Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer to Represent You
Injury attorneys are unique commodities. For those old enough to remember the Seinfeld TV show (is it really that old?) you’ll recall the episode with the library cop (named Bookman) who tells Jerry to get some instant coffee because you put it on a shelf and forget about it…until you need coffee. The same is true of the injury lawyer. Most people don’t think about this type of attorney until an accident occurs. Someone is injured in a car crash or suffers a slip and fall somewhere here in Orange County. Once that happens then the search for a good lawyer begins.
Do You Always Need a Lawyer After an Accident?
The short answer is no. There are going to be instances where you don’t need legal representation. In some cases, notably medical malpractice cases, an attorney may weigh the pros and cons of your circumstances and depending on the severity of the injury and many other criteria and will tell you honestly that the case is not viable or that it would take more resources to litigate the case than could be expected in a settlement or award.
On the other hand, however, it makes sense to consult with an injury lawyer following an injury as a type of precaution for a number of reasons. Especially in the case of car accidents, the injuries you may have suffered may not yet be apparent. As I wrote in a recent injury law post it sometimes takes time for the effects of certain injuries to manifest themselves. On a related note, if you do “cover the bases” by consulting early on with a personal injury attorney, he or she will urge you to see a medical specialist precisely to determine the extent of any injuries. The reason is twofold: one, we’ll be able to see exactly what your injuries are and two, the earlier an injury is diagnosed, the better the chances for successful treatment. Regardless of any monetary issues, the desired goal is a full recovery.
Truck accident on Tustin, CA freeway
In the case of motorcycle accidents or other vehicle accidents, hiring an attorney as soon as possible will give the attorney an opportunity to inspect the scene of the accident if need be. Yes, you should seek treatment immediately for sustained injuries but enlisting legal representation early on may give your lawyer extra “ammo” in the form of fresh evidence that can be used later in legal proceedings. Waiting too long means that accident or crash site will be cleaned up and possible evidence removed. If a person is injured so badly in such cases, it may be a family member who seeks legal representation for the victim while the victim remains in the hospital. I can speak from personal experience in this regard. Since my practice is based in Orange County (Tustin, CA) I have actually gone to the scene of recent accidents in which my clients were involved to investigate the scene myself. A competent attorney knows that there is no substitute for personal experience or first-hand knowledge of an accident scene.
Time Limits on Personal Injury Cases
There’s another aspect to hiring injury lawyers and that is statutes of limitation. In some cases—sexual molestation and medical malpractice to name two—there are limits (amounts of time declared in the laws regarding these areas) as to when you can file a claim against someone for some wrongdoing or injury. The earlier you decide to work with an injury lawyer, the better. Some cases may take months or years to litigate so the earlier you hire an attorney, the less time you’ll have to wait for that outcome. In cases such as brain injuries, victims and their families are understandably anxious to receive full and fair compensation as quickly as possible so that the injured person may get on with their life (including any ongoing medical or life care that’s needed) as soon as possible.
With all that said, I hope it makes sense that conferring with an attorney as soon as possible is a smart move. Because you pay nothing for a consultation and case evaluation, the risks are none and the possible rewards (monetary, time, etc.) may be great. Because an injury attorney works on a contingency basis (charging fees after winning a case or reaching a settlement) it makes great sense to talk to a local Tustin injury lawyer. If I can take the liberty of sounding my own horn, I’d suggest that my firm, Kyle Scott Law, should be your first choice in Orange County injury cases. I won’t belabor the point but you can have confidence in my 30 years of personal injury legal practice. If you or a loved one has been hurt in Tustin, Anaheim, Santa Ana or any other Orange County city, please call me at 714-544-1460.