Personal Injury
Personal injury is a serious matter. An individual involved in an accident due to the negligence of another individual or organization has the right to seek damages. Personal Injury cases vary by case. No two cases are the same. If you’ve been involved in a personal injury accident, consulting a personal injury attorney in Lewiston, ME can be extremely beneficial.
Contrary to popular belief, it is wise to seek the legal assistance of a personal injury attorney. Many people will advocate against it and tell you that you can file all the paperwork and deal with the insurance companies on your own. However, doing so will cause a great disservice to your case and pending compensation. Personal injury attorneys are equipped to deal with the challenging system that insurance companies and at-fault attorneys have in place to safeguard their assets and money. Many variables can be argued on your behalf to benefit your claim that only an experienced attorney will be able to recognize and use. Not everyone has the knowledge and know-how to present their claim that results in a viable compensation.
Unfortunately, when people try to handle their own personal injury claim, they learn the hard way that they could have received a much higher compensation payout. They realize that the arguments and statements presented to the insurance company or at-fault attorneys caused more damage than help. Insurance companies and at-fault attorneys will try to use anything you give them against you.
It is important to remember that insurance companies are not your friend. They are in the business to make money. When a claim is filed against them, they will try to push you into a quick settlement. Don’t let the settlement amount fool you. The amount they present to you is much lower than the amount you can get for lost wages, subsequent medical treatments, and pain and suffering. The at-fault insurance companies and attorneys do not consider or include these factors in the settlement that they’ve prepared for you. If you hire a personal injury attorney in Lewiston, ME, such as Michael L. Dubois, he will fight for your case and ensure that you receive the settlement that you deserve.
Often, parties involved in an accident share the fault. In Maine, a modified comparative fault rule applies to resolve such cases. If a party is partly responsible for his or her injuries, their damages and compensation can be significantly reduced or nonexistent, especially if they do not have adequate representation. The other parties’ representation will ensure that most of the fault falls upon the other person, even if that’s not the case, so they aren’t able to claim any damages from the other party. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney will not let that happen. They will make sure that your rights are protected.
How Is Personal Injury Defined In The State Of Maine?
The area of personal injury law begins with the concept that someone has a duty of care. Without that duty of care, no responsibility can be assigned to a person. For example, when we are driving an automobile, we have a duty to operate our vehicle in a safe, prudent manner following the rules of the road so that we don’t cause an accident. If we fail to honor that duty and cause an accident can be held responsible for any damages.
The area of personal injury is very broad and not limited to automobile accidents. We handle all types of personal injury cases. It could be a medical malpractice case, an automobile accident case, a premise liability case, a slip and fall case, a motorcycle accident or a boating accident case. There are no limitations. A personal injury claim is a claim you assert against someone you feel is responsible for your injury, either physically or emotionally.
The compensation you are entitled to receive under Maine law is the reasonable costs associated with that particular injury. The responsible party will be responsible for your related medical bills, whether they were paid by insurance or not. You are entitled to any lost wages. You are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Any money award is largely dependent upon your specific facts and circumstances.
Should I Keep A Log Or Journal Of Events Following An Injury In Maine?
It’s important to have a way to keep a record of the things that have occurred during the course of your rehabilitation to show how an injury has impacted your life. You want to be able to remember these events as time goes by, especially since we all have a tendency to forget. Keeping a log of how the injury has impacted your daily activities can be very helpful in recalling specific instances of how the injury has impacted your life.
What Is The Timeframe Of Resolution For A Typical Personal Injury Case?
The time it takes to resolve a case varies. Maine has a six-year statute of limitations, generally, but there are exceptions. You should consult with a lawyer because some actions have lesser limitation periods. The most important step you can take is making sure you are treated for your injuries. The length of your treatment is dependent upon the nature and extent of your injuries. This will dictate how long as case will be pending because resolving a case will prevent you from seeking additional compensation if your injuries give you future trouble. You should receive treatment until you have achieved an end result from a medical treatment standpoint.
Your case is evaluated to determine a reasonable dollar figure as compensation for your loss. This will include the nature and extent of the injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life as well as past and future medical expenses necessitated by the incident.
Initial negotiations are commenced in an effort to resolve a case without a lawsuit. If the parties are able to resolve the case by agreement, then releases are exchanged, and checks are sent. If no agreement is reached, a lawsuit is filed.
How Soon Should I seek Medical Treatment After An Injury?
There is no hard and fast rule on when you should seek medical treatment but the sooner you seek medical treatment following an injury, the clearer it becomes, in terms of causation, that this particular accident caused this particular injury. Certainly, if you wait, that will go towards diminishing the nature and extent of your injuries and introduce the possibility of a subsequent event causing the injury.
Your skilled personal injury attorney will communicate with the at-fault party on your behalf. They will file all necessary paperwork and present an aggressive case that will result in a favorable outcome. Don’t settle on your own. Consult with a personal injury attorney in Lewiston, ME right after you’ve been involved in a personal injury accident.
For more information on Personal Injury Cases In The State Of Maine, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (207) 408-3636 today.
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