3 Reasons to Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are injured because of another person’s actions, you should consult a personal injury attorney. Whether it’s an accident, negligence, or wrongdoing, if another person is at fault for your injuries, you need to ensure you’re adequately protected and compensated.

Injuries can happen for a host of reasons, and sometimes it’s hard to know when you should discuss your case with a lawyer. Here are three important instances when you should seriously consider hiring a personal injury attorney.

#1. Another Person Injures You in a Car Accident

In 2020, there were over 2.1 million emergency room visits due to motor vehicle accidents. This staggering statistic shows that accidents are far too common and incredibly dangerous. If you are involved in a car accident caused by another person, you need to get in touch with a personal injury attorney. 

Your attorney can help hold the at-fault driver and their insurance company accountable for the damages to your vehicle, as well as the associated medical costs for your recovery. Unfortunately, many insurance companies will fight against personal injury claims and attempt to deny or shift blame. An experienced lawyer knows how to combat these attempts to block victims from receiving proper compensation.

Many drivers are also uninsured or underinsured, so you may have to work with your insurance company in the event the at-fault driver doesn’t have the proper insurance coverage in place.

#2. You Suffer Injuries at an Event or Location Outside Your Home

Our office successfully negotiated a settlement for an individual who was seriously injured during a guided horseback ride in Griffith Park. While events or physical activities like horseback riding typically require a waiver that releases the host/owner from liability, there are still circumstances when a claim can successfully be made. 

Premises liability is also a common personal injury claim, meaning that the owner of a property has a duty to ensure there are no unsafe or defective elements on the premises. This can occur when someone slips and falls due to the presence of water or ice, trips over unsafe materials, and more. Many personal injury cases result from an individual or company neglecting to maintain a safe property.

#3. You Are Injured by a Defective Product

Let’s say you buy a new blender and the first time you use it, a piece breaks off and injures you. You may be able to claim damages by stating that you received a defective product from the blender manufacturer. It’s important to note that if a defective product injures you, you only need to prove that the product was defective, not that the manufacturer was negligent. 

Product liability cases span a wide range of causes, like tobacco products, automobile parts, medical implants and tools, building materials, and much more. Some of the largest settlements in the United States have been related to product liability. 

Bottom Line

Don’t stay on the fence if you were injured due to someone else’s actions. In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years – it varies in other locations. If you wait too long, you won’t be able to recoup damages for your injuries. 

Our team has experience handling many personal injury cases, so get in touch with McGonigle Law if you have questions about your situation. 

The information contained herein is for general purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.