Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions
If you've been hurt, we're here to bring you justice
After being injured in an accident, you may not know what to do next. Remember that you have rights under the law, and that there is a process you need to go through to get the compensation you deserve. We're here to help answer your questions and guide you through this process.
- How do I know if I need a personal injury lawyer from your firm?
- Does it matter when I contact you?
- What role does a doctor have in a personal injury claim?
- How do I document the extent of my injury?
- What determines the amount of my claim?
- How long does it take to resolve a personal injury case?
- Are the details of my case confidential?
This information should give you a general overview of what to expect with your personal injury case. For more information about your specific case, contact the Law Offices of James Morris today for a free case evaluation. Call (800) 477-9044.
How do I know if I need a personal injury lawyer from your firm?
The business, government agency, or insurance company responsible for paying your claim almost certainly has informed legal advice protecting their interests in this process. As such, retaining one of our attorneys ensures that you will be treated fairly.
Also, seeking financial compensation can be a complicated and time-consuming process. You will feel more confident making informed decisions throughout this process when you have an experienced professional to ensure you are fully compensated for your loss.
Does it matter when I contact you?
The statute of limitations may prevent you from seeking compensation if you wait too long from the time of your injury to bring forward a claim or lawsuit. Just as importantly, as time goes by, witnesses may become less willing to help or evidence may be lost. If the facts are on your side, and the evidence supports your claim, you need to act before circumstances change. In short, the sooner you contact us, the better.
One important note: In New York, the statute of limitations on an injury to a child does not begin to accrue until the injured child turns 18 years old, so you may have a chance to act now even if you did not at the time of the original injury.
What role does a doctor have in a personal injury claim?
You need to seek appropriate medical attention for any injury. Your symptoms, your diagnosis and your treatment are medical decisions. They should be handled as medical decisions and should not be influenced by a personal injury claim.
Seeing a doctor right away often makes your case stronger when it comes time to file a claim. An insurance company might try to argue that your injuries were suffered before or after the accident, and the sooner you see a doctor, the easier it is to counter those claims. Also, if you wait to seek medical attention, the insurance company may argue that you are partially to blame for your medical issues due to that delay.
How do I document the extent of my injury?
If you have experienced physical harm, medical records will be crucial information in your claim. Photographic evidence of any visual wounds are also helpful.
Any direct expense you incur, such as a rental car to replace one damaged in an accident, should be carefully recorded. Likewise, monetary losses such as lost wages should be recorded.
Get complete contact information from any possible witnesses right away and get their statements at the first opportunity. It may be weeks or months before you need their statements, and they may be harder to locate at that time. Moreover, their memories may fade over time.
What determines the amount of my claim?
At the Law Offices of James Morris, we take the time to thoroughly review each case, because no two clients face the same challenges. Factors such as having liability shared among multiple parties, the degree of injury or loss, and the potential future impact of the injury or illness all have an effect on the settlement.
We do not apply a standard formula, because we do not take your injury, and the impact it has had on your family, for granted. We will work hard, all the way to presenting your case before a jury, to get you everything you deserve.
How long does it take to resolve a personal injury case?
When you are hurt, when you are unable to care for yourself or for your family, when you are unable to return to work or other activities, you want a resolution. We understand what a relief it will be to put this injury behind you, but you must understand that the pressure to settle early is part of the leverage that insurance companies will likely to use against you. They want you to settle as quickly as possible and will try to get you to take their first offer. We urge you to be patient and seek the maximum recovery settlement. At the Law Offices of James Morris, we are prepared to take your case all the way to a jury in order to get you what you deserve, and we will guide and support you for the duration of your case.
Are the details of my case confidential?
The law guarantees that your communication with our firm will remain completely confidential. This is what's known as "attorney-client privilege." Your written permission will be required before any details of your case are divulged. Whatever the details surrounding your personal injury case, they will remain out of the public eye unless you choose to have them disclosed.