Personal injury law is the area of law that deals with injuries that occur as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or company responsible for your injuries.
What Types of Injuries Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit For?
Personal injury lawsuits can be filed for a variety of injuries caused:
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents frequently occur and most often take place when a motorcyclist is struck by a car. While not all motorcycle accidents cause serious injuries, every once in a while, a severe motorcycle accident can cause irreversible and life-long injuries. Personal injury lawsuits can be filed if a rider suffers an injury, harm, or loss due to someone else’s negligence.
Car Accidents
Personal injury lawsuits can be filed for car accidents. In the case of a car accident, the passengers involved in the crash may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. Passengers injured in a crash may face substantial medical bills and suffer from their injuries. The driver may have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or might have been speeding, which can all be grounds for a personal injury claim.
Truck Accidents
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a truck driver’s negligence, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver or trucking company responsible for your injuries.
Ridesharing Accidents
Personal injury lawsuits can be filed for ridesharing accidents. They’re frequently caused by the negligence of the driver who caused an accident.
Premises Liability Accidents
A premises liability lawsuit can be filed if someone is injured on the land or at a business because of some dangerous condition on the property. There are three main groups of premises liability situations: slips and falls, trip and falls, and assault and battery.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s essential to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The Jasper County attorneys at Peterson & Associates, P.C. have years of experience handling personal injury cases. We can help you pursue justice. Contact our law firm to discuss your case now.
What Is the Process of Filing a Personal Injury Claim?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be wondering what the process of filing a personal injury claim is. Here’s a quick overview:
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
You need a personal injury lawyer at your side when filing a personal injury claim. Our Jasper County personal injury attorneys at Peterson & Associates, P.C. can help you file and guide you through the complex legal process.
Gather Evidence
Your lawyer will need as much evidence as possible to support your claim. This may include witness statements, medical records, photographs of the accident scene, and more.
File Your Claim
Once you have all the necessary evidence, your lawyer will file your claim with the insurance company or court.
Negotiate a Settlement
If the insurance company or court doesn’t offer a fair settlement, your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf until you reach an agreement.
Go to Trial if Necessary
If a settlement can’t be reached, your case may go to trial. A lawyer will represent you in court and fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
A personal injury lawyer can help you in several ways.
First and foremost, they can help you file a claim and navigate the complex legal process. They will also help you build your case and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
If you’re awarded a settlement, your lawyer will ensure you receive the full amount to which you’re entitled. They’ll also maintain a positive attorney-client relationship and make you feel at ease throughout the duration of your case.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t wait to contact a personal injury lawyer. Our Jasper County personal injury lawyers at Peterson & Associates P.C. can help you fight for your rights and pursue justice.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Missouri?
Under Missouri law, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is five years. This means that you have five years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. There are a few exceptions, so it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to determine your best course of action. Contact our Jasper County personal injury lawyers today to learn more about your legal options.
Questions to Ask During a Consultation
It’s important to ask questions during your consultation so you can get a better understanding of your case and potential outcomes. Some questions you may want to ask include:
- How many years of experience do you have with personal injury cases?
- What is your success rate with personal injury cases?
- How do you typically approach personal injury cases?
- What are the potential outcomes of my case?
- How long will it take for my case to go to trial?
- What are the costs associated with filing a personal injury lawsuit?
- Do you have any payment plans available?
It’s also important to feel comfortable with your attorney. Make sure you ask any questions and get a good sense of their personality. You’ll be working closely with them throughout your case, so it’s important that you trust them and feel comfortable discussing your case with them.
What Should I Do After a Personal Injury Accident?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s important to take the necessary steps to protect your health and your legal rights. Here are a few things you should do:
Seek Medical Attention as soon as possible
The first thing to do after suffering an injury is to seek medical attention. If you are injured, your initial instinct may be to try to deal with the injury on your own. However, you must seek the advice of a health professional who can properly diagnose and treat your condition. If you are injured and seeking medical attention, you should obtain proper documentation of your medical condition as soon as possible. An accurate diagnosis by a medical expert can help you later if there is any question about the extent of your injuries.
Gather Evidence from the Scene of the Accident
The first thing to do after suffering an injury is to gather evidence from the accident scene. To prove your case in court or have a strong enough case to settle out of court, you’ll need to record as much information as possible to back up your claim. This includes taking photos of the scene and writing down everything you remember about the accident, including any witnesses that might be able to give additional information. The more evidence you have, the better off you’ll be. Evidence can be as simple as a photo of the location where you were injured, with a timer on your phone showing the exact time of day and date you took it. This will help if there are conflicting stories about when or where an accident happened.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer for Legal Assistance
It is crucial to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you’ve been injured. This is important because of the time limitation for filing a claim and getting compensation for your damages. If the claim is not filed within the time limit, then you will lose the legal right to file it, and nothing can be done about it.
File a Claim with Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company will help you navigate the medical and legal aspects of your personal injury claim, paying for necessary medical treatment and providing financial compensation for the things you’ve lost and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
Keep a Journal of Your Recovery Process
The first thing you should do after suffering an injury is to keep a journal of your recovery process. Through this journal, you can record the pain you are feeling and how it changes over time. You can also mention what kind of treatments you receive, including how they affect the pain. This information can benefit your doctor and other doctors who may treat you in the future.
What are the Damages I Can File in a Personal Injury Claim?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may wonder what damages you can file in a personal injury claim. There are a variety of damages you may be able to recover, including economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
One of the damages you can file for in a personal injury lawsuit is economic damages. Economic damages are losses that you have suffered because of your injury. They include medical expenses, such as the cost of surgery or hospital care, and lost wages. To calculate your lost wages, you must know how much you earned and what hours you worked at your job before your accident. Your lost wages are based on the number of weeks that have passed since your accident in which you have been unable to work because of the injuries caused by your accident. If you have not been able to return to work yet, your lawyer will estimate the amount of money you would have earned if you had not been injured. Other economic damages include loss of inheritance, medical bills, property damage, loss of income, and loss of earning capacity.
Non-Economic Damages
One of the damages you can file for in a personal injury lawsuit is non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are injuries that can’t be quantified using economic terms, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, loss of consortium (losing the companionship and intimacy of your partner), and disfigurement.
How Do I Choose the Right Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?
One thing you’ll want to remember when looking for a personal injury lawyer is their experience with similar cases. Not all lawyers have the same level of experience, so it’s important to find one who knows the ins and outs of your specific type of case.
You’ll also want to make sure that the lawyer you choose is reputable and has a good track record. You don’t want to take any chances regarding your case, so be sure to do your research before making a decision.
It’s also important to feel comfortable with your lawyer. You’ll be dealing with them extensively throughout your case, so you’ll want to ensure that you get along and that they have your best interests at heart.
What to Expect When Working with a Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be wondering what to do next. The first step is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. The Jasper County attorneys at Peterson & Associates, P.C. can help you pursue justice.
When you work with a personal injury lawyer, you can expect:
- To be treated with respect and compassion.
- To have your case evaluated by a team of experienced attorneys.
- To be kept up-to-date on the progress of your case.
- To receive the highest level of legal representation possible.
- To be compensated for your injuries and losses.
Let Us Help You Get Justice
If you’ve been injured in an accident, the Peterson & Associates, P.C. attorneys can help. We have years of experience handling personal injury cases and are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our Jasper County personal injury attorneys at 816-888-8888 to get the compensation you’re entitled to.