Personal Injury
For many clients, the first time they have any encounter with the legal industry is after a car accident, slip-and-fall, or some other bodily injury. This is fortunate, because litigation can be pretty challenging, however, it means that many people have the same questions.
​
How long will my case take? Unfortunately, contentious litigation can drag out over a year or two. If there are significant problems that arise, the trial date can be delayed even further. Each case is its own animal; I have handled matters that are resolved 3-6 months after the injury. I have helped people who have been struggling for 5+ years. With each case, I litigate with a focus on resolving the matter as quickly as possible in a way that maximizes the value to my client.
What is a civil case? Civil cases are lawsuits against one or more defendants for harms, mostly seeking money for compensation or to punish the defendant with punitive damages. A civil case is brought by a plaintiff against a defendant; in contrast, a criminal case is brought by the Commonwealth against a person suspected to have committed a crime (criminal defendant). A civil case that has a small amount of money in dispute may be brought in the district court; however, larger disputes are brought in the circuit court.
What is personal injury? The simplest explanation is bumps, bruises, and broken bones caused by a car accident. However, lawyers argue over this definition on a regular basis and there are cases that dispute such a simplistic approach. For example, should the mental anguish of a person who is now terrified of driving a car be considered a personal injury caused by a car accident? There are many aspects of personal injury and in my experience, the clearer the case is made to the Defendant, the quicker we can resolve the case.
What do I need to pay? While many civil cases might be taken on a contingency basis, that is, the attorney is paid only a percentage of the recovery and not on an hourly basis, there are many costs that must be paid during a case. For example, if an expert witness must be hired, that is an expect appropriately paid by the litigant.