Personal Injury
The Right Choice for Your Personal Injury Case
Personal injury accidents can happen in an instant, yet their repercussions can last a lifetime. In Texas, understanding your rights and options when injured due to another’s negligence is crucial. At Perkins & Perkins, we bring years of experience to the table to help you secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
Personal Injury Attorney in Corpus Christi
Free Personal Injury Consultation
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What is Personal Injury Law?
This area of law is designed to protect individuals who have been harmed due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts of others. It includes a wide range of cases such as 18 wheeler accidents, car crashes, medical malpractice, oilfield injuries, and everything else in between. The primary goal of personal injury law is to provide compensation to the injured party, in an attempt to make them whole again.
Why Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you have been injured in an accident and now face significant medical bills, lost wages, or other damages, you need a personal injury lawyer. Navigating the legal system can be complex and overwhelming, especially when dealing with insurance companies who care only about their bottom line aim to minimize payouts. A personal injury lawyer can help ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. They handle all the legal aspects of your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
In Corpus Christi, the need for a personal injury lawyer can be particularly pressing due to the city’s active lifestyle and bustling maritime industry. Accidents occur on busy highways, in local workplaces, and even on the water, given the city’s significant port operations. Local personal injury lawyers like Perkins & Perkins understand the specific challenges and regulations in Corpus Christi, providing you with knowledgeable and experienced representation. They are familiar with the nuances of the region, from its roadways to its industrial sites, which can be critical in building a strong case and achieving a successful outcome.
Areas of Practice
Steps to Take After A Personal Injury
Experiencing a personal injury can be overwhelming and confusing. However, taking the right steps immediately after the incident can significantly impact the outcome of your case and your recovery. Here’s a detailed guide on what to do following a personal injury:
1. Ensure Safety and Seek Medical Attention
2. Report the Incident
3. Document Everything
4. Preserve Evidence
5. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
6. Avoid Discussing the Incident
7. Follow Medical Advice
PERSONAL INJURY & CRIMINAL DEFENSE
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The Best Results for Your Personal Injury Case
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Suffering a personal injury can be a life-altering experience, leaving you and your loved ones with serious physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Discerning the legal complexities and nuances of a personal injury case on your own is simply impossible. A personal injury lawyer provides technical legal assistance throughout the process, ensuring that your rights are protected. More specifically, here is how a personal injury lawyer can help:
Personal Injury Case Evaluation & Legal Advice
One of the first and most important steps to your personal injury claim is understanding the merits of your case. A personal injury lawyer, like those at Perkins & Perkins, will conduct a thorough evaluation of your situation, examining the details of the incident, reviewing medical records, and assessing the extent of your injuries. They will provide you with honest and clear legal advice, and explain your rights and the potential outcomes of your case. This initial consultation is important to determine the best course of action and setting realistic expectations for you and your family.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Case Evaluation and Legal Advice
One of the first and most important steps to your personal injury claim is understanding the merits of your case. A personal injury lawyer, like those at Perkins & Perkins, will conduct a thorough evaluation of your situation, examining the details of the incident, reviewing medical records, and assessing the extent of your injuries. They will provide you with honest and clear legal advice, and explain your rights and the potential outcomes of your case. This initial consultation is important to determine the best course of action and setting realistic expectations for you and your family.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies is challenging and frustrating. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize your loss and will do everything they can to pay you less than what you deserve. At Perkins and Perkins we have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and understands their deceitful tactics. Your lawyer will handle all communications with the insurers, presenting compelling evidence and advocating for a fair settlement that reflects the true extent of your injuries and damages.
Filing a Lawsuit
If negotiations with the insurance company do not result in a settlement, your personal injury attorney will file a lawsuit. This involves preparing and submitting all necessary legal documents to the court and to ensure that your case complies with all procedural requirements. Your lawyer will draft a compelling complaint that outlines the facts of the case, the legal basis for your claim, and the compensation you are seeking. Filing a lawsuit demonstrates your commitment to pursuing justice and can often prompt more serious settlement discussions.
Representing You in Court
Should your case proceed to trial, having a skilled personal injury law firm like Perkins and Perkins by your side is essential. Your lawyer will represent you in court, presenting your case to a judge or jury with a well-prepared strategy. This includes selecting a jury in voir dire, delivering opening statements, examining and cross-examining witnesses, presenting evidence, and making persuasive closing arguments. Your lawyer’s courtroom experience and knowledge of legal procedures ensure that your case is presented in the strongest possible manner. Throughout the trial, your attorney will work tirelessly to advocate for your rights and achieve the best possible outcome.
