Should you sue for a personal injury?
A personal injury lawsuit is a legal action taken by someone who has been injured as the result of negligence or wrongful conduct on the part of an individual, company, or any party who bears possible liability for those injuries. The purpose of filing a personal injury lawsuit is to obtain monetary compensation to pay for any expenses that you have incurred as a result of your injuries. Damages from personal injury can include:
- pain and suffering
- lost wages and impairment of earning capacity
- the cost of necessary medical treatment and all related expenses
- loss of consortium
- loss of enjoyment
- mental suffering and anguish
Personal injuries can happen anywhere – at work, while driving your car, at the hospital- even while you’re walking down the street. Work-related diseases, such as asbestosis, are also categorized as personal injuries.
Personal injury litigation can be complicated and the laws surrounding them, such as statute of limitations, can vary from state to state. Therefore, it is important for you to secure the services of a personal injury attorney who has expertise in handling these types of lawsuits.
Can you afford not be compensated?
The job of a personal injury attorney is to prove that the defendant in the case was negligent in his/her actions which resulted in injuries to you, the plaintiff. In a personal injury lawsuit, damages are paid to the plaintiff by an individual or company that has been found to be legally responsible.
Damages can be awarded through a negotiated settlement among the plaintiff, the attorneys involved in the case, the defendant and/or his insurer. The majority of the proposed settlement will be for medical costs and lost earnings. Your attorney may also ask for punitive damages which is money awarded above and beyond the actual damages in an effort to “punish” the defendant.
Reaching an out-of-court settlement can help you avoid time and money involved in a trial. However, if a settlement is not enough to compensate you for the severity of your injuries and lost wages, then your attorney and you will want to take your case to trial. In most personal injury cases, an attorney works on a contingency fee basis which means that fees will be deducted from the final settlement amount or from the final verdict amount in the case of a trial. Most contingency fees are between 33-40%.
The law offices of Gregory A. Yates
If you find yourself in need of the services of a personal injury attorney, look no further than the offices of Los Angeles personal and catastrophic injury lawyer, Gregory Yates. Serving Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernadino counties, Mr. Yates is well-known for fighting complex cases on the behalf of injured victims and their families With more than 30 years of experience, Greg Yates and his associates can offer personalized, compassionate advice and counsel in an effort to achieve the best possible result for you.
The law offices of Gregory Yates have successfully recovered millions of dollars on the behalf of their clients in personal injury settlements, awards, and jury verdicts. Call the offices of Greg Yates, located in Encino, to schedule a consultation.