November 05, 2013

Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles if You Were Hurt in an Accident

When you have been involved in an accident where you sustained personal injuries, it may be worth your time to talk to an accident lawyer in Los Angeles. Most law firms offer a free consultation to determine whether you have grounds for filing a case against the other party’s insurance. Prior to your consultation, you should gather any relevant information, such as police reports and medical reports. Having this information available to present to your attorney helps him to determine whether the other party was at fault. In addition, it is used to establish the value of your case after a full evaluation.

During your free consultation, your accident lawyer in Los Angeles will look to see if there was any negligence which resulted in your injuries. Negligence is important, because if there is none present, you do not have a claim. However, if the other party was at least partially at fault, you can still have grounds. For example, if the police report states you were equally at fault, you could file a claim to recover 50 percent of the value of your case. What this means, is if your case was worth $100,000 when the other party is 100 percent at fault, you would be entitled to seek $50,000, because they were only 50 percent at fault.

It is important to mention you need to be cautious if an attorney tells you upfront what the value of your case is, without taking the time to perform an evaluation. To properly evaluate your case and determine the maximum amount, it takes time, effort, and experience. Further, your lawyer may retain professional experts, such as pain management specialists, life care planners, surgeons, and liability experts, in order to maximize the value of your case.