Have you been injured in an accident? Are you wondering what your options are and whether you're entitled to any money? Since every case will be different, consulting with a lawyer is the only way to find out whether or not you have any legal options. But before you actually hire an attorney, here are some questions that you should ask:
How long do I have to file a case? The answer to this is going to depend on a few factors, such as what state the case will be filed in. If you hire a personal injury attorney in North Carolina, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of the accident. On the other hand, if you lived in Louisiana, the statute of limitations would be only one year. A good attorney will be able to explain exactly how this time limit applies to your case and exactly how long you now have to gather crucial documentation.
Do I have a good case? Not every instance of injury is grounds for a lawsuit. If you were injured as a direct result of something you yourself did, you may not have much of a case. On the other hand, if you were harmed by the actions of another person, you may have a strong case. A good personal injury attorney will explain exactly why you have a good case or a weak case.
How much do you charge? Sometimes, a personal injury attorney will charge by the hour. Other lawyers will charge a fee only as a percentage of whatever settlement you get from your lawsuit. In addition, some attorneys may charge a retainer fee, so that they know that you're serious about the lawsuit, even if the majority of their money will come from whatever they win you in court. Knowing ahead of time exactly what to expect when it comes to money and fees will help prevent you from receiving a terrible surprise when you are presented with the final bill.
About how long will this lawsuit take? If you have a very strong case, your personal injury attorney may expect a favorable settlement within a matter of weeks. In other instances, the defendant may choose to fight as much as possible, resulting in a case that could take months or even years to resolve. Your lawyer should be able to give you an example of similar cases and whether they were quickly settled out of court or whether they resulted in lengthy litigation.
If you have additional questions, contact a law firm, such as The Reed Noble Law Firm PLLC.
Share14 January 2016
Defective products are produced and sold to consumers all of the time. Unfortunately, some of these defective products cause consumers injuries when they malfunction. So, what can you do if a defective product causes you or someone that you love some kind of injury? This blog will show you how the legal system works to protect consumers from instances such as this. You will find out about personal injury lawsuits and what it takes to file and proceed with a lawsuit to hold the company that manufactured that defective product responsible for the role that they played in the pain that has been experienced.