Looking for a Personal Injury Lawyer & Seeking Compensation
Looking for a good personal injury lawyer can be a daunting task, especially if you have never done this before and even more so, if you are injured, taking care of someone who is injured, or grieving over the unexpected loss of someone close. It is important to find a lawyer who is licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where the injury occurred, and it is very important that you find a good lawyer who is especially well-suited to your particular situation. You want to feel comfortable with your lawyer and feel like you can trust them to take care of you and your loved ones.
Where to Start Looking
There are many different ways to look for a good personal injury lawyer who is especially suited to your case. One important thing to keep in mind is to be sure that you do the research to make sure that you not only get a reputable lawyer who is experienced with successfully defending the rights of people who have had similar injuries and/or circumstances that led up to their injuries, as well as someone you feel comfortable asking questions and who will be available to speak with you if you need this.Word of Mouth
The good old fashioned method of learning about places to get a product or service from your trusted friends, family, colleagues and community leaders, etc., is still relevant today. Many people find it helpful to start their search by asking people they know for recommendations of lawyers that they know about.Internet
The internet will likely be an integral part of your search. You can use the internet to research the different kinds of personal injury lawyers in your area that might be especially suited to your circumstances, to find out potential candidates’ education, license status, experience, reviews by previous clients and peers, and to find out if they are in good standing with your state’s bar association, to name just a few of the things you can use the internet to research during your quest to find a lawyer.State Bar Association
You can call your state bar association and/or use its website as a resource to find out valuable information about lawyers in your area.Legal Aid
Most major cities and many larger towns have non-profit organizations that provide legal assistance, often at reduced rates or for free for people who are low income, and/or for a particular population of people (such as an ethnic or religious group, or victims of domestic violence, etc.)Compensation
Depending on the circumstances and particular kind of injury, there are many, many different forms of compensation that injury victims and their families often seek. The following are some common reasons people seek compensation after a personal injury:
Cost of Emergency Services
Medical Bills
including but not limited to doctor visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, procedures, therapies, treatments, prescription and over the counter medications, medical devices, home remodel for accessibility, etc.
- Loss of Income
- Loss of Childcare
- Loss of Household Management
- Loss of Ability
- Loss of Benefits
- Loss of Transportation
- Loss of Quality of Life
- Pain & Suffering
In the horrific event that someone dies as the result of a personal injury, their surviving family may be entitled to compensation for reasons similar to those above, as well as:
Burial or Cremation Costs Cost of Funeral Service & Reception
as well as other rites of the recently passed such as mass, sitting shivah, and other religious and spiritual rituals
Loss of Consortium
Loss of Parental Guidance and Support
Grief & Suffering
Seeking compensation after a personal injury is not only important so that the victim and/or their family do not suffer financially, it is also a way of holding the perpetrator of the injury accountable for their wrongdoings and hopefully, will prevent them from causing others harm in the future.