What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do and Why is it Beneficial to Hire One?

Bringing Forth a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Pennsylvania

When people want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against a party that has harmed them, it is often suggested that they seek legal representation. However, not many people who want to bring a personal injury lawsuit know exactly what a personal injury attorney does and why it is beneficial to hire one. Here, we give you a brief synopsis of what a personal injury attorney does and why it is advantageous to hire one to represent you.

What Can a Personal Injury Attorney Do for You?

When a personal injury attorney is hired to represent you, the attorney becomes both your advocate and your investigator. Depending on the type of personal injury case you are advancing and the stage at which you hire a personal injury attorney, the attorney’s job will include performing the following tasks to ensure you get the monetary compensation you deserve:

Gathering Evidence

In order to determine how to proceed in the case, it is necessary to gather all of the evidence that supports your case and to also be aware of any evidence that will hurt your case. A personal injury attorney will gather evidence that both helps and hurts your case, and, from there, will devise a legal strategy that will provide you with the best chances of receiving a favorable outcome in your case. To gather evidence, a personal injury attorney may obtain copies of any police reports or incident reports generated that detail the accident. He or she will also track down any people who witnessed the accident and procure witness statements from them concerning the accident. Depending on the type of personal injury case that is being advanced, a personal injury attorney may procure the services of an expert witness to show how and why the defendant caused your injuries, will make discovery requests and issue subpoenas to obtain evidence held solely by the defendant, and may even hire a private investigator to discover details of the case that are not known by you or the defendant.

Draft Settlement Demand Letters on Your Behalf

If you were injured in a car accident or slipped and fell on a property that is insured by an insurance company, the quickest way to obtain monetary compensation for your injuries and property damage is to file an insurance claim with the at-fault person’s insurance carrier. However, some insurance adjusters are not inclined to enter settlement negotiations right away and try to drag the process out so that you settle for less money. A personal injury attorney knows how insurance companies operate and have the skills required to get the insurance company to start settlement negotiations. One way personal injury attorneys do this is by drafting settlement demand letters on behalf of clients. This letter will persuasively outline the facts and evidence of the case, and based on these facts and evidence, request that the insurance company pay a specific amount of monetary damages to their respective client.

If you want to bypass the insurance claim process and want to hold the at-fault party responsible for the injuries and property damage he or she caused you, you may file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party in court. If you choose this route, you may still enter into settlement negotiations with the at-fault party before the case goes to trial. If you would like to do so, a personal injury attorney can also draft a settlement demand letter on your behalf to start settlement negotiations with the other party.

Advocate for You During Settlement Negotiations

Entering into settlement negotiations can be daunting especially when you are negotiating with experienced insurance adjusters or attorneys who are very familiar with the insurance claims or litigation process. Because personal injury attorneys enter into settlement negotiations on a regular basis on behalf of clients, personal injury attorneys are familiar with both the insurance claims or litigation process and can skillfully advocate on your behalf with the insurance adjuster or opposing counsel during settlement negotiations to ensure you are getting a fair settlement offer.

Draft Pleadings on Your Behalf

If you pursue a personal injury lawsuit in court against the at-fault party, you will need to submit pleadings on your behalf that sufficiently outline the facts of the case and under what legal theory you are seeking relief. These pleadings must comply with certain procedural and substantive law requirements. If they do not, a court may declare the pleading to be deficient and can dismiss your lawsuit. A personal injury attorney know how to draft pleadings that meet the procedural and substantive law requirements so that your case may advance to trial.

Representation at Trial

In addition to drafting procedurally sound pleadings, a personal injury attorney will represent you at trial if your case proceeds to this stage. At trial, the personal injury attorney will make an opening statement on your behalf, persuasively present the evidence that supports your case to the judge or jury, rebut evidence presented by the opposing party that hurts your case, make a convincing closing argument on your behalf stating why you should win the case, and can make motions and objections that prevent the opposing party from presenting evidence that could hurt your case.

Contact an Erie Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Personal Injury Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to another’s wrongful actions in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Purchase George & Murphey P.C. represent clients injured because of others’ wrongful actions in Erie, North East, Meadville, Titusville, and throughout Pennsylvania. Call (814) 273-2010 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2525 W. 26th Street, Erie, PA 16506, as well as offices in North East, PA and Meadville, PA.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.