A personal injury lawyer is a type of civil litigator who provides legal representation to plaintiffs who are alleging physical or psychological injury as the result of the negligent or careless acts of another person, entity, or organization.
The most successful lawyers earn seven-digit salaries, although most plaintiff lawyers earn between $30,000 and $300,000, depending on practice size and location.
Any case or claim that involves an injury to the body or mind falls under the umbrella of personal injury law. Some of the most common types of cases handled by this type of lawyer include: 1 Animal bite injuries 2 Auto accidents 3 Aviation accidents 4 Bicycle accidents 5 Boating accidents 6 Brain injuries 7 Burn injuries 8 Construction accidents 9 Defective products 10 Insurance/bad faith claims 11 Medical malpractice 12 Motorcycle accidents 13 Nursing home abuse 14 Pedestrian accidents 15 Slip and fall accidents 16 Spinal cord injuries 17 Wrongful death
Personal injury attorneys specialize in an area known as tort law. This covers private or civil wrongs or injuries, including defamation and actions for bad faith breach of contract. The main goal of tort law is to make the injured party whole again and to discourage others from committing the same offense.
Litigation represents the bread and butter of many law firms, so the employment outlook for personal injury attorneys is good. However, tort reform—proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation and cap damage awards—could potentially reduce the number of claims filed and the damages recovered by plaintiff attorneys in the future.
All attorneys must pursue the same path of training and education. They must earn their law degrees and pass written bar examinations, but this can't be accomplished until they’ve earned an undergraduate degree and passed the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a reasonably high score.
A personal injury lawyer is someone who provides legal representation to individuals who have been injured in an accident. Personal injury lawyers work in tort law, which includes negligent acts as well as intentional acts. They pursue compensation for accident victims.
Most people do not negotiate as part of their typical lives. However, personal injury lawyers are used to negotiating with insurance companies. They can review the policy details and determine the maximum level of compensation that may be available based on the specific circumstances of the case. A personal injury lawyer may also handle all communications with the insurance company and prevent the injury victim from doing anything that may jeopardize his or her claim, such as giving a recorded statement.
This includes medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish and pain and suffering.
Personal injury lawyers generally work on a contingency fee basis in which they only charge attorney’s fees after they have secured a settlement or jury verdict. Because they often finance a case, they take great care in screening potential clients and evaluating the merits of the case.
This demand letter states the facts of the accident and demands a certain amount of damages for the injury that the defendant caused.
A lawyer can help you level the playing field since the other side will likely have a lawyer on his or her side. He or she can draw on resources like expert witnesses and private investigators when necessary. Provided by HG.org.
Evidence may establish liability for who caused the accident and the extent of the damages that the plaintiff suffered. Evidence may include medical reports, medical records, bills, employment documents, employment reports and property damage reports.