtained or that the testimony of a witness contradicts an earlier statement. And did the crime lab properly handle the evidence every step of the way? Your attorney will find out and possibly have that evidence suppressed.

4. Filing the Wrong Document or Following the Wrong Procedure Could Ruin Your Case

If you’re not an attorney, you may struggle with the deadlines and protocol for properly filling out and filing certain legal documents. One late or incorrect filing could derail your case, delay a given legal procedure, or worse – have the case thrown out altogether (and not in your favor).

5. They Have Access to the Witnesses and Experts You’ll Need on Your Side

Attorneys depend on an extended network of professionals to help their clients ‘ cases. Most non-attorneys don’t personally know the types of professionals who can help with discovery or challenge evidence or testimony by the opposing party.

6. A Lawyer Can Present Your Strongest Case

Pleading guilty or admitting fault isn’t the only choice, even if there’s evidence pointing directly at you. When you hire a lawyer, they can explain all of your options and can help you avoid potentially severe penalties even before a trial begins.

7. It’s Always Better to Avoid Problems Rather Than Fix Them Later

You may have heard the saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Well, hiring a lawyer in many instances will help you avoid potential legal headaches down the road. Do you really understand the fine print of that contract you are signing and what it will mean for you down the road? A lawyer will.

8. Lawyers Know How to Negotiate Settlements and Plea Bargains

An experienced lawyer probably has seen cases similar to yours or at least knows enough to make a calculated guess about how it might get resolved at trial. Sometimes a settlement is the best choice, while other times it makes more sense to see your case through to trial. An attorney can also help negotiate a fair settlement with the opposing party.

9. The Other Party Probably Has Legal Representation

Non-attorneys are generally at a disadvantage when squaring off against opposing counsel or doing business with another party that has legal counsel. As explained above, the law is complicated and an attorney representing your adversary (or even a non-adversarial party entering into a legal agreement with you) will take advantage of this inequity.

10. Lawyers Often Provide a Free Consultation

Since many attorneys will meet with you for free during a face-to-face consultation, there is really no harm in talking with one. Not only will a free consultation give you an idea of the type of case you have and its likely outcome, but it will also help you decide whether you actually need to hire a lawyer.

Ready to Hire an Attorney? Find One Near You

Whether you’re staring down the potential of prison time, trying to get the best possible arrangement for your children after a divorce, need to defend yourself from a lawsuit, or have some other legal matter, it’s good to know there are experienced attorneys just a click away. Meet with a qualified, local lawyer near you today to get confidential, personalized answers to your questions.

After sustaining an accident or injury in San Antonio you may not know where to turn or what to do. Fortunately at Carabin Shaw, we have a San Antonio injury attorney available to help you. Our legal team can discuss with you what legal action should be taken to help you get the compensation you need to recover after you’ve been injured or in an accident.

There are three major things to think about after an accident or injury:

• Who is responsible for the injury,
• What kind of injury was sustained,
• And how to recoup a loss after you’ve been injured.

Our team of seasoned attorneys knows that life after an injury has occurred can be quite difficult. Our goal is to be sure that you remain comfortable and able to function long after an injury has been sustained.

Identifying the reason behind your accident or injury is extremely helpful in personal injury law. Knowing who or what is responsible for your hardship helps our lawyers know who to seek damages from. Once you establish whether another person, business, corporation, or a government agency was responsible for your injury, our team of attorneys can put together an action plan to attain an award matching your damages.

After an accident, it is equally important to seek medical attention to determine severity of your injuries. Often, victims do not realize that what may start as a simple strain or pinched nerve can lead to an ongoing issue that can deeply impact their lives. Our attorneys’ mission in San Antonio is to help you get the maximum compensation to ensure that your quality of life does not decline as the result of an injury or accident. The injuries typically sustained after any accident can be found in our list of the ten most common types of personal injuries.Top Ten Most Common Types of Personal injuries

1. Injury from someone’s negligence: Everyone has a job to follow the rules with a reasonable degree of care in everything they do. If they do not and you become injured because of their failure, then a civil suit is often appropriate to recover compensation for any injuries they caused.
2. Injury from a slip and fall: All public places have a duty to make their space safe for you. If they fail to do so and you fall and hurt yourself as a result of a hazard they created or allowed to exist, you are eligible to recover compensation from the store for your injury.
3. Injury from someone’s intentional behavior: If someone intentionally hurts you, you can sue them. This remains to be true even if they didn’t mean to hurt you specifically. For example, if your neighbor throws a rock at his brother and that rock hits and injures you, you may be able to sue and recover compensation for your injuries in civil court.
4. Injury from a hazardous drug: Drugs are held to safety standards, which sometimes are overlooked when releasing a new drug. These cases normally lead to litigation in the form of class action lawsuits against the drug companies.
5. Injury from medical malpractice: Doctors are required by law to provide you with complete care. When a doctor does not treat someone this way, many things can go wrong. Medical malpractice lawsuits allow you to recover compensation for mistakes your doctors make.
6. Injury from a dog bite: Dog bites are judged under a strict liability standard. With that being said, you are permitted to sue and recover compensation for injuries if someone’s dog bites you.
7. Injury from an auto accident: Car accidents are one of the most common causes of injury. It is required in every state that drivers carry liability insurance in order to protect you from such injury.
8. Injury from misdiagnosis: Misdiagnosis is a form of medical malpractice that can also lead to injury. If your condition is made worse as a result of the misdiagnosis then you are eligible for compensation.
9. Injury from hazardous conditions at a premise: Any type of unsafe condition in a private home or public place can be considered negligent. This can give rise to liability under the law.
10. Injury from a defective product: All products are mandatory by law to be safe when used correctly. If the product is not safe when used correctly a strict liability normally applies. This means that a manufacturer can be held responsible even if he was not the negligent in producing the product.

