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Not all personal injury claims require legal representation. However, there are benefits to consulting with a personal injury attorney before speaking with the insurance adjusters or filing a lawsuit.
Whether you have experienced serious injuries that have left you with permanent disabilities or are currently in the midst of an insurance nightmare with an inadequate settlement offer, an experienced personal injury attorney can help. Our team will level the playing field against the insurance company and bring you peace of mind in the courtroom so you can move forward from this difficult experience.
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If you have questions about your legal rights following an accident, consult with the personal injury lawyers of Regan Zambri Long today by calling us for a no-obligation, free consultation.
If you have been hurt in a workplace accident, car accident, or by another party’s negligence, you likely have questions about your options for financial recovery. The more severe the accident and injuries, the more complicated the claim will be.
But knowing when to call a personal injury attorney or why you need one can be complicated. At Regan Zambri Long, we believe that you should call a lawyer anytime you have questions about your legal rights.
Here are six reasons to call an experienced attorney for your claim.
Personal injury law in Washington, D.C., can be rather complicated. From fault to statutes of limitations and contributory negligence, one small misstep can cause you to miss out on compensation for your medical bills and lost wages.
By securing legal advice from a personal injury attorney, you can rest assured that your claim is handled with the utmost care. And, if negotiations with the insurance companies do not end favorably, a personal injury lawsuit will be handled on your behalf.
However, this legal process can prove challenging, which is why it’s best to call a personal injury law firm.
DC’s contributory negligence system is one of the most complicated aspects of personal injury law. Under contributory negligence, a
victim cannot recover any compensation for financial losses if they are found to be at all responsible for an accident.
This means that you cannot recover financial compensation if you are even one percent liable in a car accident.
However, there are exceptions to the rule. This includes cases involving minor children and situations where a driver’s actions were particularly reckless or egregious.
Further, there are exceptions for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users involved in motor vehicle accidents.
With representation from an experienced lawyer, you can secure maximum compensation in these challenging situations.
In some personal injury cases, it’s very obvious who is at fault for the accident. However, in others, liability can be unclear. In these situations, it can be best to call an attorney.
You’ll need a lot of evidence to establish negligence and prove the other party is liable.
This may include police reports, medical records, witness statements, photos and videos, surveillance footage, expert witnesses and testimony, etc.
In addition, if you have reason to believe that you may have been partially to blame for an accident, you should consult a lawyer first, as any admission of guilt or fault can ruin your chances of recovering financial losses. And, if the insurance company has any reason to believe you are negligent, you can be guaranteed a fair settlement, which won’t be fair at all.
The process can be daunting whether you are undergoing an insurance or a legal claim. Extensive paperwork, back-and-forth communications, and proving who the at-fault party is can all be too much while you recover from your injuries.
But, when you work with a law firm with extensive experience in complex personal injury claims, you can rest assured knowing you have met all filing requirements and the legal process will move efficiently.
Many victims find that the paperwork surrounding legal proceedings can be just as daunting as standing before the court. Still, with a DC accident attorney by your side, all elements of your accident claim will be handled with care, compassion, and dedication.
In general, the statute of limitations on DC personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
First, there is an adjustment to the statute of limitation for minor accidents. In Washington, DC, a personal injury claim involving a minor must be filed or resolved within three years after the minor turns 18. So, in reality, you have until the child is 21. However, if a parent files a claim on behalf of the child, another claim cannot be made by the child at a later date.
Another exception is the discovery of harm rule. Though most common in medical malpractice claims, a victim unaware of their severe injuries or losses has three years from the discovery of harm to file a claim.
If you have concerns about meeting filing deadlines, call Regan Zambri Long. We’ll help you through the paperwork to kickstart your claims process.
The unfortunate reality for injury victims is that their insurance company is not seeking their best interests. Any way to minimize the compensation you’ll receive is their main priority.
However, just because these conversations can be long doesn’t mean you have to accept the first settlement they provide. Using an experienced accident lawyer, we can negotiate compensation for damages on your behalf.
The fine print in insurance policies can often be confusing. However, as attorneys, we have experience working with insurance companies and navigating their jargon.
Further, if we think bad faith insurance practices are occurring, we’ll hold the insurance company accountable and file a bad faith lawsuit.
No matter what avenue we must take, we’ll ensure this process ends with a favorable outcome for you.
Neither the insurance company nor the negligent party will rush to get you your compensation. The more they drag their feet, the more they hope you’ll settle at any amount.
But with a legal team, you can get better compensation faster. As legal experts, we know what the law calls for and what fair compensation should be based on your losses. We take our combined decades of experience to ensure we are making objective decisions on your behalf while keeping your best interests at heart.
The insurance company and defense are no match to our personal injury practice as we focus on the end goal, securing you maximum compensation on time.
Many people think they cannot afford an experienced attorney for their personal injury accident. However, the reality is you can’t afford to be without one.
In fact, studies suggest that using a legal professional may result in as much as four times the compensation than going without one.
Many victims don’t realize the true value of their personal injury lawsuit case until they consult an attorney. Most people think they can only collect compensation for medical care and loss of income. However, there’s quite a bit of compensation you may be entitled to.
Common forms of compensation in a personal injury claim include:
How much compensation you may get will depend on the severity of your injuries and how clear fault is determined. Working with a DC personal injury lawyer allows you to get maximum compensation and not miss out on any expenses you may have incurred.
Most personal injury law firms help accident victims get the most compensation for their claim or case by utilizing a contingency fee basis. A contingency basis means that the law firm does not get paid unless you win your claim or case.
During one of your initial consultations, you will learn the law firm’s payment structure, typically a percentage. You generally do not have upfront costs for legal representation; instead, a portion or percentage of your award is paid back to the law firm. In some instances where expert witnesses or specialists are needed, there may be additional fees.
However, the contingency basis makes it a win-win for personal injury accident victims who otherwise would not hire legal counsel. This payment structure bridges the financial gap many victims fall into as they encounter medical expenses, property damage, and a long time out of work.
Finally, if you don’t win, you don’t pay the law firm anything out of pocket. This means if you have any concerns about the success of your case, you have nothing to lose. But be forewarned: The personal injury law firm has every right to turn a case away, so be sure to come to your consultation with your accident information at the ready.
If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident, car accident, workplace accident, or another event that resulted in injury, you need to call Regan Zambri Long.
We handle complex personal injury claims with dedication and compassion, ensuring you are aware of all legal aspects and feel empowered to make informed decisions.
Call the DC personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long for a free, no-obligation consultation today. We can help.
