Tips to Help You Find the Most Qualified Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney

Any time you need help from a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, there are a few things you should look for to help you find the most qualified attorney.

1. Do they offer a free consultation? The purpose of this meeting is to establish whether you have grounds for a case against the other party involved in the accident. It involves discussing your case, any special circumstances, and identifying who is responsible for your injury. If the lawyer charges a fee for this meeting, it is recommended you seek another law firm, because you should not have to pay to find out whether or not you have a case.
2. Do they work on a contingency fee? Many people who have been involved in a personal injury accident do not have the money to pay retainer fees up front. Law firms that work on a contingency fee basis do not collect any money from you unless they are able to win your case through a settlement or verdict in your favor. As a result, your Los Angeles attorney works harder to deliver results. Again, should the firm charge a retainer, it may be in your best interest to find a different lawyer.
3. How do they conduct a case evaluation? When you initially call, do they give you an estimate over the phone? Realistically, this is not possible, because each case can be different and have its own set of circumstances. The proper method is to meet with you, gather evidence, and review the details in depth before supplying you with a figure. After your initial consultation, your attorney might be able to provide you with a rough estimate using similar cases, but normally reserves the total amount until later.

After an Auto Accident Consult with a Lawyer to Ensure a Fair Settlement

There are numerous tasks you need to take care of after being involved in an auto accident. If the accident was not your fault, you normally have to work with both your insurance company and the other party’s company. Attempting to reach a settlement for minor injuries may not seem difficult, and the amount they propose might seem fair. However, remember insurance companies want to settle claims for the least amount possible. How do you know if you are getting a fair offer? You need to consult with an accident lawyer in your area.

An auto accident lawyer is able to review the details about your case, determine the maximum monetary amount you can be entitled to receive, and work as your representative to ensure your legal rights are protected and the settlement is fair. Your attorney will know what details are critical to the outcome of your claim. In certain cases, there may be situations where you might be held partially to blame, which could hurt your ability to obtain a settlement.

Do I Still Have a Case if the Police Report States I Was Partially at Fault?

Even if you were partially at fault for the accident, it does not necessarily mean you do not have a case. Upon careful case evaluation and review, there could be still grounds for bringing a suit against the other party. In these situations, the maximum amount of your case is reduced by the percentage of your fault. For instance, if it is determined you were 25 percent at fault, you can only file for 75 percent of the total amount. In other words, if your attorney determines your case is potentially worth $100,000, but you were 25 percent at fault, they would only be able to seek a maximum of $75,000 from the other party.

Is It Worth My Time to Consult with Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys?

If you were injured and hurt due to someone else’s fault, you could have grounds for filing a personal injury case through local Los Angeles attorneys. An experienced lawyer is able to help you obtain compensation from the other party’s insurance company to cover your allowed damages. In most cases, these types of claims are fully resolved without ever having to set foot inside a court room.

Most personal injury cases are based on facts and negotiations, rather than actual court proceedings and the supporting laws. Insurance companies do not want negative publicity when they know there was negligence caused by one of their policy holders. Instead, they want to try to come to a reasonable settlement and keep the case from going to court, because they want to limit media exposure.

Insurance companies and their adjusters have their own team of lawyers to help facilitate the arbitration process. Without your own Los Angeles accident attorneys, you run the risk of hurting your case and may even lose or walk away with a smaller amount than you are legally entitled to receive. Your lawyer knows which questions the insurance company and their attorneys are able to ask you and the ones they cannot. In addition, your lawyer is familiar with similar cases and what the acceptable settlement amounts are for your area.

It is better to seek help by scheduling an initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Most law firms offer this initial meeting for free, so there are no out-of-pocket expenses for finding out your legal rights and if you have grounds for a case.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles if Another Person Hurt You

If you believe you were wronged by another party or person in any manner that resulted in sustaining injuries to your body, you might have grounds for filing a personal injury case with an attorney in Los Angeles. The extent of your injuries does not matter, whether they are short term or long term.

For example, your arm or leg could have been broken from an automobile accident. Eventually, your broken bones do heal, but, in the meantime you are left with medical bills and physical therapy. There is also the possibility the bone may not heal correctly, or long term pain and discomfort will persist even after the bone has healed. You might have been unfortunate and received more serious injuries, having lost a limb, having been paralyzed, or requiring ongoing medical care for the rest of your life.