Our list of the top ten most common types of personal injuries is just glimpse into the types of injuries a victim might suffer. After you have sustained an accident or injury in San Antonio, contact our attorneys immediately so we can decide what legal action if any should be taken.

Our San Antonio legal team has over 25 years of experience fighting for injury and accident victims, and our bilingual attorneys are ready to help you today. If you or a loved one has suffered an accident or sustained injuries, contact Carabin Shaw at 210-222-2288 to set up your appointment for a free case consultation.

The selection of your attorney will likely be one of the most important factors in the outcome of your divorce. With such a massive pool of lawyers to choose from, making such an important decision can be extremely difficult — particularly since the needs of every case will be different. It will take a lot of research and time, but the choice of your legal representation should not be taken lightly.

Men seeking a divorce lawyer need to ensure their best interests will be kept at the forefront of the settlement negotiations, and finding an attorney that has plenty of familiarity dealing with similar situations is important. Here are a few things to look for when beginning your search for a divorce attorney.

Don’t simply pick the first lawyer you contact

It is vital that you do your homework and actually meet with several attorneys before you put down a large deposit to retain one. Trust is extremely important in the relationship you will develop with your attorney, and you need to meet them to get a feel for that initial first impression.

Talk to people you know who have been through divorce

It can be an awkward conversation to bring up, but talking to friends, family or coworkers who have been through divorce can give you a good place to start. Despite the ability of researching on the Internet, first-hand accounts are still a really good way to get quality information.

Don’t assume that if you’re a man, only male attorneys can successfully represent you

The chance of your attorney’s gender impacting the outcome of your case is not very high. It is much more important to worry about finding a competent and dependable attorney that you feel comfortable being around. What should matter most is that you trust them to fight for your best interests, regardless of their gender.

Be wary of advertisements

While TV and radio ads may indicate a successful lawyer or firm, that isn’t always the case. Ads are simply meant to attract business and don’t necessarily reflect the track record of an attorney.

A higher priced attorney does not necessarily mean a better attorney

Many people think that just because a lawyer charges more per hour that they will get better service and a better settlement. That is not necessarily the case. A higher rate may signify a more experienced attorney, or it could simply mean they primarily practice in a larger market.

Make sure they specialize in family law

Attorneys can practice in many different areas of law, and you want to be sure they have a focus on divorce. If you were getting heart surgery, would you prefer a pediatrician who also dabbles in other areas of medicine, or an experienced and specialized cardiologist?

Select someone who has experience with your interests

If you have children and can foresee a nasty custody dispute, you will want to be sure your attorney is very familiar with how the custody and support laws work in your area. But if you have a complex business and that same attorney doesn’t have tons of experience with business valuation and distribution, you may want to keep looking.

Pick an attorney from your local jurisdiction

Many attorneys are licensed to practice in several different states; however, laws can vary drastically, even at the local level. You want an attorney well-versed with the regulations in your area, as well as a familiar relationship with local judges and officials.

Find a good negotiator

The goal of your divorce should be to come to a fair settlement while avoiding court. Some attorneys prefer to fight things out in trial, but that method drags out the case and is much more expensive.

But still, ensure the attorney you pick has plenty of courtroom experience

Sometimes, no matter how good of a negotiator you have, going to trial is the final option to settle disputed matters. Your attorney should have plenty of experience and not be intimidated by the prospect of trial.

The following post has helpful tips and considerations to consider when starting a personal injury law firm. For more tips, please read our post on How to Start a Law Firm.

Starting (and maintaining) a successful legal practice may be one of the most challenging feats you accomplish in your legal career. While your smashing success in law school and early in your career may have influenced your decision to step out on your own, juggling a heavy personal injury caseload while figuring out all the operational complexities that come with running a company are bound to make even the most capable PI attorney feel some amount of stress.

For those feeling brave enough to take the plunge, here are a few things to consider before putting in your notice and starting your own personal injury practice.

Understand What You’re Leaving Behind

This may seem like a no brainer. However, many attorneys who set out to build their own PI firms don’t have the experience, contacts or open network they need to be successful. Are you considering whether your current and past positions have set you up to succeed on your own?

