When you suffer a serious injury, it can affect every aspect of your life. Even if your injury does not result in permanent damage, the financial fallout can follow you for years. Recovering compensation from the liable party after an injury can be essential for getting your life back on track.
Dickman Law has a long history of helping injury victims recover financial compensation after an accident. If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer in Columbia, MO, Dickman Law is here to help. You can schedule a free consultation over the phone or by filling out the online contact form on this site.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You
There are many benefits to hiring a personal injury lawyer after an accident. An attorney will take over every aspect of your legal case and pursue compensation on your behalf. Steps your attorney is likely to take include:
- Investigating your case with the intent of establishing liability and gathering evidence in support of your claim
- Determining what damages apply to your case and calculating their value
- Filing the appropriate paperwork with the at-fault party’s insurer or the court
- Going through the steps of the pretrial process
- Negotiating with the opposing party in an attempt to reach a settlement agreement
- Representing you in court
Hiring an experienced attorney will free you up to focus on your health. Knowing your financial future is in good hands can allow you to relax and heal from your injuries.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Columbia, call 573-744-4878
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Missouri
In Missouri, accident victims have five years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Although this statute of limitations is one of the longest in the country, it certainly does not mean you should delay getting started with your legal action. The sooner your attorney can get to work, the easier time they will have collecting evidence and building a case on your behalf.
Additionally, exceptions to the statute of limitations could result in a significantly condensed period in which you can file. Waiting to file a lawsuit could result in the loss of your right to pursue compensation. Hiring an experienced attorney shortly after you suffer an injury can ensure that your lawsuit will be filed on time and that your right to pursue damages will be protected.
It is critical to realize that exceptions to the statute of limitations go both ways. Because of this, you could potentially still pursue compensation even after the standard five-year mark has passed.
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Recoverable Damages After a Personal Injury
When you suffer a personal injury, you will likely be eligible to pursue a wide range of damages. The specific damages you can claim depend on the particulars of your case. Recoverable damages are divided into three primary categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are all the losses you suffer due to a personal injury that have a direct impact on your finances. Common economic damages include:
- Lost income
- Decreased earning ability
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Necessary modifications to your home or vehicle
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are all the other losses that result from a personal injury. Since these losses are not monetary, determining their value can be a challenge. The majority of non-economic damages significantly impact the lives of injury victims. For this reason, the financial compensation awarded for these losses tends to be substantial.
Common non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not awarded as a replacement for losses suffered by an injury victim. Instead, the purpose of these damages is to punish the liable party for their actions. Punitive damages are only awarded in extreme cases where the at-fault party acted with the intention of causing harm or was criminally negligent.
Punitive damages do not apply in the majority of cases. An experienced lawyer can help you identify whether or not your case qualifies.
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When to Take a Settlement Offer
When you suffer a serious injury, an insurance adjuster may approach you with a settlement deal shortly after the incident. Even if the offer they present you with sounds like a good deal that will get you money quickly, you should not take it. It is critical to realize that any unsolicited settlement offer you receive is going to be for a fraction of the true value of your claim.
The insurance company is hoping that you will take the deal at face value without consulting an attorney. If you do, you will lose your right to pursue further compensation down the road. While your case will likely eventually end in a settlement agreement, it is in your best interest to have an experienced attorney represent you in settlement negotiations.
Your attorney will know all of the tricks that the insurance companies use to deny or devalue claims and will be able to fight back against these tactics. With the help of a personal injury attorney, you can level the playing field and give yourself the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve.
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Personal Injury Lawyers Charge Their Clients Based on Results
A personal injury lawyer does not charge their clients in the same way that most other attorneys do. Instead of billing clients by the hour and tacking on an expensive retainer fee, personal injury attorneys charge a single fee, which is payable upon the conclusion of your case.
This fee is based entirely on the money you recover from the liable party. Your lawyer will receive a fixed percentage of the compensation they secure on your behalf.
Under this setup, you can feel confident that your attorney will do everything they can to get you as much money for your damages as possible. Failure to secure a settlement or court-ordered payout means your attorney will not be paid for their services.
Reach Out to a Columbia Personal Injury Attorney Today
When you suffer a personal injury, you need to find a law firm with both experience handling your type of case and a proven track record of obtaining significant compensation for injury victims. Dickman Law has been helping accident victims recover fair compensation for years.
Contact Dickman Law by phone or through the online contact form on this site to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Columbia, MO, today.
Call or text 573-744-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form