You should not have to be financially responsible to pay for your medical care, treatment and other services on your road to recovery. Further, when your quality of life has been drastically affected, it has a direct impact on your ability to support yourself and your loved ones. The person who caused the accident needs to be held accountable. This is where your Los Angeles personal injury attorney is able to help.

Your lawyer performs a detailed case analysis in order to determine the extent of your legal rights. Next, they gather evidence to support your case before submitting your claim in a court of law. Once your case has been filed, your lawyer works on your behalf to talk to insurance companies and their attorneys, to negotiate an appropriate settlement, and to give you his or her professional legal advice. Based on this advice, it may be necessary to take your case to court, in certain situations, in order to obtain a verdict in your favor from a judge and/or jury.

Practice Areas a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Handles

There can be a wide variety of practice areas and cases a Los Angles personal injury lawyer handles, depending on the law firm. Some attorneys might specialize in only specific cases, such as slip and fall injuries, or automobile and motorcycle accidents, while another attorney has experience in a wider range of areas. For instance, here at Madison Law Group, we have helped people with the following types of cases:

• Auto and Motorcycle Accidents
• Aviation Accident Claims
• Dog Bite Personal Injuries
• Wrongful Death Claims
• Catastrophic Personal Accidents
• Slip and Fall Injures
• Worker’s Compensation Claims
• Medical Malpractice Accident Claims
• Brain and Spinal Cord Personal Claims
• Amputation Accidents
• Baby Crib Defects Claims
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Claims
• Construction Accidents
• Child Injuries
• Swimming Pool Accidents

In addition to these, there are still more types of personal injury cases our Los Angeles lawyer is able to assist you with when you have been injured. To determine whether you have grounds for filing a case, you first need to understand what personal injury is and whether it applies to your situation. First, there has to be another person who contributed negligence or fault to a certain extent, which resulted in your accident. You could still have a claim, even if the other party was only partially responsible. Next, you or your loved one who was injured in some manner often requires medical treatment. You could have also experienced additional pain and suffering or a change in the overall quality of your life and health. If this sounds familiar, it is worth your time to schedule a free consultation and find out your legal rights, as well as determine if you have a case against the other party.

Injured While on Vacation? Contact an Accident Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles

Going on vacation is often fun and exciting for you and your entire family. You get to get out of town, relax, and enjoy the time away from work. Most people like to think nothing bad is going to happen during their vacation. However, the reality is there is no immunity to being injured or hurt by another person’s negligence, even when on vacation. You need to contact a vacation disaster accident injury lawyer in Los Angeles to learn your legal rights and the possible recourse you are able to bring against those responsible for ruining your vacation if you or a loved one were injured while visiting California.

What Sort of Injuries Happen to People on Vacation?

There are literally numerous ways in which you or a family member can be injured during your vacation. You could be involved in an automobile accident while driving or riding in a taxi, bus or other vehicle. You might sustain injuries from an amusement park ride that malfunctioned. You may have slipped and fallen down at your hotel, or might have been attacked in the parking lot. Dealing with these types of claims is especially difficult to deal with after you return home.

Do I Have a Potential Case After Returning Home?

You could still have legal grounds for filing a claim against the other party, no matter where you reside. If you have time before leaving Los Angeles, you should contact our personal injury lawyer immediately to schedule your free consultation. In the event you have already returned home, still contact our office. We can help you over the phone, because we know the area and the popular vacation sites, and are experienced in dealing with a wide range of personal injury claims. Our goal is to help ensure you receive any monetary compensation you are entitled to as a result of being hurt by someone else while on vacation.

Can I Get an Advance on my Settlement from My Slip and Fall Lawyers?

When you file a law suit using slip and fall lawyers, it normally takes time to settle your case. You attorney does understand you may be facing financial difficulties during this time, and there are some things they can do to help. However, they cannot give you an advance on your monetary settlement. But, they are able to help stop bill collectors from constantly calling you by contacting them and informing them you have a pending personal injury case. Often, debt collectors are more willing to work with you after speaking to your attorney. They could either set up an installment plan that fits with your budget, or put off further collection proceedings until you receive your insurance settlement.

How Long Does It Take to Receive My Settlement?

The amount of time it takes to receive your settlement depends on several factors. First and foremost is how inclined the other party’s insurance company and lawyers are at coming to a suitable monetary agreement. If they are being difficult or refuse to negotiate, then your case has to be taken to court where a judge and/or jury decide on a verdict. In most cases, though, they never get to court, because insurance companies would rather settle than have the increased legal expenses associated with court cases.

