If you have been hurt in an accident in Layton, UT, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.Â
You likely have many questions about your legal rights and the claims process. Keep reading below to get answers to some of the most common personal injury questions from a Layton personal injury lawyer.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is the legal process of getting compensation after someone else’s careless or negligent behavior causes you physical or emotional harm.
Most personal injury claims are based on negligence, and this requires proving:
- A duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
If you have enough evidence to prove all four of these elements, you have a chance of being successful with your claim.
What Are the Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases?
Unfortunately, innocent victims are hurt in accidents every day.
Many of these incidents lead to personal injury claims, and some of the most common types of personal injury cases are:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Product liability claims (Defective products)
- Premises liability
- Workplace accidents
Regardless of what type of accident you have been involved in, a personal injury lawyer can help you understand if you have a valid claim for damages.
What Types of Damages Are Injury Victims Entitled to Recover?
Victims who are hurt in an accident that was someone else’s fault have a right to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate victims for the financial losses they suffered because of the accident, while non-economic damages provide compensation for a victim’s physical and emotional trauma.
Some common examples of damages available in personal injury cases are:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
The overall value of your case is heavily dependent upon the severity of your injuries. Cases involving more severe injuries are usually worth much more than those involving only minor injuries. A personal injury lawyer can help you identify all the damages available in your case and can help put an accurate value on your claim.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Thankfully, hiring a personal injury lawyer will not cost you any money up front. This is because personal injury lawyers typically work on contingency fees. With this type of fee, the lawyer is only paid if they win the case. At the end of the case, the lawyer will take their fee as a percentage of any compensation recovered for the client.
Fees in personal injury cases can vary depending on:
- The lawyer’s experience level
- The lawyer’s success rate or track record
- Geographic location
- The complexity of the case
- Whether the case settles or goes to trial
Contingency fee agreements should always be in writing and clearly state how the fee will be calculated. Any other expenses that will be deducted from the recovery should also be addressed in the agreement.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Your time to file a claim after an accident is limited. Each state sets its own deadlines for different types of cases. The Utah statute of limitations typically allows most accident victims four years from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit for damages.
This deadline may differ in certain situations, such as in wrongful death or medical malpractice cases. If you miss the deadline for your claim, you can be completely barred from recovering any compensation for your injuries. This is why you should always get help from an experienced lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help With My Case?
No matter what type of personal injury case you have, an experienced lawyer can help you protect your rights and maximize your recovery.
Some of the ways a lawyer can help with your claim include:
- Investigating your accident to uncover what caused it
- Identifying all potential defendants
- Assessing all available insurance coverage and sources of compensation
- Using experts as necessary to help bolster your claim
- Gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses to strengthen your case
- Completing all necessary paperwork for the claims process
- Conducting depositions during the discovery process
- Putting an accurate value on your claim based on all your damages
- Answering all your questions and giving you sound legal advice about your options
- Negotiating a top-dollar settlement for your claim
- Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to a jury when necessary
Some personal injury claims can be extremely complex. Having a lawyer on your side can increase your chances of getting a successful outcome.
Contact Our Layton Personal Injury Lawyers at Feller & Wendt, LLC for a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt in an accident in Layton, UT, contact the experienced team at Feller & Wendt, LLC today. Our team can answer all your questions and guide you through every step of the claims process. Call us today at 801-499-5060 to schedule a free consultation with a Layton personal injury lawyer.
