5 Questions and Answers About Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, a personal injury lawyer is consulted after there has been an accident and injuries have occurred. The victim of the accident may wonder if negligence was a factor in their accident and consult an injury attorney for advice and guidance. This is a reasonable question to ask since not all accidents qualify as a personal injury case. Below, we take a look at five common questions about personal injury law and provide the answers victims need to determine whether or not their situation is worth discussing with a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer.
- How do I know if I have a case? The best way to find out if your situation qualifies as a personal injury is to consult one of our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys. Even if you have been injured in an accident, certain conditions must exist to pursue a personal injury case. Negligence is the most important one of these conditions. Your attorney must be able to prove that the actions or inactions of another person contributed to your injury.
- How can I find out what my case is worth? There is no straightforward way to determine this number since there are many factors that need to be considered when valuing the claim. At the most basic, a personal injury attorney will consider the black and white financials of your injury – how much you have paid in medical bills, for example. From there, other factors may be examined such as your ability to work and whether or not you have lost wages due to the injury. Another factor is whether you have suffered any emotional or mental anguish. This post shares more details about how to determine the value of a personal injury case.
- How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer? Wisconsin injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means you do not pay any fees to the attorney unless you are awarded compensation in your case. This arrangement makes it easier for victims to get the legal advice and representation they need at a time when they need it most. Fees paid to the attorney are generally a percentage of the final compensation award amount.
- Who has to pay for the damages in a personal injury lawsuit? In the vast majority of cases, insurance companies are involved in personal injury lawsuits and they pay the damages. It is very common for injury cases to be settled out of court and never go to trial because the insurance company wants to close the case. However, this is not always in the best interest of the victim, which is where consultation with a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer becomes so important. The last thing you want to do is accept a lowball settlement offer and then find out it is not enough to cover your losses. In many cases, once you accept a settlement offer, you waive your right to take the case to court at a later date.
- What if I was responsible for the accident? Can I still be awarded damages? One thing that many victims overlook is the extent of their own liability for the accident. Wisconsin is a comparative negligence state which means it is possible for both parties to bear some fault for the incident that led to the injury. If that is the case for you, you may still be awarded damages provided your negligence is equal to or less than the other party, but they might be reduced by an amount equal to the percent of responsibility you bear for the accident.
Meet With a Personal Injury Lawyer at Eisenberg Law to Get Answers to All of Your Questions
Personal injury cases are unique and complex. The best way to find out if you have a case and what your chances of being awarded damages are is to meet with an Eisenberg Law Offices personal injury lawyer. Since we work on a contingency base, all case consultations are free and are always confidential.
Schedule your free case consultation by calling 608-256-8356 or emailing info@eisenberglaw.org.