There's a reason some lawyers are derisively referred to "ambulance chasers." These much-maligned attorneys reputedly obtain their clients by persuading accident victims to sue for damages. However, the truth is that personal injury lawyers seldom have to search for work. New clients are almost always found through referrals or requested consultations. Determining Legal Liability An accident is only an accident in the eyes of the law if both parties were to blame. If one party was careless or negligent, they may be held legally responsible for bodily injuries and damage to property. An everyday example of a liability case would be a car crash where one party was hurt because the other driver was careless. Whether they were talking on a cell phone, ran a red light, or rolled through a stop sign, legal liability can be established if the police officer at the scene determined that one party was clearly to blame for the collision. Other Accidents According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 32 million ER visits due to accidents each year in the United States. About fifteen percent of them involve automobiles, and the rest are ordinary mishaps that may or may not in include varying degrees of liability. Determining whether someone else is to blame for your injuries isn't always easy. For example, let's say that you slip and fall at your local supermarket and break your hip. If the area was clearly cordoned off with cones and/or tape that alerted customers to the danger, the store may not be legally responsible. But if no attempt was made to keep shoppers from the area, liability may be established. More complicated personal injury cases include medical malpractice, defective products, and workplace mishaps. Those are cases that often involve expert testimony and several witnesses. When To Contact An Attorney If you are hurt in an accident and someone else is at fault, it is probably a good idea to at least contact a personal injury lawyer. Most offer free initial consultations for prospective clients, in which the lawyer will determine legal liability, if there is any. It is also important to consider the following questions: -Have you been offered a settlement by the negligent party or his/her insurance provider? -Do you understand your own insurance coverage? -Have you missed more than a few days of work because of your injuries? -Is there any chance that your impairment may be permanent? -Was your neck, back, or head hurt in any way? Don't Settle Too Soon! The number one mistake most accident victims make is that they go for the fast cash. The negligent party or his or her insurance company waves a fat check in front of them, and they sign on the dotted line. In doing so, they waive their right to sue in the future. In some cases, they get lucky and make out okay. In others, however, their injuries are later diagnosed as chronic ones that they will struggle with for the rest of their lives. In other words, the negligent party got off cheap and only paid a fraction of what he or she really owed. It is for this reason, and many more, that it is always best to contact a reputable personal injury lawyer before you agree to anything. When looking for a personal injury lawyer, Cleveland, Ohio residents visit Robert J. Garrity, Attorney at Law. Learn more about our services at http://robertgarritylaw.com.
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