Why You Always Need an Attorney in a Personal Injury Claim
Injuries occur on a regular basis, and many times the injured party will have standing to file a personal injury lawsuit for damage recovery. Personal injury law covers a wide variety of claims, but all cases are basically viewed the same way by the court system. It is the responsibility of the plaintiff legal counsel to document that an injury occurred and that the respondent was negligent in some manner. Cases can range from premises liability injury claims to automobile accidents, but there is one thing all personal injury cases have in common. They are all usually defended vigorously. In addition, they all have the potential to become complicated legal issues. That is why it is necessary to have an experienced personal injury attorney representing your claim who knows how to build a solid injury case.
Documentation
It is vital for your attorney to have adequate documentation that an injury occurred. This can be accomplished by providing medical bills associated with the accident, along with any police record of the event. An official police report will state who was injured and if they were dispatched for medical treatment. Even when an accident victim does not think they are injured, it is always a good decision to seek medical evaluation anyway, as many internal injuries turn severe quickly and others may manifest later. Always get official copies of any medical evaluation associated with an accident or retain an attorney to do so.
Comparative Negligence
All individuals involved in a personal injury claim will be assessed for comparative negligence, which can be vital to winning any personal injury claim. Comparative negligence percentages in New Jersey limit the amount of recoverable compensatory damages, and anyone found to be over 51% at fault for their own accident cannot recover any damages. This becomes a very contentious issue in all personal injury claims, as this is the first line of defense for most insurance companies. Having an experienced and aggressive personal injury attorney means that the injured plaintiff will have solid representation who can build a strong counter argument to a disqualifying assessment.
