Suffering a serious injury can turn your life upside down. Even if a full recovery is expected, the temporary disruption to your life can be significant and expensive. To minimize the impact these damages can have, it is essential to recover fair compensation for your injury from the liable party.
Dickman Law has been helping accident victims pursue financial compensation for their injuries for years. When in need of a personal injury attorney in Jefferson City, MO, Dickman Law can provide you with the legal counsel you need and represent you in court, if necessary. Call today to get started with a free case evaluation.
What does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Jefferson City, MO Do?
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they will take over every aspect of your legal case and fight to get you the compensation you need and deserve. Some of the actions they are likely to take include:
- Investigating your case to prove liability and gather evidence in support of your claim
- Determine what damages you are eligible to claim and calculate their value
- File the appropriate paperwork with the liable party’s insurer or the court
- Go through the steps of the pretrial process
- Negotiate with the opposing party to try and reach a settlement agreement
- Represent you in court
By having a legal professional handle your case, you can focus your energy on healing from your injuries and getting your life back to normal.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Jefferson City, call 573-744-4878
How Long do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Personal Injury?
The standard statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Missouri is five years. While this time frame is one of the longer ones in the country, that does not mean you should wait around too long before filing your lawsuit. Your attorney will be able to better gather evidence and build a strong case in your favor if they can get to work soon after your accident.
Furthermore, exceptions to the statute of limitations could further limit the amount of time you have to file. A delay could mean you miss your opportunity to recover compensation without even realizing it. By hiring an experienced Jefferson City, MO personal injury attorney soon after your accident, you can ensure that your lawsuit gets filed on time and protect your right to pursue damages.
You should also realize that an exception to the statute of limitations could actually extend the amount of time you have to file. If five years have already passed since your accident, talk to a lawyer to find out if you are still eligible to file a lawsuit against the liable party.
Jefferson City Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 573-744-4878
What Damages Can I Recover After a Personal Injury?
After suffering a personal injury, victims are eligible to pursue a wide variety of damages. The specific damages you can seek will depend on the particulars of your case. Damages are divided into three overarching categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are any losses resulting from a personal injury that have a direct impact on the finances of the injury victim. Common economic damages include:
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Necessary modifications to your home or vehicle
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are any other losses that result from a personal injury. Since these losses are not financial in nature, assigning a dollar figure to their value can be challenging. Most non-economic damages have a significant impact on the lives of accident victims. Because of this, the compensation awarded for these losses is often significant.
Common non-economic damages include:
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Decreased quality of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not awarded to replace losses suffered by an injury victim. Instead, these damages are used as a form of punishment for the at-fault party after an accident. Punitive damages are only awarded in cases where the liable party acted with the intention of causing harm or with criminal negligence.
Punitive damages are only awarded in a small percentage of personal injury cases. An experienced attorney can help figure out if punitive damages apply to your case.
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How Much does a Personal Injury Attorney Charge?
Personal injury attorneys do not charge their clients in the same manner as most other lawyers. Rather than charging a high hourly rate and an expensive fee to retain their services, you will only pay a Jefferson City, MO personal injury lawyer a single fee upon the conclusion of your case.
The fee your lawyer receives for their services will be entirely contingent upon how much money you recover from the liable party. This fee structure helps ensure that your lawyer will do everything they can to secure significant for you. Should your lawyer fail to recover compensation on your behalf, they will not be paid for their services.
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Should I Take a Settlement Offer?
After getting injured, you may be approached by an insurance adjuster with a settlement offer shortly after the incident. They will present the offer as if they are attempting to get you the money you need quickly so that you can cover your medical bills and move on with your life.
However, you need to realize that the money they are offering is likely only a fraction of the true value of your claim. Should you accept this offer, it will result in the loss of your right to pursue further compensation once you understand how much your claim is really worth.
While the majority of personal injury cases will conclude in a settlement agreement, it is critical that you let an experienced attorney represent you in settlement negotiations. Your lawyer will be aware of all the tricks the insurance adjuster will attempt to use against you and will help to even the playing field and get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Jefferson City, MO, Today
After suffering a personal injury, it is critical to find a law firm with experience handling your type of case, along with a proven track record of securing favorable outcomes for clients. Dickman Law has helped countless accident victims recover fair compensation after a crash.
Contact Dickman Law by phone or by filling out the online contact form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Jefferson City, MO, personal injury attorney today.
Call or text 573-744-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form