Insurance
Article:
Personal Injury Attorney
A Personal Injury Attorney, also known
as a plaintiff lawyer or trial lawyer, is a type of civil litigator who
provides legal representation to plaintiffs alleging a physical or
psychological injury as a result of the negligent or careless acts of another
person, entity or organization.
Personal Injury Attorneys specialize
in an area of law known as tort law which includes private or civil wrongs or
injuries, including defamation and actions for bad faith breach of contract.
The main goal of tort law is to make
the injured party whole and to discourage others from committing the same
offense.
Personal Injury Attorneys help
plaintiffs receive compensation for their losses, including loss of earnings
capacity (due to an inability to work), pain and suffering, reasonable medical
expenses (both present and expected), emotional distress, loss of consortium or
companionship, legal costs and attorney fees. Personal injury attorneys also
work to safeguard clients from being victimized by insurance companies and the
legal system.
What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?
Personal Injury Attorneys handle a
case from inception through appeal and perform tasks similar to most
litigators.
Typical tasks include investigating
claims; screening potential clients and evaluating the merits of their case;
gathering evidence; formulating legal theories; researching case law; drafting
pleadings, motions and discovery; interviewing and deposing witnesses;
preparing for trial; advocating at trial; and counseling clients.
Personal Injury Attorneys often juggle
large case loads, tight deadlines and demanding clients. However, many lawyers
find the most rewarding aspect of personal injury practice is helping injured
victims and their families seek justice through the legal system.
Since many personal injury lawsuits
are extremely complex, Personal Injury Attorneys may specialize in certain
niche types of cases. For example, personal injury attorneys who handle medical
malpractice may specialize in breach births; personal injury attorneys who
routinely litigate motor vehicle accidents may specialize in ATV rollover
accidents.
