Personal Injury FAQs
Accidents happen. But when someone is at fault, you may have a personal injury case against them. At MNPersonalInjuryLaw.com, your Minneapolis personal injury attorneys are ready to hear your case and advise you on the best way to get compensated for your troubles. If you are still deciding if you should pursue a personal injury case with a lawyer, here are the answers to some FAQs to help you decide the best course of action.
What if I can't afford a personal attorney?
At MNPersonalInjuryLaw.com, we take your case on contingency. That means that we only get paid if you get a settlement or a monetary reward. Your Minneapolis attorney will discuss this with you beforehand and they will tell you how much of a percentage they will take if we win your case. If our attorneys lose your case, you simply pay us nothing. We don't have any hidden fees or charges that will surprise you once your case is over. Don't let any personal injury lawyers charge you upfront to handle your case. Come to MNPersonalInjuryLaw.com today and get a qualified and honest lawyer to work for you.
How can I tell if I have a case?
If you are the victim of someone's negligence and you have been hurt or injured as a result, you probably have a personal injury lawsuit. Whether it is against a person, a company or due to the lack of upkeep on someone's property, our Minneapolis personal injury attorneys will determine if you have a personal injury case. Our qualified attorneys have many years of experience in the personal injury industry and since we work on contingency, we only take the cases we think have a good chance of winning. Of course, you can always set up a free consultation with one of our Minneapolis personal injury attorneys to discuss the facts of your case and determine if you would like to proceed or not.
How much money will I win?
The amount of money that a plaintiff wins in a personal injury case varies greatly depending on the individual circumstances. Some of the factors that enter into the amount of the reward include the severity of the accident, medical expenses that resulted from the accident, lost wages, emotional trauma, mental illness, embarrassment and several other factors. To get a good idea of how much you may be entitled to, contact MNPersonalInjuryLaw.com to set up a free consultation with one of our qualified and caring personal injury attorneys.
When should I file a lawsuit?
You should file your personal injury lawsuit as soon after the accident as possible. The first step is to hire a personal injury attorney to handle your case and file the lawsuit for you. Document as much of the incident as possible by using police reports, medical papers and any other information you can gather. Never sign any papers until speaking with a personal injury attorney first.
However, if your personal injury accident occurred a long time ago, you may still be able to file a lawsuit. There may be a statute of limitations on your case, though, so it is important to begin the process as soon as possible. Speak with a MN personal injury attorney to see if your case is one that can still be fought.
What should I expect from my personal injury lawsuit?
Every personal injury lawsuit is different and unique. Your legal representative can help prepare you for what you should expect during the trial or settlement phase of the case. Most cases do not even reach the trial stage and they are settled out of court. Your part, however, is minimal. If your case does not go to trial, you do not have to worry about testimonies, court appearances or anything like that. Once the two sides settle the case, you will receive your monetary reward for your damages.
What steps should I take if I'm ready to seek legal advice?
If you are ready to bring your personal injury case to an attorney, make sure you have the specifics of the case at hand. Write down anything you think is relevant to the case, including the date, time, location and other information you know about the accident. Keep a record of your medical bills including your driving expenses, any therapy you have to undergo and more.
When you have decided to bring your case to a MN personal injury attorney, make sure you do not sign anything without their legal counsel. There could be hidden information in contracts and settlements that you should not agree to. You should also request a police report from the department that handled the incident and look for witnesses to the accident. While all of this is not always necessary, every little bit helps when it comes to fighting your personal injury case.
Of course, the most important thing to do when you are ready to seek legal advice for your case is to contact a MN personal injury attorney for a free no-obligation consultation. With their experience and knowledge, they can tell you exactly what your steps should be specific to your unique and individual situation.
Is there a difference between civil suits, criminal suits and class-action lawsuits?
There are many differences between these types of lawsuits. For instance, a class-action lawsuit involves a large number of people filing a lawsuit, usually against a company or corporation, because of a product malfunction or drug defect. These types of lawsuits do not generally result in much money for the plaintiffs because the reward gets split among the group of people filing the lawsuit. However, these types of lawsuits often make companies change their policies or they force a company to remove the defective product from the market so others do not get harmed by it. Many class-action lawsuits are personal injury lawsuits if the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit suffered similar injuries.
Civil suits are different in that they involve a lawsuit against a person or entity in which the plaintiff seeks monetary compensation. Personal injury cases are a form of civil lawsuit, but there are various other types as well depending on the specific situation.
Criminal lawsuits are those cases in which the government files a suit against a person, organization or company. In a criminal lawsuit, monetary compensation is not the goal. Instead, criminal lawsuits seek a punishment which may or may not include monetary fines in addition to prison, probation, community service and other actions.
Should I hire a local personal injury attorney?
It is more important to hire a personal injury attorney from the state in which you live than it is to hire one from your city. However, hiring a personal injury attorney from your city means that the attorney will have more experience and knowledge about the area. They often have connections with local law enforcement officials and other people in the community who may be advantageous to your case.
What happens if I was partly at fault for the incident?
Depending on the state you live in, there are rules governing the rights of people filing personal injury lawsuits when they are partly at fault. This part of the personal injury law is always changing which is why it is best to hire a MN personal injury attorney to look at your case and help fight the lawsuit for you.
Should I get a second opinion?
There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion on your personal injury case. Second opinions are common if an attorney declines your case. You may also want a second opinion if you do not have confidence in the attorney you spoke with. Most reputable personal injury attorneys will encourage you to get a second opinion before making your final decision on your case.
What should I do if I am not satisfied with my present attorney?
You should be satisfied and confident with the services that your personal injury lawyer provides for you. However, if you are ever unsatisfied with the way your case is being treated, it is simple to switch lawyers. Find a personal injury attorney that you are comfortable with and they will take over the case for you. If they win, both law firms split the percentage of your monetary award. This does not affect how much you will receive. Remember, your personal injury attorney works for you. If you are not satisfied with their services, there is nothing wrong with firing them.