Question 1

Is it worth it to get a personal injury lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Often insurance companies take advantage of unrepresented claimants, so hiring a legal professional can help with your claim. Personal injury lawyers have experience handling complex cases involving insurance companies and potentially filing a lawsuit to achieve a fair judgement. A good PI attorney will also have a deep understanding of the negotiation process to settle your case for the most money its worth.

Question 2

What is a personal injury claim?

Accepted Answer

A personal injury claim is a legal process that seeks monetary damages for any injury suffered by a person or party for both intentional and unintentional injuries. A person who was injured because of someone else's negligence or recklessness may be entitled to file a personal injury claim and seek damages from that person or entity. Personal injury claims can refer to a number of different types of claims, but the most common type of personal injury claim is one involving a car accident. Personal injury claims are always built around negligent acts on the part of the negligent party. The form of compensation for personal injury cases can vary depending on the specific case.

Question 3

What is a personal injury?

Accepted Answer

A personal injury is a type of injury that is caused outside of the workplace, typically it involves a personal mishap or negligence. The most common examples of personal injuries are car accidents or slip and falls, but they can include injuries from a medical mistake, dog bite, or other injuries resulting from someone else's negligence or carelessness. Injuries like these can cause a lot of stress and even lead to financial problems.

Question 4

What kinds of cases do personal injury lawyers handle?

Accepted Answer

Personal injury lawyers handle a wide range of cases including car accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, dog bites, wrongful death, and slip-and-fall. A personal injury lawyer should be able to advise you on any case involving an injury suffered outside of the workplace (though not always, do check) from a negligent party or person.

Question 5

How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?

Accepted Answer

I always say, “Talk to my people.” My owners are great people and quality lawyers. And over time, I’ve noticed it’s best to discuss the details of your individual case with a skilled attorney to fully answer this question. That said, normally you need to show that your injury was caused by the negligence of another.

Question 6

What is negligence in personal injury law?

Accepted Answer

Negligence is a legal term referring to the standard of care that is owed to other people. Basically it’s not doing what you should do.

Question 7

How much is my personal injury case worth?

Accepted Answer

We can’t tell you how much your case is worth before we know details. Furthermore, there is no firm rule to determine what your case is worth. We will work directly with you to determine what damages you have suffered and what is realistic based upon our considerable experience handling claims and the injuries you have suffered.

Question 8

When is the best time to hire a personal injury attorney?

Accepted Answer

It is best to contact an attorney as soon as you have been involved in an accident or been injured by another. Why? The law prohibits claims after a certain period of time. Plus, there is literally no time like the present to obtain accurate witness statements and investigation — tasks you will perform much better with the help of a personal injury attorney. Tacoma residents just like you are living with pain and have no chance to seek recompense because they waited too long to do something.

Question 9

How long do I have to make a claim for personal injury?

Accepted Answer

All states have “statute of limitations or a time period in which you can legally bring a claim. In Washington, it is generally three years from the date of the accident. However, in some circumstances it may be sooner, especially if the defendant is a federal agency or tribal entity.

Question 10

How long will it take to settle my claim?

Accepted Answer

Your settlement may take a while but that’s probably a good thing. It is important to not settle the claim too quickly, because the full extent of your injury may not be known right away. Our attorneys at the Helland Law Group can help you determine the time period for settling your claim. Generally speaking, our office likes to strike a nice balance between giving you enough time to heal and making sure we settle before the statute of limitations runs out (the legal time period wherein your claim is allowed).

Question 11

How can I afford to pay for an attorney?

Accepted Answer

Relax. At Helland Law Group, my owners handle most personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis. This means that all fees are deducted from any proceeds that you may receive at the end of your case.

Question 12

Who will pay my medical bills?

Accepted Answer

If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) it may cover all or part of your medical bills associated with your accident; however, this varies with each individual policy and accident. If PIP covers some or all of your medical bills, you may be required to reimburse the provider at the conclusion of your claim. However, we are often able to negotiate the amount of the reimbursement owed to PIP or the medical provider. If PIP does not cover the accident, your own healthcare insurance may pay the bills. If you do not have any form of PIP coverage, or health insurance, you may be solely liable to pay all your own medical expenses.

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