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In 2021, about 1 in 5 people in the US sought medical attention for an injury. Hiring the right Hartford personal injury lawyer is essential when you sustain a severe injury due to another party’s negligence. It could mean the difference between receiving fast and fair compensation for your personal injury case or paying for your medical bills and other losses out of pocket.
Victims represented by Hartford personal injury lawyers often receive larger settlement offers than those who handle their claims on their own. A lawyer will know how to calculate the total cost of your damages accurately. Additionally, insurance companies often want to avoid the expense of going to court and may be more eager to settle when a lawyer is representing you.
After making the decision to hire an attorney to represent you, you may be overwhelmed by the number of personal injury attorneys in Hartford to choose from. This article will discuss what to consider when hiring a personal injury lawyer.
A Lawyer Can Explain the Personal Injury Claims Process
Without a personal injury attorney on your side, navigating the claims process can be overwhelming and confusing. Even a small error can result in you receiving a significantly reduced payout or your claim being denied altogether.
After hiring a lawyer, you will have a legal team behind you to gather facts and information, negotiate with insurance companies, and understand the laws that apply to your case. Your lawyer can also answer any questions you have about the legal process and handle every aspect of your claim.
You will have peace of mind knowing that your lawyer has what it takes to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.
Know the Statute of Limitations for Your Personal Injury Claim
Statutes of limitations determine how long from the date an accident occurs that a person has to file a personal injury claim. If you miss the deadline that applies to your case, it could prevent you from recovering anything for your damages.
In Connecticut, a person has 2 years from the date of injury to file a claim. An experienced personal injury lawyer will act fast on your behalf to ensure all necessary paperwork is filed before the statute of limitations runs out.
A Hartford Personal Injury Attorney Can Provide an Objective Viewpoint
Objectivity is important during the personal injury claims process. A serious accident can result in not only physical injuries but also emotional suffering. The trauma you have endured can make it difficult for you to maintain objectivity when dealing with the defendant, police officers, the other party’s lawyers, and insurance companies.
A Hartford personal injury lawyer, though, can carefully and objectively review the details of your accident to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Consider What Type of Cases the Lawyer Handles
You want to choose a lawyer who focuses solely on personal injury law. Lawyers who handle trusts, wills, divorces, and bankruptcies might also take on personal injury cases, but each could be a jack of all trades but a master of none.
In addition to finding a lawyer who focuses on personal injury law, find one who has experience in handling cases similar to yours. When personal injury lawyers routinely handle the same types of cases, they build the extensive skills, knowledge, and resources that can be put to work for your benefit.
For example, if you were injured in a slip-and-fall, you do not want to choose a lawyer whose main case types are nursing home abuse or medical malpractice claims. Instead, you would look for a personal injury lawyer who handles premises liability cases.
If you are unsure of what area of law your case type falls under, the fast and friendly legal team at Gould Injury Law would be glad to answer that question for you during a free case review.
Check If the Hartford Personal Injury Lawyer Has the Right Skills, Education, and Experience
Who you choose as your legal representative can make a difference in your claim’s success, so do not be afraid to ask questions.
The following questions can help you find a personal injury attorney who has the experience you are looking for:
- Where and when did you graduate from law school?
- Have you handled cases like mine before?
- If so, what were the outcomes?
- Are most of your cases settled through negotiations with the insurance company?
- How many cases have you litigated in court?
- What is your plan for winning my personal injury case?
Understand the Role You Play in Your Claim’s Success
As a client, there are steps that you can take to ensure your personal injury claim is successful. Be sure to seek immediate medical care after your accident and injury. Comply with any medical instructions your doctor gives, and do not miss scheduled follow-up appointments.
Ensure that you make copies of all your medical bills and keep your personal injury lawyer updated on the progress of your medical care and treatments.
Your lawyer may require a number of important documents from you, such as:
- Details of the accident (time, date, location, etc.)
- Medical records
- Police report
- Photos of the accident scene
- Proof of loss of income
- Information on how the accident has affected your daily life
The more open and honest you are with your personal injury lawyer, the better he or she will be able to help you – faster and more effectively.
Find Out Who Will Handle Your Hartford Personal Injury Case
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you may assume that he or she will handle your case. However, this is not always what happens. Some lawyers take on more cases than they can take on personally and then end up handing off some of their cases to paralegals.
You benefit when the law firm you select has a talented and experienced legal team to handle your claim. They will be able to work fast to gather evidence, research laws, and prepare a demand settlement package.
Ideally, you should be comfortable with the personal injury lawyer who will handle negotiations with the insurance company and oversee your case.