How Much is My Slip and Fall Case Worth?

The amount you can file for your slip and fall case also depends on a number of aspects, including the extent of your injuries and the amount of fault contributed by the other party. It is very hard to come up with a definite value immediately. Yet, you will be able to find out early enough, as long as you start working with personal injury lawyers following your accident, like us, here at Madison Law Group.

Can I Talk to Insurance Companies after a Personal Injury Accident in Los Angeles?

One common question many people have after being involved in a personal injury accident in Los Angeles is whether they can talk to their or the other party’s insurance company. As much as possible, you should avoid talking to insurance companies. Initially, you do have to contact your insurance provider to tell them about the accident and obtain a claim number. It is okay to supply them with the police report case number, as well as information about the other person who caused the accident, like their name, address and insurance company. However, after you offer this initial information, you need to refrain from talking with them further until you have had time to consult with a personal injury attorney.

If you already know you intend to speak to an accident lawyer, you could inform your insurance company during the initial call, though it is not necessary. If the lawyer believes you have grounds for filing a personal injury suit against the other party, they will contact your insurance company to handle any further interactions.

In addition, if the other party’s insurance provider attempts to contact you directly, you should politely respond to them by saying you are unable to discuss or talk about the case with them at this time. If they inquire why, or press the matter, simply inform them you have scheduled an appointment with an attorney to find out your legal rights, first, and after your initial consultation, either you or your lawyer will be in contact.

Why is all of this important? Insurance companies have their own teams of lawyers on retainer ready to deal with personal injury cases. You should, too, in order to protect your legal rights. Further, anything you tell insurance adjusters in detail or elaborate on could have an impact on the type of personal injury settlement you may be entitled to receive as you run the risk of it being used against you later.

Preparing for Your Visit to Your Los Angeles Accident Lawyer

There are several items you need to remember to bring along with you for your initial visit to your Los Angeles accident lawyer. To help prepare, your attorney or their legal assistant will normally tell you what they require. It is a good idea to make your own list, if one is not sent to you ahead of your appointment. You should also get a three-ring spiral-bound folder with pockets for keeping all the materials related to your personal injury case.

A common list of items your Los Angeles attorney lawyer may ask you to bring could include:

• A copy of the police report or your case number.
• A copy of the accident report for accidents where a police report is not created, like if you were injured in a retail store or while at work.
• Medical records related to your injuries or a release form provided by your lawyer so they are able to obtain copies.
• Copies of medical bills that you have received from your emergency room visit, hospitalization, and office visits to your doctor for treating your injuries.
• Receipts for related out-of-pockets medical expenses, such as prescriptions and medical devices.
• A written account of the accident in your own words. It often helps to recall events more accurately as you write it down on paper. You may remember certain details you would otherwise forget when giving a verbal report to your attorney.
• A list for other expenses you have incurred as the result of your personal injury. This could include transportation expenses, lost wages from your job, and other such items. If you are unsure about an expense, go ahead and put it on your list. Your attorney will let you know whether it can be recovered through your lawsuit.

A Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Handles Loss of Life Cases

Sometimes people experience life-altering events which leave them in a state of financial distress, due to the loss of a loved one and their financial support. You and your partner may not have prepared ahead of time, and the reason for the loss could catch you completely off guard. Unlike terminal medical conditions, where you have time to plan and prepare, you are not afforded this opportunity with certain types of accidents.

For example, your spouse may have been at work, on the job, and a piece of machinery or equipment malfunctioned, resulting in serious injuries and their eventual death. Who is to blame for this accident? Their employer could be held accountable for the accident and their death, if they were aware of unfavorable working conditions or other such details but failed to take steps to correct the problems. The equipment or machinery manufacturer might also be responsible, such as if it was defective. When a life is lost due to the negligence of another, you can have grounds for filing a personal injury case with the help of a local Los Angeles attorney.

Even though you might have life insurance, it may not be enough to help you adjust financially. You also do not want to give up your legal rights if the employer or the manufacturer were at fault for the death of your loved one. Your Los Angeles attorney understands this is a difficult time in your life, and wants to do everything he can to help, including seeking the maximum amount of monetary damages as possible under the law, when you have grounds for a personal injury law suit.