It is often said that it takes only one second for an accident to dramatically alter the course of your life. At Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya, however, we believe your representation in the weeks and months following your accident play an equally large role in determining how much your injury will change you.
Injuries caused by another person’s negligence can be very serious. These injuries can also cause significant financial hardships and emotional suffering.
If you or someone close to you has been in an accident, contact a Delaware personal injury lawyer today. Our experienced attorneys could help you get the settlement you deserve.
What Qualifies as a Personal Injury?
Life is full of potential hazards that can significantly impact your life. A serious injury due to any type of accident can result in your inability to provide for your family while leaving you with a pile of unpaid medical bills. These injuries are often the result of another party’s negligent behavior. Common incidents leading to personal injuries include:
Workers’ Compensation Accidents
You spend a lot of your waking hours in the workplace, and you probably rely on your job to pay for your bills and for the things your family needs. Your employer is legally obligated to provide a reasonably safe workplace and to pay for workers’ compensation premiums for all eligible workers. Unfortunately, not all employers follow the rules. In some cases, employers cut corners or fail to warn employees about dangers, causing workplace accidents. In other cases, employers and insurers deny workers’ compensation claims so workers cannot get the benefits they deserve.
So, what happens if you’re injured on the job? You will need to report the incident right away and file a claim. Unfortunately, you may face a lot of red tape or even get denial letters. However, a legal representative can help you with this common problem.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
One of the most common circumstances surrounding a personal injury is an automobile accident. These collisions often stem from bad weather, distracted driving, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Whether you need help in determining if the insurance company’s offer is fair, or you’re struggling with a responsible party who refuses to pay, we can help.
Bike Collisions
In Delaware, there is a limit on how much time you have to file a bike accident claim or any type of personal injury claim. This is known as the statute of limitations.
In incidents involving negligence, the statute of limitations is generally about two years from the time of the accident. However, it’s important to note that waiting can harm your case. If you wait even a few weeks or a few months, the evidence in your case may disappear. In addition, the insurance company may claim you weren’t seriously injured since you didn’t file right away.
Catastrophic Injuries
Back injuries, spinal cord injuries and brain injuries can all be very expensive to treat. For spinal cord and brain injuries, for example, you may need rehabilitation, nursing care and multiple surgeries as well as visits to specialists. You may need to be in a wheelchair or you may need support if your injuries are permanent. In some cases, you may need to have care at home or you may need the services of an assisted-living facility because of the severity of your injuries. A back injury can mean a lifetime of medication and treatment as well.
The amount you receive for your injuries will depend on a number of factors, including the expected long-term costs of your treatments, the expected long-term wage losses you experience, the impact of the injury on your life, and other factors. The best way to evaluate how much your case may be worth is to consult with a personal injury attorney in your Delaware community. An attorney can look at the specifics of your case and help you understand the chances you have of fighting in court and the possible value of your claim.
Wrongful Deaths
Sometimes an accident can result in the untimely death of a loved one. If you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence or actions of another, don’t wait to speak with an accident lawyer. While nothing can replace the loss of a beloved family member, may be able to help you receive the compensation you may be entitled to under the law. This can help pay the victim’s medical bills, replace lost wages or alleviate some of the emotional pain and suffering resulting from your loss.
Product Liability Claims
Product liability claims arise when a manufacturer creates a defective product. Whether it is a household appliance, car part, food, medical device or other product, poorly designed or poorly manufactured products caused by flaws in the manufacturing process or by design defects can cause serious damages or even fatalities. For example, defective airbags can cause severe head injuries if they fail to inflate properly during a car crash. In these cases, people who injured by the defective item may have a products liability claim.
Slip and Falls
Many people see slip and fall accidents as relatively minor. Luckily, for some people they are. Unfortunately, for others, slip and fall accidents can lead to devastating issues, including broken hip bones, fractures, facial injuries, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and other serious and even permanent injuries.
In these cases, slip and fall accidents can end up costing thousands of dollars — or even more — in medical bills and lost income opportunities. In these cases, seeking compensation ensures you have money to pay for your medical bills and the treatment you will need. Reach out to a hardworking attorney in Delaware today to learn more about different types of personal injury accidents.
When Can an Accident Claim be Filed?
In Delaware, you may have an accident claim if you have sustained any type of accident or injury resulting from a wrongful act or someone’s negligence. For example, if someone was texting while driving and this caused a rear-end collision causing your injuries, you may have a claim.
In some cases, however, it may be more difficult to tell whether you have a claim. For example, if you slip and fall on stairs, was there negligence involved on the part of the property owner who failed to maintain the stairs correctly? In many cases, this is a question an attorney can answer by carefully reviewing the specifics of your case. N0 matter the cause of your injury, our attorneys can help you:
- Establish and obtain vital documentation regarding your case, from police reports to ongoing medical expenses
- Prove who the responsible party is for your injury
- Understand the types of compensation to which you are entitled, including lost wages
- Analyze and consider settlement offers
- Prepare for trial if you do not receive an acceptable settlement offer
Working with an attorney means a legal professional is representing you with your car insurance company or the other driver’s car insurance company and negotiating for you. If you have a strong case and the car insurance company is not willing to pay, an attorney will go to court to settle the claim and fight for your fair compensation.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
In personal injury claims, you may be entitled to monetary or non-monetary damages. Economic damages account for an injury victim’s verifiable damages that can be proven with receipts or bills. Noneconomic damages are those intangible damages resulting from loss of quality of life after an accident. Common damages that a person may collect payments for include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
A dedicated and experienced lawyer in Delaware could work to get injured people the maximum compensation they deserve.
Call an Attorney in Delaware to File a Personal Injury Claim
Instead of wondering, contact Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya today for a free consultation with our team of Delaware personal injury law experts. Our Delaware personal injury lawyers will give you a realistic assessment of your chances for success and will help you make a plan to move forward in whichever way you decide. We believe all accident victims deserve to recover and live as best they can, and we fight to ensure each of our clients receives the settlement necessary to do so.