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What Can People Use Their Personal Injury Lawsuit Money For?
If someone’s negligence causes you injuries and other eligible losses, you can often receive compensation. Your payout may be in the form of a negotiated settlement or a verdict from a personal injury lawsuit. Either way, you may wonder about any restrictions placed on the money you receive. What can you use it for? How much will you get? Our Board Certified personal injury trial lawyer at James Kennedy, P.L.L.C. can answer your questions, calculate your potential damages, and help you get the highest possible amount of compensation.
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
As much as we would like to tell you how much an average settlement is, we cannot. The value of your case depends on several unique factors. If you have a valid personal injury claim, you may receive compensation for various damages, including:
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Medical bills
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Property damage
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Lost wages
5 Things Your Personal Injury Lawyer Should Never Do
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you should not have to pay for all the resulting expenses. You can submit a personal injury claim to try to hold the other person accountable and make them compensate you for the damage they caused. A lawyer with training and experience in this field can help you gather evidence to prove your claims and deal with all the bureaucracy involved. However, there are some red flags to look out for as you begin working with a new lawyer. This article will describe some of the things a personal injury attorney should never do. If you need a lawyer to guide you through the process, speak with an El Paso, TX personal injury attorney who has experience fighting for maximum compensation in these types of cases.
Red Flag #1: Making Promises They Cannot Keep
Lawyers should avoid promising a specific outcome or guaranteeing a specific amount of compensation. There is no way to predict exactly how a legal case will end. If an attorney tells you they can, they may not be as professional and trustworthy as you deserve. You should work with a lawyer who can give you a realistic assessment of your case and explain various options for how it might end.
3 Reasons to Let Your Lawyer Talk to the Insurance Company
Suppose you have been involved in an accident caused by the negligence of another. You may be surprised to receive a call from the insurance company representing the negligent party. Even more surprising, this call may have come within a few days of the accident, possibly even before you have had a chance to fully consider your options.
There is one thing you should always remember about insurance companies. The primary concern of all insurance companies is not your health, it is the company’s financial bottom line. Like most of us, you have likely seen many heartwarming insurance commercials on television. The insurance companies reassure you that they are your "friend" and will be there when you need them.
Finding out the truth of the matter the hard way probably means you end up with a quick settlement that will not even begin to cover all the damages associated with the accident. Not only are you injured and perhaps unable to work and make a living, but you also have no idea how to pay your medical expenses or your regular monthly expenses. This does not have to be your scenario.
Should I Use a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Contacts Me First?
Getting injured because of someone else’s negligence can be very distressing. You are worried about recovering and getting the medical care you need, but it can be hard to cover these unexpected costs. You are probably aware that you can get some of those costs covered as part of the compensation you can get in a personal injury claim, but you might not know exactly what to ask for. If a lawyer suddenly shows up and offers to represent you, you might feel relieved that there is one less thing you need to worry about. However, this should raise a red flag. The state of Texas has specific rules against a lawyer soliciting potential clients. This article will explain those rules and why you should be wary of lawyers who contact you trying to get you to hire them. If you need help seeking compensation for injuries, contact a qualified Sierra Blanca, TX personal injury attorney.
Ambulance Chasers and Barratry Law in Texas
Lawyers are often necessary during times of suffering and distress. There are rules in place about how lawyers can advertise their services, to protect potential clients from being taken advantage of when they are distracted by their stressful circumstances. If a lawyer has a website that you end up on after searching online for a specific area of law you are interested in, that is not problematic. If a law firm advertises its services in the newspaper, that is also fine.
What Are Diminished Value Claims in Texas Crashes?
When someone else is to blame for a car crash that you are involved in, you generally get compensation for the costs related to any injuries you may have sustained and any damage to your car that needs to be fixed. However, once your broken bones have healed and your car has been repaired, it does not necessarily mean that everything is back to the way it was before. Even after a car is fixed, the damage caused by the accident might make it lose some of its value. That is where a diminished value claim comes in. If your car was damaged in an accident, speak with a skilled Van Horn, TX personal injury attorney to understand your rights.
How Can I Pursue a Diminished Value Claim?
Diminished value is a component of some insurance policies that recognizes the discrepancy between a car's worth before and after a collision, even after it has been repaired. It is not a required aspect, though, so you should review your policy and see if it is included.
