Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury lawsuits
Q: What are my legal rights after an accident or injury?
A: In most states, you can bring a case for negligence and other legal claims. Spouses can be included in cases or make independent claims for compensation for loss of support and other benefits of marriage. Most states entitle a spouse and any children to sue for a wrongful death if applicable.
Q: What is negligence?
A: Negligence is the failure to act with reasonable care. A negligence claim focuses on the conduct of the party being sued (the defendant). If negligence is severe and the defendant is found to have been highly irresponsible, an award for punitive damages can be justified.
Q: Statute of Limitations: How quickly must I hire an attorney?
A: Each state has a deadline for filing lawsuits, which is known as the statute of limitations. In some states, it is as little as one year from the date of the accident or injury. Other deadlines imposed by state law may require you to take action even sooner than within one year. It is critical to preserve all relevant evidence, such as a defective vehicle, medical device and related material, contaminated food product, or medications.
Q: Will I have to pay a fee for your initial review of my case?
A: Absolutely not. We review cases free of charge and without any obligation on your part.
Q: How much will I be charged if you take my case?
A: We charge a contingent fee–a percentage of the recovery we obtain–as set forth in a written contract with you. We do not charge hourly fees, and we earn nothing until you receive a recovery via trial or settlement.
Q: Who will we sue?
A: To make sure those responsible are held accountable, we thoroughly investigate the conduct of all potential defendants. For example, if a case involves prescription drugs, we examine the conduct of the manufacturer, the pharmacy, and the prescribing physician. In vehicle injury cases, we thoroughly review the car or truck design as well as any outside component manufacturers. The investigation depends on the facts of your case.
Q: How long will a lawsuit take?
A: It is impossible to predict the time required to resolve a given case. In some instances, a case will settle to our client’s satisfaction soon after filing. In most instances, however, the defendants deny liability and the subsequent litigation process can be more lengthy.
We work as swiftly as possible to bring each case to a successful conclusion. We charge no hourly fees and earn no compensation until you receive your recovery.
Q: How do I select an attorney to represent me?
A: The best choice is an attorney with substantial experience successfully handling cases similar to your own, along with a passion for achieving justice for each client. It is also important to choose a firm with the substantial financial resources required to conduct a case against a powerful defendant through trial and, if necessary, any appeals.
Q. What recovery will I receive?
A: In most jurisdictions, if you suffer a personal injury, a defendant found responsible must pay for past and expected future medical care, past and future lost earnings, and an amount to compensate for any pain and suffering. Your spouse may also be entitled to an award. If a loved one has died as a result of the injury, the recovery is usually based on the amount of lost economic support and services, plus, in some jurisdictions, compensation for grief and mental anguish. In some states, severely bad conduct can also entitle survivors to punitive damages.
Q: Why shouldn’t I just work things out with the defendant’s insurance company?
A: Resolving a complex case involving catastrophic injuries or a death without legal representation is not advisable. Corporations and their insurers naturally want to minimize their payments to those injured. Our goal as your advocate is to identify the responsible parties, and to strive for full, fair compensation for your losses, and obtain justice for you.
Contact us
If you have been injured as a result of what you suspect is negligent or malicious action, use this form to contact a personal injury lawyer at Lieff Cabraser. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.
PERSONAL INJURY CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“Outstanding work. You went to work and got us maximum offer plus additional compensation. I would highly recommend anyone to Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein law firm. Extremely organized, professional, detail oriented and extremely knowledgeable in personal injury cases.”
-Maurice in New York
“You were responsive to my questions and concerns at all times. The quality of representation was excellent.”
-Jill in Indiana
“I couldn’t be more pleased with how the case resolved. What stands out is your professionalism, personal attention, and concern. This has been a long road, and I am so grateful.”
-Cheryl in Utah
Read more client testimonials
