Things to Avoid When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury cases are a lot like cases where the defendant wins a legal battle, with either compensation or an outright win. Personal injury lawyers win in court, not necessarily because of their professional competency, or abilities, but rather because they are able to present a case that tends to benefit them more than their opponent. Of course, in this particular case, this may be the only possible way to win, unless there is some sort of ‘go along to get along’ agreement between the two attorneys. Here’s a look at how the two might operate.
When the plaintiff is suing for personal injury caused by someone else, a personal injury lawyer usually represents the client in such proceedings. This means that he will receive fees and expenses and will provide a good deal of expertise in his case. However, it also means that he will do much of the legwork and work on behalf of the client, communicating with doctors, insurance companies, attorneys, and other parties to help the plaintiff with settlement arrangements. To learn more about this, click here.
An accident lawyer, on the other hand, may work in conjunction with the plaintiff’s lawyer and take on other clients’ cases. This means that he will receive compensation for his services, in the form of money. Normally, the injury or accident was caused by another party who was intoxicated at the time, is covered under workers’ compensation laws, or was otherwise at fault. The accident lawyer will present the facts of the case to the injury victim in an attempt to persuade the insurance company to settle the case for the victim.
However, as any accident lawyer knows, money doesn’t always equate to victory. This means that an accident lawyer will often bargain with the insurance company in order to obtain a lower settlement for the injured party. He may ask for a ‘hardship fee’ if the client isn’t able to complete the full amount of medical expenses on time.
An accident lawyer will also take up work that might be unprofitable or not financially viable. In such cases, the attorney may be called upon to consult with the injured party about various legal and financial options. For example, he might consult with the victim about possible income replacement, perhaps through rehabilitation or employment training. If a settlement isn’t achieved, he might even advise the client on the best way to collect payment.
A compensation lawyer, on the other hand, generally represents the victim. As the victim would, the compensation lawyer will argue for the victim’s rights in court. If the injury occurred while the victim was out of work, a compensation lawyer will represent the victim in legal proceedings that affect both the victim and his or her employer. The compensation lawyer would argue for any benefits the victim would receive as a result of his or her injury, including disability or wages lost, along with any personal injury settlements for which the employee has already been awarded.
In general, the personal injury lawyer represents the victim, the accident lawyer represents the defendant, and the compensation lawyer represents the victim’s interests. The case would be a lot different, however, if one of the attorneys were representing the victim, but not the defendant. Contact the Personal Injury Attorney in Massachusetts for more information about this.