When a Minor Gets Injured in a Car Accident
Car accidents can be awful to go through. Some victims find they relive the moment of impact; every time they close their eyes, it is as if they are seeing, hearing, and feeling everything that happened during the collision all over again. If your child was in the car with you when another car crashed into yours, it can feel even more traumatizing because you are not only worried about yourself but also concerned about your child’s physical and emotional recovery. Depending on the injuries, your child might need medication, surgery, physical therapy, and emotional therapy, and they might be unable to go to school for some time. If someone else’s dangerous driving caused all this pain and suffering, they should be held accountable. Speak with a seasoned Texas personal injury attorney to understand how compensation works in this type of case.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered for a Child Injured in a Car Crash?
It can be challenging trying to put a numeric value on the damages suffered by a child who was hurt in a car accident. Because minors do not need to pay their own medical bills and if they work, their income legally belongs to their parents, the usual questions about damages in a car accident do not apply. This does not mean that it is impossible to recover damages when someone crashes into your car and injures your child. However, it is a different type of case and one of the best things you can do is hire an experienced lawyer who has represented clients in similar situations and can advocate passionately on your behalf.
Construction Site Injuries Caused by Equipment Failure
All workers in all professions can get injured at their workplace under various circumstances. Whether you work in a quiet office sitting at a desk all day or your job is more physically demanding, there are endless ways someone could potentially end up with an injury. One specific field with a particularly high risk of workplace injury is construction. Accidents can be caused by many things including exposure to unsafe materials, unstable work spaces, or equipment failure. If you or a loved one is injured while operating heavy machinery that malfunctions, the life-long results can be drastic. An assertive EL Paso, TX workplace injury attorney can help you hold accountable whoever is truly responsible.
What is Third-Party Liability?
At construction sites, there are often various people who are responsible for different things. When an accident happens, it could be the responsibility of several people, depending on the circumstances. For example:
Does Workers’ Compensation Apply to the Oil and Gas Industry?
The oil and gas industry is essential for everyday life in America. Without oil and gas workers doing their jobs, so many things regular citizens need every day, from their cars to their kitchens, would not be able to function. However, this industry is also associated with a higher risk of workplace injury or exposure to dangerous conditions. If you work in the oil and gas industry and you got injured on the job, speak with a skilled El Paso, TX workers’ compensation attorney who can help you understand your rights and seek maximum compensation for your injuries and other financial losses.
What to Know about Oil and Gas Industry Workplace Injuries
Laws about workers’ compensation were put in place to protect workers. If you are injured while doing your job, these laws are intended to help you get compensation for any associated medical expenses and other financial losses. No matter what the circumstances of your injury were, the three most important things to do when you get injured at work are:
Recovering From a Rollover Accident in Texas
Rollover accident is the term used to describe what happens when a car turns on its side or flips onto the roof, whether the car rolls over once or multiple times. There are a wide variety of factors that can cause this type of car crash, but however they are caused, they can result in a great deal of bodily harm as well as material damage. In some cases, you might be entitled to compensation to cover your accident-related expenses, but it can be overwhelming attempting to convince insurance companies that your claim is valid while you are also taking care of yourself and dealing with car repairs. An experienced El Paso, TX personal injury lawyer can fight aggressively on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.
What Causes Rollover Accidents?
While rollover accidents can be caused by many different things - some connected to the driver and some to the car - the following is a list of some of the most common causes:
How to Get Medical Care in Texas Before a Claim Is Settled
If someone else’s negligence or disregard has caused you to suffer injuries, the person responsible may be liable to cover any costs associated with this injury. Sometimes, the process of getting a personal injury claim approved can take time. While waiting for their claims to be settled, some people use their own insurance to cover the costs of healthcare while they wait, and the responsible party will reimburse these costs later on. However, what happens if you do not have sufficient insurance to cover the costs while you wait? This article will review some methods you can use to receive care and treatment until your case is settled. An experienced El Paso, TX personal injury attorney can help you pursue full compensation for your expenses.
What Happens if I Need Medical Attention?
Even if you do not have insurance, hospitals are obligated to provide you with emergency medical care. If you are unable to pay your medical bills, that can be worked out at a later time but the hospital will not kick you out until you are considered medically stable.