Becoming a victim of a personal injury due to the negligence of someone else can be frustrating. The physical pain and suffering can seem never-ending when you start receiving bills, calls, and visits from insurance companies, doctors, and law enforcement authorities, while you’re still grappling with your injuries.
It can be extremely difficult to focus on recovering when you feel overwhelmed by thoughts of how you will pay for your treatment. At the same time, you also want to ensure that the party responsible for your injury is brought to book.
This is when an experienced personal injury lawyer comes into the picture.
A Kona personal injury lawyer can be your strongest ally if you have sustained injuries in an accident. Not only will they fight to protect your rights, they will also help you recover financial compensation from the responsible party for your injuries. You can use the compensation money to pay your medical bills while also making up for lost wages. Your compensation may also include certain non-monetary damages.
A. What Is a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers specialize in tort law. This law covers all civil litigation for injuries and offenses caused due to negligence. Personal injury layers who practice tort law primarily aim to make their injured client or the plaintiff receive justice and deter others from committing similar offenses.
Some common personal injury practice areas include motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home accidents, and defective products.
B. What Does a Kona Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
A personal injury lawyer is well-versed with personal injury law. He/she uses his knowledge and skills to bring victims justice as well as peace of mind. Let’s take a look at the various tasks that a Kona personal injury attorney performs.
1. Explains and Upholds Your Rights
You may have several legal queries and doubts about personal injury law on your mind after your accident. You can turn to a personal injury lawyer to get reliable answers. The lawyer will explain how an accident and the various legal considerations can affect your rights.
Different states have different personal injury laws, especially for the statutes of limitations or how Hawaii negligence laws can affect your case. A seasoned lawyer will be well-versed with all the laws applicable in your state, and be fully equipped to protect your rights.
2. Investigates Claims
It is crucial to conduct a thorough investigation after the accident to determine who is legally liable for the injuries you have suffered. Insurance companies may conduct their own enquiries before offering you a settlement. However, insurance companies may spend little time investigating your claim as they tend to have heavy caseloads. They may, therefore, offer you a settlement amount that is much lower than the actual worth of your case.
A dependable Kona personal injury attorney, on the other hand, will do a thorough job. He/she will dedicate the necessary amount of time to discover all the facts and evidence related to your case. He/she will also be in a position to better assess the damages to you and arrive at an accurate estimate of the settlement amount.
3. Gathers Evidence
Having strong evidentiary backup is critical to support your claim. You can count on your personal injury lawyer to gather the required evidence. This means getting police and/or incident reports, tracking down witnessing, getting their statements, photographing the accident site, and more.
Evidence also includes the victim’s medical bills and reports, medical records, employment documents, and property damage reports. He/she may also retain certain evidence for case-related research purposes.
4. Negotiates with Insurance Companies
Most people are not used to conducting negotiations, especially with professional negotiators like the ones at insurance companies. However, experienced personal injury lawyers are adept at it.
He/she will review the insurance policy details and determine the maximum compensation that you stand to gain, depending on your case facts. Your Kona lawyer will also manage all communication with the insurance company. He/she will guide you throughout the process so you do not end up jeopardizing your claim in any way.
5. Sends Demand Letters
After a detailed investigation of your case, your personal injury lawyer may send a demand letter to the concerned insurance company. This letters is sent to state the facts and circumstances surrounding the case. It also mentions the amount of damages for the personal injury caused by the responsible party.
6. Prepares Pleadings
In case the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, your personal injury lawyer will prepare a formal complaint against the responsible party (defendant). The complaint will mention the legal arguments that establish that the defendant is responsible for the accident. It will also include the settlement amount that the victim is seeking.
7. Works with Medical Providers
Most personal injury lawyers share a good working rapport with medical practitioners who may be willing to provide medical services in favor of a lien on any impending settlement or verdict.
They may also have considerable experience in understanding serious injuries. They may, therefore, recommend a particular expert medical professional who has provided desirable results in past cases.
8. Represents You in Court
Most personal injury cases are settled before going to trial. However, if the insurance company denies the victim’s claim, going to court may be the only option.
Litigation can be complicated and requires strict compliance with proper procedures and rules of evidence. A reputed Kona personal injury lawyer is your best bet if you need to go to trial.
Conclusion
If you’re inflicted with a personal injury due to another person’s recklessness, you should have an experienced Hawaii personal injury lawyer by your side. He/she will ensure that you are fairly compensated as per the legal stipulations. You will also be relieved of the daunting task of dealing with insurance companies and creditors.
Connect with an Accomplished Kona Personal Injury Attorney
To schedule a confidential consultation with a practiced Kona personal injury lawyer, contact Olson & Sons, L.C. Reach us at our Kona office at (808) 331-3113. We do not charge upfront legal fees in personal injury cases.
