Despite the many reasons an injury lawyer is needed, the job has its challenges. For example, clients can become highly emotional, and it is important to maintain professional detachment while empathizing with them.
Another challenge is proving causation, the legal standard for determining whether an accident caused a client’s injuries. Contact Essex Injury Lawyer now!
Medical treatment is often necessary to make a full recovery following an injury. The type of treatment varies and can include everything from surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and more. Medical treatment can be expensive and painful, but it is vital for healing. Many people find that their health insurance needs to cover the type of medical treatment they need. Others find that their health insurance covers it, but the co-insurance or copayment amounts are so high that they cannot afford treatment. A good injury lawyer can help to ensure that their clients have access to the medical treatment they need.
The best injury lawyers have connections with healthcare providers who specialize in treating the type of injury a client has suffered in an accident. This can be particularly important for injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which may be difficult to diagnose and treat without a thorough neurological evaluation. An experienced attorney will know how to refer their clients to the best healthcare providers for their needs and can also negotiate with those providers on behalf of their clients. This can save the client from having to pay immediately for their medical care and will prevent the healthcare provider from reporting their unpaid bills to credit agencies while waiting for an injury claim to resolve.
An experienced injury lawyer can also help their clients obtain needed medical treatment by writing what is called a “lien letter” or a “letter of protection.” This is a document that the injured person’s healthcare provider signs, guaranteeing that the healthcare provider will be paid from an injury settlement or court award once the case has settled. This can be especially helpful for people who do not have sufficient health insurance coverage or can not afford to pay for their medical care immediately. It can also help to keep healthcare providers from refusing to treat their patients because they are afraid that the lawsuit will result in them not being paid for their services. It can also protect against insurance companies trying to attack the credibility of a doctor by claiming that the physician is biased because they will be guaranteed payment from an injury settlement.
Lost Wages
Lost wages and income can be a significant burden on injury victims. It’s important to pursue these damages when possible to help mitigate the financial impact of an accident or injury. If you’re unable to work and earn your regular salary, this can significantly reduce your standard of living and make it challenging to pay for necessities like food, housing, and other day-to-day costs. Your injury lawyer may be able to assist you in pursuing these damages.
Depending on the nature of your injuries and how long you’re unable to work, your lawyer may be able to calculate the value of future lost income as well. This requires the assistance of expert economists and forensic accountants to help determine the future earning potential that you could have expected to receive had your injuries not occurred. These calculations take into consideration your age, education level, job, and other factors that could have contributed to your career advancement and earnings.
Proving the value of your lost wages requires meticulous documentation. You’ll need to submit previous pay stubs and tax returns, business records and bank documents, invoices and ledgers, and medical documentation of your injury and its effects on your ability to work. If you’re a contract employee or self-employed, your injury lawyer can provide advice on how to best gather this information.
Lost wages can include your basic salary as well as overtime, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of supplemental income. In addition to these regular forms of compensation, you might be able to claim the value of sick and vacation days that you’ve had to forgo due to your injury. Similarly, if you were forced to retire early because of your injury or illness, this can also be included in the value of your damages. An experienced injury lawyer will know how to properly calculate these additional forms of compensation.
Property Damage
A property damage accident involves physical harm to tangible property—things that can be touched and felt, like your car or home. This type of injury can happen through another person’s negligence, willful destruction, or an act of nature. In a typical property damage case, an injured party can seek compensation from an individual or company that caused the damage. The injured party may also be able to file a claim under their own or someone else’s insurance policies.
A personal injury lawyer can help a client navigate these legal matters and help them find justice for any wrongdoing that took place. A lawyer can use a variety of tactics to ensure that their client receives the maximum amount of compensation possible, including hiring experts and using forensic analysis when needed. In addition, a personal injury lawyer will be able to identify all parties that might share liability in the accident, and can help their clients reach a fair outcome from an insurance company.
Property damage claims can be very complicated, especially if the property is very valuable or if it was destroyed completely. A skilled Queens property damage lawyer can help the client file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, and will be able to negotiate with the insurance company to get a fair settlement.
Personal injury lawyers can be certified by certain bar associations or attorney organizations to show that they have specialized knowledge in the field of personal injury law. In addition to demonstrating their expertise in this area of the law, certification can help a personal injury attorney build a more credible and trustworthy relationship with their clients.
A personal injury accident is an unfortunate occurrence that can have devastating effects on the life of an innocent victim and their loved ones. An experienced injury lawyer can help their clients recover the full range of damages that they are entitled to under the law. Contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how a lawyer can help. You may be able to recover compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and property damage.
Pain and Suffering
As a victim of a personal injury, you may have experienced more than just physical pain following your accident. You might have a lot of emotional distress or anxiety due to your injuries. Your pain and suffering can be just as important to your compensation claim as the monetary losses you incurred from your medical bills or lost wages. However, it is more difficult to measure than the out-of-pocket expenses that can be easily calculated.
That’s why it is essential for victims to have sufficient documentation when filing a personal injury claim in New York. Without substantial evidence, you might not be awarded the fair compensation you deserve. Here are some types of documentation that can prove your case.
Medical Records
Your medical records are a great source of evidence for your pain and suffering. They provide a detailed account of the extent of your injuries, your treatment plans and your recovery progress. The documentation in your medical records will also help an attorney calculate how much your injuries have impacted your life and well-being.
In addition, if your injury has caused you to suffer from psychiatric care or counseling, those treatments can be documented and used as evidence for the emotional distress you have suffered. For example, your psychologist’s report might indicate that you have experienced depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and other symptoms related to your mental trauma.
Another important piece of evidence is witness testimony. Testimony from friends and family members can help to prove how your injuries have impacted your lifestyle and your quality of life. Witnesses can talk about how your injuries have hampered your daily activities, affected your relationships and caused you emotional suffering.
One of the primary methods for determining your pain and suffering is the “multiplier method” or the “per diem method.” With the multiplier method, the actual damages you have incurred are calculated to determine your compensation amount. Then, that number is multiplied by a specific value that depends on the severity of your injury. The per diem method assigns a daily dollar value to your injuries from the date of your injury until you reach maximum medical improvement.