It is possible for a person to become injured and experience damage to their body, finances as well as property and more. Many times, this can occur as the result of an accident caused by someone’s negligence. When this happens, people need to realize they have rights. A personal injury attorney knows how to help an accident victim get all the compensation they are legally entitled to receive.
Accidents
It is possible for someone to behave in a negligent way. Their carelessness could result in harm to another person. This can happen when a person is hurt while on business property or a neighbor’s property. Individuals have experienced accidents due to faulty products, negligent medical care, vehicle accidents, in nursing homes and more.
Establishing Negligence
Once a personal injury lawyer olympia wa has established negligence in a case, they will ask the responsible defendant to pay all injuries and damage resulting from the accident. There are some kinds of damage that can be calculated. These are known as special damages. This includes such things as medical bills, property damage, loss of earnings and more. General damages are more difficult to calculate. They include payment for pain and suffering as well as emotional distress and more. Punitive damages can be awarded to an accident victim if the defendant’s negligence was so bad a judge or jury believes they should be financially punished for it.
Consultation
When someone has experienced an accident that was not their fault, they should meet with an experienced attorney. This is when the details of a person’s accident will be reviewed. It is often done at no cost. At the end of the consultation, an attorney will recommend the best course of action for an accident victim based on the facts of their case.
Demand Letter
It is possible an attorney will take a case. They may send an insurance company or the defendant a demand letter. It will detail the reason the defendant is responsible for the accident victim’s injuries and damages and suggest an amount for a fair settlement.
Negotiation
Once a response to a demand letter is received, a personal injury attorney will know how to negotiate and get the best result. It is possible a settlement agreement amount will be reached. If not, the process continues.
Arbitration
It’s possible a personal injury attorney will meet with a third party and the defendant to reach a settlement amount. The determination of the arbitrator is not legally binding and is considered a recommendation. This is a helpful thing.
Lawsuit
Every effort is usually made on both sides to avoid going to trial. They are long and expensive. It also may be an accident victim’s only option to receive an acceptable settlement. A personal injury attorney will know how to file the proper papers with a court. They will know how to handle discovery, witnesses, evidence and more. Everything involved with getting a fair settlement for an accident victim from a judge or jury can be handled by a personal injury attorney.
When a person is the victim of an accident, they are often hurt and scared. They may not know what to do or how to solve their problems. An experienced personal injury attorney can help an accident victim understand they’re entitled to receive compensation. They have the legal knowledge necessary to effectively analyze the facts of a case and determine the best course of action to get an accident victim fair compensation.