Although we certainly hope that you never need a personal injury attorney, many people will require the knowledge and services of one during their lifetime. You might be feeling confused or frightened right now, but arming yourself with critical knowledge at this juncture can have a major impact on your situation.
Working with a personal injury attorney is unique
You may have worked with different types of attorneys in the past, but the situation is often entirely different when you partner with a personal injury attorney. Here are some essentials you should know >>
Contacting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible is critical. While contacting your doctor or another healthcare professional FIRST is always recommended,any time someone is physically injured as a result of the negligence of another person, product, company or entity, he or she should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss the incident.
Often times people won’t know the extent or severity of their injuries at the onset; however, they should not hesitate in contacting a personal injury attorney as the aspects of certain types of claims can be time sensitive. Ultimately, the best case scenario is that the injured party makes a complete recovery and does not need the services of an attorney. However, until that is determined by the individual and/or the treating doctor(s), the best course of action would be to protect any potential claim he or she may have by contacting a personal injury attorney early in the recovery process.
Any of us could need a personal injury attorney at any time. We live in a society where the reporting of large jury verdicts, the constant fear of rising insurance rates and other factors have cast a negative light on an individual who is pursuing a personal injury claim. A perfect example is the McDonald’s Hot Coffee case. The narrative that many people took away from that case was that a woman sued McDonald’s and was awarded millions of dollars because she spilled a little bit of hot coffee on herself . . . something that most people feel they have experienced when they take a first sip from a piping hot cup of coffee. I will spare the details of that case for this post (maybe a future post dedicated to that case), but I would encourage anyone reading this post to do some independent research on that case, specifically regarding the extent of the woman’s injuries and the final amount she was awarded when the case was completely resolved.
One of the most common phrases I hear when I first meet with a potential client is “I never thought I would be the type of person to sue someone because of an injury.” It’s at this point when I dust off the soap box and explain to the person that because of the aforementioned issues, the general stigma on a person pursuing an injury claim is misplaced and that they should not feel bad for pursuing a claim. Until an individual or a member of their family has been through this experience they are unable to fully understand the impact that a serious injury may have on themselves and/or their family.
Always communicate with your personal injury attorney. When working with a personal injury attorney it is important to keep your attorney up to date. Changes in your condition can affect various elements of your case >> other than your closest family, your attorney should be the first to know of any changes. Remember, your personal injury attorney is here to protect your interests, so letting him or her know of any changes or updates is key.
There are many personal injury attorneys here in Western New York to choose from. It’s important to meet with your attorney in person and to speak with him or her before making a decision. Get to know your attorney so that you can ensure you feel comfortable with him or her representing your best interests. At Restaino Reddien, we are proud to treat our clients like people, not cases. If you have any questions or need to speak with a personal injury attorney, call our office at (716) 235-5885. We’re happy to help.
Related Topics: Personal Injury
