If you’ve recently been the victim of an injury due to a car accident, work-related accident, medical error, or other cause, you know it can be an alienating experience. Finding a personal injury lawyer to take your case can be difficult, and it’s hard to know who to trust. Getting the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering should be your number one priority, so make sure whichever accident attorney you choose is willing to fight for a positive outcome for your case. Here are a few statistics that show how common personal injury cases really are, and how they generally turn out for people who file claims.
Causes of Injury
Large numbers of people are injured across the U.S. every year, meaning that many others are struggling with the same issues you are if you’ve been recently injured. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there are about six million collisions every year. These collisions result in 3 million injuries and as many as 40,000 fatalities annually. In addition to that, 1.5 million people suffer injuries and complications due to medical malpractice each and every year. Construction accidents injure 300,000 Americans yearly, and so-called slip-and-fall accidents result in 17,000 injuries per year.
Case Outcomes
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court when the injured party is offered a sum of money by the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster after making a claim. As many as 95% of cases are resolved in this manner, meaning the chances that your case will go to trial are fairly slim. Several factors go into calculating how much money is awarded, including liability, damages, and extent of injuries. There are multiple online settlement calculators available to give you a rough estimate of how much to expect.
If the case does eventually go to trial, the odds favor the victim. Over 90% of personal injury cases that result in a lawsuit end with a favorable outcome for the person who filed the suit. Of course, going to court and testifying can be a lengthy and stressful process, but the end result is often a greater amount of money awarded than could be obtained in an out-of-court settlement.
Personal Injury Lawyers
Currently, there are over 76,000 personal injury attorneys in the United States, according to the American Bar Association. That means many options for injured parties, so it’s important to do your homework when it comes time to choose someone to represent you. Most personal injury lawyers charge a standard 33% contingency fee to be taken from the settlement awarded to their clients. Be sure you ask about any billing questions you may have.
If you’ve suffered an accident through the fault of someone else and think you may have a personal injury case, contact the professionals at Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein at 917-730-7151 for a free consultation. New York accident lawyers who are familiar with state laws will give you a fighting chance.