Dealing with injuries can be a very stressful experience, even without taking the pain and recovery process into consideration. Depending on the severity of the injury, you’ll have appointments with several specialists, tests, scans, medical records to keep track of, most of which you’ll end up having to send to your medical insurance provider, among countless other things to keep track of. Juggling all of these responsibilities can be taxing, and things can get even more complicated if liability or worker’s compensation is involved. Seeking out a personal injury attorney in Great Falls, MT, can help alleviate some of the stress in managing all of these papers and sending off records to the appropriate parties, as well as navigating any legal issues that might pop up. It’s important to know when it’s best to retain an attorney though. Here are a few situations where it’s highly recommended.
Auto Accidents
Injuries sustained during an auto accident can be very complicated to deal with, especially when it comes to who is responsible for damages and injuries. Normally, your policy will cover any injuries up to a certain limit, but don’t cover things like pain and suffering, and only cover procedures required as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. If shared liability is a possibility, this becomes even more involved as the responsible party might only cover the percentage of damage they are liable for. Further complicating things, liability isn’t always clear cut, and insurance companies often dispute the exact liability ranges amongst involved parties, sometimes taking weeks or even months before coming to a final agreement. Because of all this uncertainty, you should retain an attorney as soon as possible when in an auto accident. Your attorney can handle all of the negotiations with the other parties for you, as well as defend you in case anyone pursues you personally for damages.
Injuries on the Job
Injuries on the job seem like something that would normally be clear cut. You file for worker’s compensation, they pay out, and you’re good to go, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Depending on the nature of the injury and when, where, and how it happened, there can be some overlap in who would cover the costs of treatment. This can lead to your work and your insurance passing the buck back and forth with nothing really getting accomplished. While you might not need to seek an attorney right away, there are situations where you might want to seek one out.
Being Pursued for Damages
If someone is seeking damages from you personally, you’ll definitely want to hire a personal injury attorney to help defend you as soon as possible. They will help build a case to defend you, attempting to prove one of three things:
• You did not owe duty of care to the plaintiff
• You did not breach duty of care or were not negligent
• Their damages are minor and not compensable, or they are exaggerated
You did not owe duty of care to the plaintiff
You did not breach duty of care or were not negligent
Their damages are minor and not compensable, or they are exaggerated
In order to build a strong case, it is important to never admit guilt prior to speaking with your attorney or discussing with your insurance. An admission of guilt, even a non-verbal action such as leaving the scene of the accident, can greatly hurt your chances at a proper defense.
If you feel you need a personal injury attorney for any reason, seek out Jardine Stephenson Blewett & Weaver PC. One of Montana’s Oldest Law Firms Founded in 1911, Jardine, Stephenson, Blewett & Weaver, P.C. has a history of excellence. The firm has the highest ratings and recognition in the legal industry including the AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale Hubbell.
