Consulting a Personal Injury Lawyer

It is best to consult with a personal injury lawyer and file a personal injury lawsuit as soon as possible after the harmful incident. This is especially important if the injury is serious, such as a spinal cord injury, internal organ trauma or closed head injury. Unfortunately, in some cases the trauma might not be readily apparent, and the victim might delay seeking medical and legal help. For example, the harmful effects of toxic exposure sometimes become apparent only after significant time has passed since the incident.

In accident cases that have caused wrongful death of the victim, some states give the surviving family only one year to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is because special legislation, called statutes of limitation, requires bringing certain lawsuits within a specified time period. The time limitations vary between the states, with some jurisdictions giving families for up to three years to file their claims. It may be best for you to consult with a wrongful death attorney who can explain the laws specific to your state.

Personal Injury Lawyers: General and Specialized

After you have decided to consult an attorney, you will need to determine what type of lawyer to contact. There are different types of personal injury practitioners, and you will need to decide whether to see a general personal injury attorney or one who specializes in one area, such as defective products and defective drugs. A car accident lawyer may be best if the accident involved motor vehicles. You may want to file a DUI lawsuit if the driver had been drinking alcohol before the crash. Other firms and attorneys practice all areas of personal injury. If you or someone you love has been harmed due to another's negligence or intentional malice, consider hiring a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will help you interpret your state's guidelines and determine the best course of action.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

One of the most common causes of serious personal injury is motor vehicle accidents. Travel in motor vehicles is risky due to the negligence or carelessness of other drivers on the road, especially those driving under influence. Collisions with cars, trucks, buses and boats kill more people between the ages of 2 and 34 than any other accident. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, motor vehicle collisions resulted in more than 42,000 deaths in 2006,

If you would like to obtain more information about auto accidents, read our section on motor vehicle accidents. This information can also help you decide whether to file a personal injury lawsuit for an open head injury, broken bones or other injury you may have suffered. However, it is always best to consult personally with an injury attorney as soon as possible after you or someone you know is hurt in an auto accident.