We’ve all seen ads for bigshot personal injury attorneys promising to win your case and get you a major settlement, but those fancy advertisements don’t tell the whole story when it comes to hiring a personal injury lawyer to take your case. For residents of College Station, knowing when to hire an attorney and who to call is a big question after you’ve been injured, no matter how the injury happened. Here are a few scenarios where calling an attorney makes sense.
5 Situations to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
1. Car Accidents
Car accidents happen every day, and sometimes insurance doesn’t pick up the bill for all of your medical expenses. If you have sustained a major injury and insurance is refusing to pay, it’s a good time to bring a personal injury lawyer in on your behalf.
Oftentimes, drivers do not know their rights when it comes to compensation after an accident, and they take your insurance company’s word for what is and is not covered, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road. You may be due additional compensation depending on the situation and the extent of your injuries.
2. Slips and Falls in College Station
Another common reason for calling in a personal injury attorney is after a slip or fall on someone else’s property. This typically happens at the grocery store or at the auto shop when something has spilled and nobody has put up a sign. Slips and falls can lead to serious injuries and broken bones, but getting a company to cover your injuries can be an uphill battle. They are likely going to claim that you were at fault for your fall, or should not have been walking there in the first place.
If you have suffered an injury on private property, an attorney specializing in personal injuries will be able to give you a solid assessment of what your case is worth and how hard it will be to win. These are the kinds of questions you should be asking before you decide to go all the way to court. In many cases, they can also negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
3. Medical Malpractice
If you’ve been dealing with medical issues and feel that your doctor’s treatment was directly responsible for causing great harm or illness, you may have a case for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice suits are difficult because you will need expert opinions and a ton of documentation to show that your doctor was directly responsible for your injury. However, that doesn’t mean you should back down.
When searching for a personal injury attorney to take your case, make sure you ask about their experience handling medical cases like yours and ask about the contingency fee that they charge if they win. Once you’re sure you have the right team on your side, you can focus on healing while they handle the legal side of the battle.
4. Animal Bites
Few people set out to own a vicious animal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get bitten. If you’ve been attacked by a neighbor’s dog or any other animal, you may have a case for compensation. Every year, thousands of people are bit by dogs that the owners believe are friendly. Sometimes this is because the dog was startled or felt threatened. Other times it’s because the dog was not properly socialized.
Whatever the reason for the bite, the owner is responsible for ensuring you recover from your injuries. If there is any indication that they knew or should have known that their dog was dangerous, you have an even stronger case.
5. Assault and Battery
While less common, physical altercations can also be a cause for hiring personal injury lawyers in College Station. Regardless of who was at fault for the incident or if anyone was arrested and charged with a crime, you may have sustained injuries that require serious medical care. In this case, the other party could be liable for your recovery.
For assault and battery injuries, it is best to have a knowledgeable attorney who is familiar with any criminal proceedings that may have come from the altercation. In addition, you will want someone who knows how to handle themselves well in the courtroom because you are less likely to reach a settlement easily with the other individuals involved.
If you’ve experienced a serious injury as a result of any of these five situations and you have not been compensated for your medical expenses and lost income, it is time to call on an attorney. Whether you decide to take your case to court or not, an attorney will be able to tell you how much you deserve and how they can help you work toward a settlement that will set things back to before your injury happened.
