It’s a common question we often hear in our office: what is a personal injury claim? Well, if you’ve been the victim of a personal injury accident, you may be advised to file a personal injury claim. But if you’ve never done so before, you may be confused as to what this legal procedure actually involves. Essentially, a personal injury claim is a legal dispute when one party has been injured or harmed by the negligent actions of another party.
In this blog, we’re taking a closer look at personal injury claims to better understand this specific type of lawsuit. We also review common types of personal injury claims and how a personal injury lawyer can help you with every step of your claim. When faced with the complexities of a lawsuit, you should never have to pursue your claim alone.
Table of Contents
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a lawsuit filed for an individual who has suffered harm as the result of the negligence of another party. This party could be another person, business, or government organization. A personal injury claim seeks damages, generally, in the form of financial compensation, which is usually paid out by the insurance provider of the negligent party. These damages may include any medical expenses and compensation for emotional or physical pain and suffering.
Working with an experienced personal injury attorney is advisable when filing a personal injury claim. They can evaluate your claim, assess its true value, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive fair compensation. With the assistance of a personal injury lawyer, a personal injury lawsuit is generally handled in one of two ways: an informal settlement or a formal lawsuit.
An informal settlement, which is much more common for these types of claims, involves a series of negotiations between the parties. A Denver personal injury attorney can handle these negotiations on your behalf. The negotiations may also include insurance representatives to help determine a fair settlement. Once a settlement has been reached, the parties will sign a written agreement to prevent further legal action, like a formal lawsuit, from being pursued.
On the other hand, a formal lawsuit is the approach taken when the parties cannot agree on a fair settlement. Unlike a criminal case, a personal injury lawsuit begins when a private individual, known as the plaintiff, files a civil complaint against the negligent party, known as the defendant. This lawsuit, or claim, alleges that the defendant acted in a negligent manner to cause injury or harm.
What are the Common Types of Personal Injury Claims?
Since personal injury law covers a wide range of cases, many different types of personal injury claims exist. As the victim, it can be confusing to know whether or not your claim falls under personal injury law. The easiest way to find out is to give us a call or visit us online to schedule a free consultation. Since the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm operates strictly on contingency fees, your only risk is a few minutes of your time. Call Paul to find out if you have a viable personal injury claim.
With years of experience representing personal injury lawsuits, we’ve seen it all. But many of the most common types of personal injury claims include:
- Car accidents in Denver
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Texting while driving accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Head and neck injuries
- Wrongful death suits
- Bad faith insurance
What Damages Can Be Recovered from a Personal Injury Claim?
When filing a personal injury claim, the intent is to recover damages from the negligent party. These damages can take many different forms to attempt to right the wrong of the negligent individual or business. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can improve your chances of receiving financial compensation for your injuries.
Some of the most common damages that may be recovered from a personal injury lawsuit include the following:
- Physical or emotional pain and suffering
- Medical expenses related to the accident
- Recovery of lost wages
- Punitive damages
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help?
When pursuing legal action, you shouldn’t take this important step alone. Few of us outside of the legal profession have the necessary experience and knowledge to successfully file and navigate a personal injury claim. That’s why you should call on a local personal injury law firm.
By hiring a personal injury attorney to represent your interests, you’ll have an expert who can offer you legal advice and determine the best course of action for your specific case. They will help you meet deadlines, file important paperwork, and negotiate with other lawyers and insurance representatives on your behalf. They will also represent you in court and defend you at trial if necessary. When you hire a personal injury attorney for legal representation, they will be able to improve your chances of success in the following ways:
- Provide a free consultation to see if you have a viable claim
- Assess the fair and full financial compensation for your injuries
- File paperwork and documents
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Ensure you meet important deadlines
- Negotiate with other lawyers (or insurance representatives) on your behalf
- If needed, represent you in court
Conclusion – What is a Personal Injury Claim?
The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm is here to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries. We pride ourselves on educating our clients on the specifics of their personal injury claims so they can know what to expect. Whether you were in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, our team of experienced Colorado personal injury attorneys can help. Even if you believe you were partially at fault, give us a call. We can help you determine the best course of action for your claim with a free consultation.
To ensure you receive fair and full compensation, you should call on an experienced personal injury attorney.
Contact the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation and uncover the best options available for you and your case.
For more information, call (303) 333-7285. Together, following a personal injury accident, we can get you on the road to recovery.
The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm is a team of personal injury attorneys in Denver, CO serving victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents. Each of our lawyers is licensed with the Colorado State Bar (CBA) and specialize in injury law.
We've recovered tens of millions of dollars in personal injury settlements and verdicts for our clients. For 13+ years we've helped thousands of people get back on their feet after experiencing serious injuries. We will take your case to trial and get the maximum settlement possible.
