It can be tough to set a dollar amount on injuries you suffer in an accident. There are so many things to consider: doctor bills, time lost from work, medical costs for ongoing injuries, pain and suffering and so on. Insurance companies take all of them into account when deciding how much to offer — and ultimately pay out — for a personal injury claim. Sometimes simply utilizing the skills of an experienced personal injury lawyer will present a threat to an insurance company. But there may be complex legal rules involved in your particular claim, or the severity of your injuries might cause your compensation to vary greatly from the norm. If your personal injury question is not answered here, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys of Holland & Lamoureux at (866) 225-4907 for a free initial consultation. We’ll help get the compensation you deserve.
Q. What is a personal injury?
A personal injury (sometimes referred to as bodily injury) is any physical or mental injury to a person as a result of someone's negligence or harmful act.
Q. What are some examples of personal injury?
- Car and truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Home accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Wrongful death
Q. Can I get financial compensation in a personal injury claim?
Compensation for your injuries depends on several factors, including physical and mental pain and suffering, economic hardship or financial loss, decreased earning potential and physical impairment, including disfigurement. Depending on the type and extent of your personal injury, you may be eligible for compensatory (actual) damages, and punitive (criminal) damages. The damages may include the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages, including overtime
- Pain and suffering
- Physical disability
- Disfigurement
- Permanent scars
- Emotional trauma
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of love and affection
- Embarrassment
- Mental disability
- Property damage
- Out of pocket expenses (transportation charges, house cleaning, grass cutting and others)
Q. How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?
To have a personal injury case, you must be able to show that you have been injured, either physically or emotionally, by someone else under a negligence, strict liability or intentional misconduct theory. In some cases it may be necessary for you to show that the other party was more at fault for the injury than you were.
Q. Can I still have a claim if the accident is partly my fault?
Yes. In most cases accident victims can recover money even if they are partly to blame for the accident.
Q. When is a personal injury attorney needed?
If you have been seriously injured or are unsure as to the outcome of your injury, you are better off hiring an attorney as soon as possible. You should always consult an experienced personal injury attorney before you give any statements or sign papers of any kind. A qualified personal injury attorney will ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Q. What if an insurance adjuster offers me a settlement?
Before accepting a settlement, it is always in your best interest to consult an attorney. An attorney's expertise is vital for accident victims when an insurance adjuster is trying to settle the case. Adjusters work for the insurance company — not for you — and their job is to settle the matter for the lowest possible expense to the company. Since a consultation is free, it won't hurt to ask us if we can help.
Q. Can't I just estimate the cost of my own injuries right away?
Because the full extent of many injuries may not be known for quite some time after the accident, an attorney can help you evaluate your potential losses. It's devastating to sign away your rights only to later discover that your injuries and losses were worse than you originally thought.
Q. How much do you charge for a personal injury case?
We charge on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay us anything unless there is a settlement or a winning verdict at trial. Typically, when we win your case, we take a percentage fee of the total case recovery, in addition to case costs.
Related Information
If you have a question that was not covered in the above Frequently Asked Questions or if your question was not fully answered, call or contact us today for additional information.
Jason F. Lamoureux