Ask About the Personal Injury Attorney’s Communication Style
Effective communication is essential throughout your personal injury claim. Your attorney may need to contact you to request additional information and to give you updates on the progress of your case. Likewise, you may need to contact your lawyer when a problem comes up or when you have a question about something.
During your initial consultation, ask the lawyer how he or she communicates and how often you can expect to receive updates on your case. Hartford personal injury lawyers may use email, phone calls, texts, or mail letters to communicate with their clients.
Ask any potential lawyers how fast they will respond to your messages. When you need to speak with your attorney, you need to know that he or she will be available to address your concerns.
Read Client Reviews
Client reviews can be an excellent source of information about a personal injury lawyer’s legal services. Checking out online reviews on not just the law firm’s website but also on other reputable online sources can be the fastest way to get an idea of which Hartford personal injury attorneys might be a good fit for your case.
While browsing online reviews, look for specific reasons why a person is giving a good or poor review. Keep in mind there will likely be some clients who were dissatisfied for reasons outside of the lawyer’s control or because they had unrealistic expectations.
Overall, you need a lawyer who has a proven track record of success. If possible, you may want to ask the lawyer for references from previous clients.
Inquire About the Law Firm’s Resources
One benefit of choosing to work with a larger law firm is that they will likely have more resources available. These firmly established law firms will typically have fast access to experts that they can use to strengthen their client’s cases.
These experts may include:
- Investigators
- Medical professionals
- Occupational therapists
- Engineers
- Accident reconstructionists
Reading the information on the law firm’s website can provide you with information about the size of the firm, how long they have been practicing law in Hartford, and their resources and connections.
Keep in Mind Your Damages May Be More Extensive Than You Think
Unfortunately, many accident victims do not realize that they can claim damages for more than just medical expenses.
Besides medical expenses, additional damages that a Hartford accident victim could seek compensation for include:
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
The knowledgeable Hartford personal injury attorneys from our law firm know how to assess what damages a client has suffered and what they will be worth. Because we want to maximize the compensation our clients receive.
Ask Specific Questions About the Fee Structure
Discuss the law firm’s fee structure in detail before signing any paperwork. Most Harford personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which works in your favor.
Under the contingency fee arrangement, the attorney does not receive any fees until he or she recovers money for your personal injury claim. Typically, if your personal injury lawyer does not recover financial compensation for you, then you do not have to pay any lawyer’s fees.
The following are some questions to ask the lawyer about the contingency fee arrangement:
- What percentage is your contingency fee?
- Does the contingency fee go up if the case goes to trial?
- Will I be expected to pay for any costs associated with the case? (Postage, court fees, filing fees, depositions fees, etc.)
- If so, will I be required to pay the costs periodically during the case or will they be taken out of the final settlement?
- Who pays the costs if you lose my case?
It is important to understand who will be responsible for costs and fees. At Gould Injury Law, we work on contingency and will take fast action to answer any questions you have about our fee and payment structure.
Get Your Hartford Personal Injury Claim Settled as Fast as Possible
Often, when accident victims try to handle their personal injury cases on their own, the claims process drags on for months or even years. This is due to gathering evidence, tracking down witnesses, working around legal red tape, encountering difficulties while filing necessary paperwork, and other delays.
When you are unable to work because of your injuries and have medical bills piling up, you cannot wait months for a settlement payout. You want your claim settled fast. Hiring a Hartford personal injury attorney to handle your claim is ideal in this case.
This puts someone on your side to stay on top of your claim and expedite the legal process. When you have legal representation on your side, you can have confidence that you will receive maximum compensation for your injuries and that your claim will be settled as fast as possible.
Choose a Hartford Personal Injury Lawyer With Trial Experience
Suppose you were in a car accident, you suffered serious injuries, and your personal injury case cannot be settled with the insurance company. Your next step in pursuing monetary compensation may be to file a personal injury lawsuit.
You want a lawyer on your side who has experience litigating in court and who is trial-ready. Seasoned personal injury lawyers with trial experience will know what evidence is needed to prove fault and how to present it compellingly. Additionally, they will know which legal strategies can secure a verdict in your favor.
Contact “The Fast Firm” to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you have been injured in a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a slip-and-fall, or another type of personal injury accident, contact Gould Injury Law today. Our Hartford personal injury attorneys are available to meet with you to discuss your case.
Our compassionate and skilled legal team is passionate about helping injured accident victims recover fair settlements and jury verdicts. We pride ourselves on settling our clients’ claims fast.
Schedule a free no-obligation case consultation with a member of our legal team today. Call us 24/7 at 888-WIN-FAST or complete the contact form.