How to Know If You Have A Personal Injury Case
Most people don't know how to tell if they have a personal injury case worth pursuing. And many firms make the answer sound more complicated than it needs to be. Here are four basic questions to start.
No one wakes up planning to have a personal injury lawsuit. Instead, people find themselves involved with the civil justice system because they have just gone through one of the worst times of their lives. Many law firms will make the legal process sound like magic. It isn’t.
If you are trying to figure out if it’s worth talking to a lawyer, skip the complicated legal definitions. It usually comes down to four basic reality checks:
1. Did someone else break a basic rule of safety?
For a case to exist, someone else had to have made a careless choice that caused you harm. This can be a property owner ignoring a dangerous conditions for month, a doctor failing to advise about known risks, or a police officer rejecting their training.
2. Do you or did you have a physical injury?
You cannot bring a case for a “near miss,” no matter how scary it was or how immoral the wrongdoer. To have a case, there must be a physical injury of some kind.
3. Is there a realistic way to collect what you are owed?
The civil justice system can only provide one solution: monetary compensation for what was taken. If the person or entity who hurt you does not have assets or insurance there may be nothing to "win."
4. Are you ready to fight for accountability?
Pursuing a legal case is a partnership, and it requires real commitment from you. Any lawyer who says you can sign a piece of paper, disappear, and wait for a check to land in your lap isn't working on your case. They’re running a settlement mill.
When you seek real accountability from a powerful entity and their insurance company, you have to be ready to stand up for yourself and tell your story. We keep a small case load so we can stand with you, and give you the attention and time you need to seek accountability so you can get back to yourself and restore what was lost.
What do to next?
If you were hurt by the carelessness of another and are not sure if you have a case, reach out to us for a confidential consultation about your legal options. We will give you our honest advice, so you can decide what’s best for your life.