Having a spinal cord injury can be devastating financially. A new wheelchair or come-along can cost several thousand dollars, not to mention the costs for breaking insurance, lost wages, medical expenses (including intensive rehabilitation that could cost upwards of $10,000/week), attendant care, equipment such as a van lift, modified vehicle or special home accommodations and modifications. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and scared. As painful as your injury may be, you should know that there are legal avenues for you to seek compensation for complications from the accident that led to your disability.
- The attorney has the expertise.
A spinal cord injury can affect a victim’s employment status, overall quality of life, dependents, and other factors. When a spinal cord injury leaves you permanently disabled, the last thing you can afford is to get taken advantage of by the insurance companies. A highly experienced and knowledgeable spinal cord injury lawyer can make sure that they make the decisions for you. A spinal cord injury lawyer has a deep understanding of the law, medical issues, and the intricacies of insurance policies. Your lawyer will fight for your rights while you recover from your injury and help ensure that you receive compensation. No matter how you suffered a spinal cord injury, the persons responsible have an obligation to pay for your damages.
- The attorney knows the value of the claim.
There’s no exact formula to come up with the value of your personal injury claim. So how do you know when you’re ready to hire an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer? That’s something only an experienced serious spinal cord injury lawyer can tell you.
There are many assessments required to value your claim. The insurance company will require a medical evaluation and survey of the extent of your injuries. They will also request a report from your treating doctor, including any diagnostic tests or equipment used to treat your injuries. Some companies will also assess your income and expenses over the previous two years to determine if any improvement in your ability to work is likely.
To get the best deal on a spinal cord injury, you will want to find an attorney who specializes in cases of this kind. This may not be obvious when you first start looking around because most spinal cord injury attorneys seem to specialize in much more general matters, such as car accidents or house fires. But specialists in spinal cord injury will be able to help you narrow down your options and get the best possible deal.
- The attorney understands the legality.
Since most people don’t know how to start the process of filing a personal injury claim, it is pretty standard for them to go about this wrongly. Hiring an attorney makes the difference between a settlement that will have you comfortable for life and a settlement that leaves you miserable with nothing. Attorneys for spinal cord injury victims know how to navigate the legal system and fight for compensation. A lawyer will know which paperwork is necessary, but they will also learn how to fill out the forms correctly and which statutes of limitations must be followed.
A good lawyer will make sure your interests are protected while you deal with the pain of your injuries. Your lawyer will work with the insurance company to negotiate on your behalf and make sure you don’t end up receiving less than you deserve. Learn more here about legality.
- The attorney is motivated to help you.
If you work with a contingency lawyer, you are not paying any fees or costs out-of-pocket until and unless we win the case. This means that your attorney works harder on your case than they would if they worked on a flat fee basis. Your case requires extensive and exhaustive experience. Not only does your attorney have a proven track record with successful settlements, but they also have everything to gain by seeing your case resolved as quickly as possible.
Considerations When Choosing Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
- Experience
Nothing beats the experience of having tried and won cases that are similar to yours. Experience makes a difference in litigation. Your lawyer should not be entirely new for the courtroom. Many lawyers train new attorneys by putting them through real-world practice in actual courtrooms. Ensure that your lawyer has experience by looking at his prior cases and what other attorneys have to say about him. Only someone with a solid background in trials— who has been thorough in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a case— will be able to represent you before a jury.
- Honesty
Preparing a case for trial can feel like an extended job interview. But at the end of the process, you aren’t hiring the attorney that impressed you most. You’re hiring someone who will win your case. An adequate trial attorney is brutally honest with their client–even when those conversations are uncomfortable. Honesty goes a long way towards reducing surprises at trial and ensuring confidence in your attorney.
- Respect among colleagues
It is tough to assess a lawyer’s skills without legal training or experience in the court system. If you are seeking legal counsel, don’t just focus on the lawyer you are meeting with. It’s essential to look at how other attorneys view them. Lawyers are often subject to adversarial relationships with one another. However, despite being on different sides of the courtroom, lawyers can look past differences and appreciate others’ strengths and weaknesses. A great way to get a perspective that transcends personal bias is to compare multiple reviews about a lawyer.
Whether you have been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury or told by your doctor that you need to take specific steps to deal with your injuries as quickly as possible, Rein Goodwin Law Firm is committed to helping you get the compensation and care you need. We understand that there will be obstacles standing between you and desired results. We are here to assist you in navigating these obstacles and helping you achieve everything that you set out to do.