Before starting your practice, examine your contractual obligations at your current firm. Are you able to take your current clients with you or will you have to leave them behind? Personal injury law is unique in that cases are often handled by one primary contact instead of a larger team. If you’re in the middle of a case when you decide to set off on your own, you may be under the assumption that all of your open cases can leave your firm with you. But the first rule of starting your own PI firm should be “don’t assume anything.” Read your contract closely and figure out what’s allowed. Stepping out on your own may mean starting from square one, but if you’re truly driven and ready to network your way to success, new clients will come your way.

Another important consideration to make before leaving your current firm is your experience level. Have you really gained the proper experience to step out on our own? While you can gain many of the skills you need to excel in your own practice on the job, you should have at least some comfort with things like business finances and employee management before you make the jump to self-employment.

Build a Strong Business Plan and Understand How You’ll Make and Spend Money

Starting a successful personal injury firm requires real business savvy. Before starting your firm, get a business plan in place — and not just a “mental” plan. Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and map out your business growth and revenue goals, marketing channels, technology strategy and other details. Considering items like these before you throw yourself into running your own firm is critical to your success, especially in the early months.

Your firm will live and die by its budget, so getting clear on what you can expect to have coming in and going out is crucial. If you’re starting your firm with a handful of existing clients, project the revenues you’ll earn from them for the first year of business, and add in a reasonable amount of month-over-month revenue growth.

In your first months on your own, estimating overhead may actually be easier than estimating revenue. Develop a budget that includes a reasonable salary for yourself and any employees you plan to hire (Inc says your firm should be generating at least $150,000 in revenue each year per employee), legal tech costs, office space and outsourced expenses and keep things lean where you can. For example, if you’re starting out as a solo practice, you may want to consider home consults in those first few months to save money on office space.

Get Your Technology in Order

Assessing your legal technology needs and finding the right tools to address them should be one of your top considerations before starting out on your own. As you likely know, legal tech has come a long way in recent years – especially for personal injury lawyers. While personal injury law can mean dealing with never ending stacks of liability paperwork and time consuming forms, legal technology tools can greatly reduce the time spent on document preparation and management. Even so, finding the right personal injury case management software can still be confusing, especially when you’re first starting out.

Not all legal tech tools emphasize business growth and many of the options you may come across will be better suited for larger scale operations. Smokeball’s practice management software is created specifically for small law firms, and we offer a personal onboarding process through which we customize the tool to your specific needs. We also have form suites set up specifically for personal injury law, so many of the forms you use regularly are likely already in our system.

Starting a personal injury practice is no small feat, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding endeavor. Spend some time thinking through these considerations and getting a plan in order, and if you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Being injured in an accident or other situation can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might require one or more surgeries, physical therapy, and other medical treatment to recover from the injuries. Your recovery could be lengthy, requiring you to miss time from work. The loss of income could result in a financial crisis for your family.

A California personal injury attorney cannot undo what has happened to you. However, having an experienced legal advocate on your side to provide guidance and support can reduce the stress of dealing with a personal injury claim after an injury. 

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me After an Injury?

When you hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case, your attorney takes numerous steps to protect your best interest. Steps a personal injury attorney takes for you include:

• Conducts a thorough investigation to determine how you were injured and gather evidence
• Identify all parties liable for your damages
• File insurance claims and handle all communication and negotiations with the insurance companies
• Retain accident reconstructionists, investigators, and other experts, when necessary
• Work with you and your physicians to document the extent of your injuries and damages
• Calculate the correct value for your injury claim and negotiate a settlement for that value
• Prepare and file a personal injury lawsuit, if the other party refuses to negotiate a fair settlement

While you focus on healing from your injuries, your accident lawyer focuses on recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages. 

Should I Work Directly with the Insurance Company?

Working directly with an insurance company to resolve a personal injury claim can be tricky. The insurance company has one goal. It wants to pay as little as possible to resolve your injury claim if it cannot deny the claim outright. 

Therefore, the insurance company will never tell you if you accept a lower amount than your claim is worth. It will not tell you if you are entitled to additional damages that you do not know about because you did not consult with a personal injury attorney.

Insurance adjusters are highly-trained, experienced professionals. They work to protect the best interests of the insurance company. 

Claims adjusters search for information the insurance company can use to deny or undervalue your claim. They may tell you they need a written or recorded statement to process your claim or that you need to sign a medical records release form. These tactics are designed to get information the company can use to avoid paying the actual value of your claim.

A personal injury attorney protects you from these tactics. Your lawyer handles everything for you so that you are not tricked or pressured into accepting a settlement offer that does not compensate you fully for your damages.

Contact Our California Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation 

Once you sign a settlement agreement, your case is closed. You cannot demand more money, even if you discover additional damages or injuries. You give up your right to file a lawsuit too. Before you accept a settlement offer, talk with our California personal injury attorney. We provide a free case review so you can get the information you need to make an informed decision about your case. Contact our office today.