personal injury suffered in a hospital

Posted on: 15 December 2017

When you are involved in an automobile accident, there are many questions that begin to swarm through your mind that you need and want the answers to. Here are the answers to four frequently asked questions related to personal injury car accident lawsuits:

FAQ #1: When Should a Lawsuit Be Filed?

Every state has its own stipulations regarding when you should file your personal injury lawsuit. There is a certain timeframe in which you have to file your lawsuit, should you choose to do so, and this is called the statute of limitations. This statute varies from one state to the next, so it is vital that you do not delay in filing your claim. This is true even if you are in negotiations with your insurance company because if the timeframe is missed, then you will have no shot at filing a claim.

FAQ #2: How Much Is Your Case Worth?

Your colleague's case may have been worth $1 million, but that doesn't mean that yours will. The dollar value of cases varies greatly from one case to the next. A major collision could only result in a minor injury, while a minor collision could cause a major injury. Someone who earns a high wage will likely be entitled to more compensation for time off work than other individuals. However, in the end, the value of your case is going to be determined by the severity of your injury and recovery. This is no straightforward formula to determine the value of a case.

FAQ #3: How Long Do Personal Injury Cases Take?

There is no set timeframe for how long a personal injury case will take. However, you can expect for a complex case to take longer than a more straightforward case. You also have to take into consideration the statute of limitations timeframe, as you don't have to file a claim immediately. So, it is possible the entire thing could take years. For example, let's say that an accident occurs, you take one year to file the injury claim, and then the case takes two years for a verdict to come to – that's three years total.

FAQ #4: Should You Hire a Lawyer?

There are some individuals that prefer to handle their cases on their own; however, when it comes to personal injury cases, it is a wise decision to hire a personal injury attorney. As a general rule, you won't have to worry about an upfront cost, as these types of attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that they don't get paid until you get paid. Therefore, you can rest assured that they will work extremely hard to ensure that you receive the money that you are owed.

Contact a law office like Steeg & Glista PC for more information and assistance.