If you’ve been injured in an accident, you should hire a lawyer to help you understand your case and what you may be entitled to. Especially if the incident caused you to seek medical treatment, miss work, or experience mental and emotional hardships, you could be owed compensation for your damages.

However, hiring the right lawyer to help win your case can be challenging. With so many legal services and areas of practice available, it can be overwhelming to sift through the options to determine exactly what you need. But keep in mind, if you want to win your case, you need a lawyer.

At Erie Injury, our team of experienced personal injury attorneys can provide you with the representation you need to win a fair settlement. In this post, we’ll define a personal injury, the kinds of cases we cover, and how to find the best law team for your specific needs.

What is a Personal Injury?

A personal injury is any variety of harm done to a person’s body, emotions, or reputation. Personal injury law is governed under the umbrella of tort law, which protects those who have been injured by another person as a result of negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing.

Most personal injuries are based on “negligence,” which is the failure to act with a level of ordinary prudence that another person in a similar situation may have exercised.

In any of these instances, winning a case depends on proving harm or damages—whether physical or emotional—occurred due to the injurious action. Common examples of harm include:

• Physical injury, such as trauma or broken bones
• Lost Wages
• Medical bills
• Lost earning capacity
• Property damage
  

When harm is proved, the plaintiff is awarded a settlement relevant to the amount of damage caused. Compensable losses include medical bills, lost wages, mental and emotional distress, travel expenses, household assistance, and pain and suffering.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

Though harm can result from any number of situations, personal injury claims typically fall under several distinct categories that ultimately dictate how your case will be handled. Erie Injury’s team of lawyers has experience handling cases related to:

• ATV accidents
• Car accidents
• Dog bites
• Motorcycle accidents
• Product liability
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Truck accidents
• Workers’ compensation
• Wrongful death
  

Because Erie Injury focuses on personal liability cases, we are well equipped to find the nuances in your case that other attorneys often miss. Diligence is critical when the other party has also hired legal representation, as they’ll be working hard to ensure their client isn’t responsible for your damages.

Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Case

It’s possible to settle a personal injury case on your own, but doing so is a disservice to yourself and those who love you. You may not know precisely what you and anyone who depends on you are entitled to by law, so you’ll want to connect with an attorney immediately following a personal injury. They’ll help you understand what kind of compensation you may be eligible for. When looking for a high-quality lawyer, you’ll want to follow a few best practices to ensure you’re getting quality legal representation.

Ask for Referrals and Read Reviews

Parsing through your injury and any resulting damages is a challenging, often emotional experience, so you’ll want to ensure you’re working with someone you trust explicitly. Ask friends and family for referrals to firms they’ve used in the past, and meet with lawyers that will offer you a free consultation before signing you on as a client.

Moreover, spend time reading reviews, paying particular attention to the types of cases a firm typically handles. You’ll want to select the firm with the most experience handling the case you’re facing. During your consultation, ask how many referrals the firm typically gets from other firms. Ideally, you’ll want to work with someone trusted enough in the field that other attorneys recommend their services.

Seek Someone with Experience

Law firms—and the lawyers who practice within them—tend to either generalize or focus in a particular area of law. While a general practitioner may help provide you with competent counsel, you’ll want to seek an attorney focusing on personal injuries to give yourself the best chance of winning your case.

Lawyers who focus are more likely to know the ins and outs of how the legal system applies to your specific situation. They can find the necessary nuances, details, and loopholes to win you the largest settlement or verdict possible. Don’t be shy about asking for a lawyer’s success rate.

Go with Your Gut

Personal injury cases can be long and arduous, so you’ll want to ensure you’re navigating the process with someone you trust. Choose a personal injury lawyer you feel comfortable with and who you genuinely believe has your best interest at heart. Avoid those who expect payments upfront, and instead, choose someone who won’t slap you with legal fees unless they win the coverage for you.

Consult with an Expert

Finding the right personal injury lawyer for your case can be difficult, but doing so is an essential step in winning your case. If you’re ready to consult with an experienced attorney, contact Erie Injury today. You can also visit our website to learn more about the cases we handle and what to expect throughout your claim process.