There a many personal injury law firms. However, there are a few who may completely overlook Bridgeport’s Latino community.
With many local Hispanic families speaking Spanish at home, it makes sense that more and more lawyers are tailoring their firms to better serve this dynamic group.
Whether you’ve been injured due to a car wreck or on the job; it’s getting easier to find personal injury attorneys who speak Spanish in Bridgeport, CT.
Below you’ll find helpful information on what to do if you’re involved in a job related accident, car crash or a slip-and-fall as well as how can a professional lawyer assist you.
It is generally when a person has been injured in an accident that wasn’t their fault that they research the steps of a Personal Injury Case. They have many questions:
While every injury and every injury lawsuit is different, below are the basic steps of a personal injury lawsuit and settlement:
You’ve been injured. Whether a car accident, a dog bite, a slip-and-fall, or some other accident that has resulted in property damage or personal injury. The first thing you need to so is report the accident. Calling 911 will ensure you receive quick and appropriate medical care as soon as possible.
Contacting your insurance company will also open a claim and begin the process of collecting information. Whether you call your car insurance company to report the accident or alert your health insurance company that you are on your way to the hospital, this will also let medical personnel know that an insurance claim is being filed and may help you receive appropriate medical care faster, by-passing the payment section of hospital admittance.
While the attending police officer will have to file an Accident Report, it is advised you do not simply rely on his or her assessment of what happened after the fact. If you are physically able, try to document as much as possible using your smart phone.
Here is a list of the 5 most popular free apps for iPhone and Android users to help record accident information:
In addition, many auto insurers also have mobile apps that allows you to document the details of your accident and submit the information and photos along with your claim in one step.
Additional information you should collect:
Not everyone carries a pen and paper in their pocket or car; instead, you can email yourself using voice text describing what happened as best you can.
Initial consultations with personal injury lawyers are typically free. Just because you meet with a lawyer, doesn’t mean you have to proceed with a lawsuit, it simply means that you are looking out for your best interest should the insurance company or at-fault person deny any wrong doing and fail to provide you with adequate compensation to cover your injuries and lost property.
During your first meeting, you should bring all the information you can regarding your accident:
Official Police Accident Reports, the details of the accident and injuries that you recorded, all medical bills, copies of therapy orders and prescription costs, time cards or paycheck that show a reduction in work hours or lost wages due to injury and appointments and any additional items or services you have needed to purchase as a result of your injury.
It is important to note that many Connecticut injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they will take a percentage of your awarded money. Until then, all investigation costs and legal fees come out of their pocket. If they do not win your case for you, then you do not owe them anything.
After your initial meeting with a lawyer, he or she will determine if you have a case worth pursuing. Once it is decided you have a case, your attorney will then begin their own investigation into the accident, using witness testimony, traffic or parking lot surveillance that may have recorded the accident, expert medical testimony and accident reconstruction experts.
Taking a case to court is a lengthy and expensive process and many times, an experienced injury lawyer can settle a case without having to go to trial.
A Demand for Settlement is basically a demand letter that outlines all damages and liabilities incurred as a result of the accident.
It also proposes the financial amount you wish to be compensated for. The letter is then sent to the opposing party for review, whether individual, business or insurance company for them to respond to; either accepting your demands, negotiating for a different amount or rejecting it.
Having a strong Demand for Settlement, especially on a law firm’s letterhead can show the opposing party that you are serious with your pursuit of full and fair compensation to cover such things as:
Often times, following an accident, an insurance company makes a quick and low-ball offer. Many people accept the initial offer to cover short-term expenses, but often times do not take into consideration the long-term affects the accident will cause. Once you agree to accept the insurance company’s offer, you forfeit your legal right to pursue additional pay-out in the future.
An experience attorney will evaluate your initial offer to determine if it is fair and compensates you for future expenses you may not be considering to negotiate a better deal for you.
If your case has not been settled fairly by other means, you and your attorney may file a personal injury lawsuit in order to obtain fair and just compensation for your injuries.
Here are the basic stages of a personal injury lawsuit:
1. Discovery Phase – prior to any trial, both sides obtain as much evidence as possible to prove their case.
2. Mediation – Often times, a current or former judge may oversee mediation between the two sides to eliminate the need for trial. Mediation is an informal meeting, held before or after the lawsuit is filed and gives both sides a chance to negotiate a better and final offer.
3. Trial – If all other efforts have failed in the attempt to receive fair compensation for the injuries sustained in your accident, then the next phase is trial. It is during this process in your case that a jury will evaluate all facts given by both sides and determine the percentage of fault each party played in the accident and determine if damages are to be awarded.
4. Appeal – The losing party has the legal right to appeal the trial’s findings. Depending on the specifics of your case, the appellate process can be very different from the trial. Having a lawyer with experience in appeals court can increase your chances of retaining your win.
SeHablaLaw.com is an online directory of Spanish speaking lawyers and law firms based in the United States of America.