Your personal injury claims can be a circus of stressful, confusing, and honest truth, which can be very headache-inducing. If someone ran into you on the road or slipped through one of the concealed puddles in the market, understanding your rights in Colorado can make all the difference.
“This is where attorneys come in. They are there for you when you are trying to make sense of this mess of law,” says Colorado personal injury lawyer Amy Gaiennie of Amy G Injury firm.
This guide summarizes what your lawyer would want you to know when you are suing for personal injury.
Determining If You Have a Claim
Just because you were in an accident does not necessarily mean you can go walking into court. You will be required to show that the other side had some obligation towards you of care, they had breached it, and they had injured you.
It is best to discuss this with an attorney when you are unsure whether you have a lawsuit material or not. They will be truthful with you on whether you are wasting time or if you can go to court.
Evidence Truly Defines the Strength of Your Case
It is all about paperwork if you ever want things to go in your direction. We are talking pictures, doctor reports, cop reports, the whole nine yards. Document the images of your injured leg, get the name of that unknown individual who witnessed the whole thing go down, whatever you can document as it happens.
Document it all, receipts, hospital bills, pay stubs, and that costly estimate you got at the repair shop. What you have documented will help your lawyer when they represent your case. Do not take it easy and think things will work themselves out; provide your lawyer with what they need, and they will go to bat for you.
Understanding Valuation of Compensation and Damages
Damages are not arbitrary but comprise payment for hospital bills, wages, damages for property, pain, and suffering.
Your attorney bases an estimate on how your injuries affect your day-to-day life. If you were disabled and you did not work for some period or had repeat physical therapy expenses, losses certainly do come into the equation in court.
Expert testimony may occasionally enter the picture as well. These can be economists or doctors as witnesses to support assertions regarding future losses or damages.
The Opposition Will Counterattack with All Its Might
The opposing party is not going to simply hand you a large check just because you asked for it. They will scratch and claw for their money. They will deny your damages, pretend you tripped and fell over your shoelaces, or offer you a token settlement that would hardly pay for your cup of coffee, never mind your hospital bill.
This is where your attorney steps in. He or she has seen it all and all the backhanded scheming. Your lawyer will work to collect every dollar you are owed, by pushing back against all the mumbo-jumbo and resistance you receive from the other side.
It Matters Who Your Lawyer Is
Most personal injury claims settle through negotiation. But negotiations may go south, and before you know it, you are sprinting towards trial, and there it can get out of hand very quickly. What you require in this instance is someone with knowledge at both ends of the scale, someone who has negotiation expertise but can also stand firm if things escalate into court battles.
It has nothing to do with flashy offices and how many diplomas are hung when you are seeking a lawyer. Look for battle scars, specialization in personal injury, and, in all reality, someone who has compassion for you. Your lawyer can either make or break the difference between receiving what you are owed or being short-handed.