Answers To Your Personal Injury Questions
In the moments after a serious accident or injury, it is critical to not only get the medical attention you need, but also the legal attention you require. It is understandable you have a lot of questions about how a personal injury claim will go in your case and what the next steps are in going forward. Should you even pursue a claim? These are all questions a seasoned personal injury attorney can help answer.
At Michalk, Beatty & Alcozer, L.P., we focus primarily on helping injured victims throughout the Killeen, Texas, area. Our team of highly experienced lawyers has been doing this for over 25 years. We seek maximum results for our clients, all while providing the personal attention and compassionate counsel they deserve.
Personal Injury FAQs
Every situation is unique, and one of our attorneys would be happy to go over the facts of your case and help you determine the next appropriate steps. Below are answers to FAQs about personal injury to help give you a general understanding before sitting down with a lawyer on our team.
Why do I need to hire a personal injury attorney?
You may have already been contacted by your insurance company and even the insurance company of the other party. While it may seem tempting to just go forward with what an insurance company offers you, it may not be in your best interests. Remember, the insurance company is only looking out for their business interests, not yours. A lawyer has a fiduciary duty (legal obligation) to look out for your best interests. There can be complications down the line that you don’t foresee in your accident case. Having a skilled attorney, right away from the beginning, at your side can help the process go smoother.
What is negligence?
You may have heard this legal term thrown around before. Negligence is a major factor in any personal injury case. In order for a party to recover damages, he or she must prove there was negligence. In a nutshell, this means someone did not exercise reasonable care that ultimately caused the injury or death.
What kind of damages can I seek in a lawsuit?
After an accident, you can seek damages for things like past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. In some cases, an injured victim can go after what are called “punitive damages.” This is often for pain and suffering endured because of the other party’s negligence.
How long will a personal injury lawsuit take?
Every situation is different. A case could be quickly settled in a month. A case could also have many issues to resolve and require additional negotiations that could take months and, in some cases, even years if it goes to trial. Fortunately, our attorneys are highly skilled trial attorneys who can aggressively advocate for you in the courtroom should litigation become necessary.
How will I be able to pay for my legal expenses?
Many personal injury law firms (including our law firm), take personal injury cases on what is called a “contingency fee basis.” This means that the client does not pay anything unless the lawyer recovers damages on his or her behalf. A certain percentage of the damages recovered is then given to the lawyer. How this applies to your situation can be discussed in a free initial consultation.
What happens if my loved one died from their injuries. Now what?
Certain family members can file a lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one. This is known as a wrongful death claim. Family members who often qualify for this include parents, children and spouses. A wrongful death lawsuit can seek damages such as funeral expenses, loss of consortium, lost income as well as pain and suffering.
Now Is The Time To Talk To Our Lawyers
We invite you to schedule your free initial consultation to discuss your personal injury claim with one of our lawyers. Call 254-526-3024 or 254-791-1155, or contact our firm online. Personal injury claims are handled on a contingency fee (no win, no fee) basis. Hablamos español.