Understanding Compensation and Damages in Personal Injury Cases
When you suffer a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for your losses. Understanding the types of compensation available, how it is calculated, and the factors that affect your settlement can help you better navigate your personal injury claim. Here is a detailed guide to compensation and damages in personal injury cases:
Types of Compensation Available
In personal injury cases, compensation is typically categorized into economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic Damages: These are quantifiable financial losses resulting from the injury. They include:
- Medical Expenses: Costs for hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, medication, physical therapy, and any future medical care related to the injury.
- Lost Wages: Income lost due to time off work while recovering from the injury. This also includes loss of earning capacity if the injury affects your ability to work in the future.
- Property Damage: Repair or replacement costs for any property damaged in the incident, such as a vehicle in a car accident.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Additional costs incurred due to the injury, such as transportation to medical appointments or hiring help for household tasks.
- Non-Economic Damages: These are subjective, non-financial losses that can be more challenging to quantify. They include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.
- Emotional Distress and Mental anguish: Psychological impact of the injury, including anxiety, depression, and trauma.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Diminished ability to enjoy activities and hobbies you once loved due to the injury.
- Disfigurement: The permanent alteration or damage to a person’s physical appearance that impairs their appearance or function.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the negative impact on your relationship with your spouse or family members.
How Compensation is Calculated
Calculating compensation in a personal injury case involves assessing the full extent of your losses. Here is typically what is looked at and how it is used to estimate how much money you are owed:
- Medical Bills: All medical expenses are totaled based on actual costs and projected future medical needs.
- Income Losses: Lost wages are calculated based on your salary or hourly wage and the amount of time missed from work. Future earning capacity is assessed if the injury affects your long-term ability to work.
- Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace damaged property are calculated based on repair estimates or market value.
- Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages are more complex to calculate. Lawyers often use multipliers (e.g., 1.5 to 5 times the economic damages) or per diem methods (assigning a daily value to pain and suffering) to estimate these damages.
- Expert Opinions: Testimonies from medical professionals, economists, and vocational experts can help provide a comprehensive picture of the impact of your injuries and support the calculation of your compensation.
Factors That Affect Your Personal Injury Settlement
Several factors can influence the amount of compensation you receive in a personal injury settlement:
- Severity of Injuries: More severe injuries typically result in higher compensation due to increased medical costs and greater impact on quality of life.
- Clear Liability: When the fault of the other party is clear and well-documented, it strengthens your case and can lead to a higher settlement.
- Insurance Policy Limits: The amount of compensation available may be limited by the insurance policy of the at-fault party.
- Comparative Negligence: If you are found to be partially at fault for the incident, your compensation may be reduced proportionally to your degree of fault, or eliminated entirely if you are more than 50% at fault.
- Documentation and Evidence: Thorough and well-organized documentation of medical treatments, expenses, and the impact of your injuries can support a higher settlement.
- Legal Representation: Experienced personal injury lawyers can negotiate more effectively with insurance companies and present a stronger case, potentially leading to a better settlement.
- Legal Reputation: A personal injury attorney’s strong legal reputation for winning, like that of the Perkins and Perkins Law Firm, can positively influence settlement outcomes by demonstrating to opposing parties or insurance companies that they are prepared to litigate effectively, potentially prompting more favorable settlement offers that reflect the attorney’s credibility and ability to achieve favorable results in court.
By understanding these aspects of compensation and damages, you can better prepare for the personal injury claims process and work towards securing the compensation you deserve. Whether you are dealing with medical bills, lost wages, or emotional distress, knowing your rights and the potential outcomes can make a significant difference in your recovery journey.
Common Personal Injury Questions
1. How much does an attorney cost for a personal injury case?
2. What if I can’t afford medical treatment?
3. How long do I have to file a lawsuit for my personal injuries?
4. How much money is my case worth?
Personal injury cases can range in worth from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars. The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, comparative negligence, liability, insurance coverage, and jurisdiction. If you want to maximize your case’s value, let Perkins and Perkins show you what we can do for you. Call us today for a free consultation.
5. What if my injuries are minor?
6. Are there any legal responsibilities I have when claiming damages?
Yes, you are required to mitigate your damages, which means you have to take reasonable steps to minimize the impact of your injuries and reduce the financial losses resulting from them. At Perkins & Perkins, we help our clients understand exactly what they need to do to ensure they do not hurt their case. The most common forms of mitigation clients need to consider are:
- Seeking timely and appropriate medical treatment.
- Following medical advice and treatment plans.
- Avoiding activities that could worsen your condition.
