Choosing the right Personal Injury Lawyer

Choosing the right Personal Injury Lawyer: What every personal injury victim should know.

Did you know that…
A personal injury is any injury to your person. You may be able to recover money for any physical limitations, disfigurement, physical or mental pain and suffering, or loss of income, if someone else’s negligence or a defective product cause those injuries.
Simply because there was an injury does not mean that someone was at fault or that you are entitled to receive any compensation. You must prove that a defective product or someone else’s negligence was responsible for your injury.auto accident attorneys

Many Reasons for a Personal Injury Claim

Personal injury claims can result from a number of sources and/or situations including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, a slip or fall, animal bite, injury on the job, injury on someone’s property or injury from a defective product, including drugs.
Keep in mind that some attorneys who invest heavily in the local phone book, billboards, television and radio advertising may not have experience trying cases locally, or even trying cases at all, being a good lawyer is not a requirement for taking out an ad. In fact, some of the biggest advertisers do not try cases and simply refer their cases to other attorneys in exchange for a generous referral fee.

How do I choose a Personal Injury Attorney?

As you would before hiring any professional to help you with important life matters, do some research. The huge settlements advertised on TV, billboards or in the Yellow Pages may be misleading. Ask other attorneys or friends and family who are familiar with the legal community for a reference. It’s important to find a lawyer with expertise in your type of case and who is responsive to your calls and questions.
Check the attorneys’ credentials by visiting Martindale-Hubbell, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and Best Lawyers, which compiles lists by specialty based on attorney recommendations.personal injury attorneys

Ask the attorneys you’re considering whether they teach Continuing Legal Education courses. Attorneys who teach these courses are teaching other attorneys and are usually the most experienced in their field.
When interviewing attorneys, ask who will try your case. While it is common for less experienced attorneys to work on your claim, a senior attorney should be involved from start to finish. Ask the attorney if they have trial teams and who makes up the teams. Your relationship and comfort level with the attorney and firm is important. Look for a firm that is courteous and considerate of your time. Don’t ever feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.

When should I call an Attorney?

If you need medical attention immediately or soon after an accident, you should seek legal advice, especially if you believe your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or defective product. More often than not, the sooner you call an attorney, the better.
There are statutes of limitations and other deadlines for filing claims – some as short as 30 days. It is also important to obtain and preserve evidence early on in the legal proceedings.
Remember: No reputable personal injury attorney will charge you for an initial or any subsequent consultation. At the very least, talking to an attorney soon after an accident can protect your rights in the event you decide to proceed with your case at a later date.

How much of a recovery should I expect?

Recovery depends on a range of factors: the degree of injury, the degree of negligence and the applicable law. Any good attorney should be able to explain the likely costs and outcomes of your case.

How long does it take to resolve a case?

It varies. Some cases can settle in weeks or months, while others can take years if the case goes to trial. Your attorney should walk you through the process and keep you informed throughout. A good attorney should be able to create opportunities for settlement or move the case forward as quickly as appropriate when settlement is not an option.

Car Accident Injury Types – Personal Injury Law

Car Accident Injury Types

Traffic accidents are a common cause of head injuries. Head injuries include both injuries to the brain and those to other parts of the head, such as the scalp and skull. Head injuries may be closed or open. A closed head injury is one in which the skull is not broken. A penetrating head injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and breaches the dura mater. Brain injuries may be diffuse, occurring over a wide area, or focal, located in a small, specific area. A head injury may cause a skull fracture, which may or may not be associated with injury to the brain. Some patients may have linear or depressed skull fractures. personal injury attorneys
If intracranial hemorrhage occurs, a hematoma within the skull can put pressure on the brain. Types of intracranial hemorrhage include subdural, subarachnoid, extradural, and intraparenchymal hematoma. Craniotomy surgeries are used in these cases to lessen the pressure by draining off the blood. Brain injury can be at the site of impact, but can also be at the opposite side of the skull due to a contrecoup effect (the impact to the head can cause the brain to move within the skull, causing the brain to impact the interior of the skull opposite the head-impact). If the impact causes the head to move, the injury may be worsened, because the brain may ricochet inside the skull causing additional impacts, or the brain may stay relatively still (due to inertia) but be hit by the moving skull (both are contrecoup injuries). personal injury attorneys

Specific problems after head injury can include:

Skull fracture
Lacerations to the scalp and resulting hemorrhage of the skin
Traumatic subdural hematoma, bleeding below the dura mater which may develop slowly
Traumatic extradural, or epidural hematoma, bleeding between the dura mater and the skull
Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage
Cerebral contusion, a bruise of the brain
Concussion, a temporary loss of function due to trauma
Dementia pugilistica, or “punch-drunk syndrome”, is caused by repetitive head injuries, for example in boxing or other contact sports

A severe injury may lead to a coma or death.

If you suspect you may have been the victim of a closed head injury in a car accident, it is important that you consult a physician immediately. We recommend you also contact us to speak with a qualified South Texas car accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn your legal rights and whether you should pursue a case.

Disclaimer: This blog is strictly informational. No intent to render a legal opinion or giving legal advice is intended