Injuries are not fun. Typically, they involve pain and the avoidance of some of your regular activities, at least for a little while. If you’ve been injured on property that belongs to someone else, you might also be dealing with the emotional complexity of knowing that there are legal things that need to happen. You might even be wondering if you need a lawyer.
The following will explore a few ways a lawyer can protect you if you’ve been injured on someone else’s property. Of course, every injury and property is different, so this article in no way replaces legal advice from an attorney who you’ve shared the details of the incident with.
Better Estimate Costs And Damages
People are notoriously bad at making estimates. Studies show we have no sense of what’s going to make us happy in the future, no idea how long tasks really take, and very little awareness of how we would behave in a given situation. Given this, we’re pretty bad at making estimates.
A lawyer who has experience with the particular kind of injury you’re facing is in a much better position to explain the costs and damages of the injury that you are experiencing. You probably understand what missing a few days of work is going to cost you, but you might not have any real sense of how often you’re going to need to miss work moving forward. You might understand what your medical bills are at the moment, but you might not be able to grasp what medical appointments and rehabilitation is going to cost over the next few years.
And what about your emotional state? If you’re in pain, are you going to be able to enjoy the aspects of your life you previously enjoyed? Are you going to be able to be patient enough with your kids or partner while suffering to maintain those relationships? Maybe you’re going to be able to go to work but so overwhelmed by your pains that you’re not actually going to get much done. Perhaps you’re forgoing future promotions because of this. Will you need to hire someone to help around the house with yard work and other chores?
Talking to a lawyer can help put into perspective the costs and damages of your injury so you can better know what you need moving forward. It can be overwhelming to crunch the numbers, but it’s better to know ahead of time what to expect so you can plan financially and ask for the correct amount of compensation.
Stronger Understanding Of Types Of Injuries
When people think about being hurt on someone else’s property, they think of slipping and falling; they think about something falling from a height onto them. Of course, these are serious concerns, but there are a lot of different ways you can get injured or come to physical harm on someone else’s property. Gas leaks, mold, pests, or other toxic situations can lead to respiratory or brain problems. A lawyer can help you take a diagnosis and look at a particular property you spent time in and determine whether there is enough evidence to form a causal link between the property’s maintenance and your current situation.
Breaking Down Assumptions
The law is complicated, and the average person encounters more fake legal details on television than accurate legal information. You might have made assumptions about your situation that are completely incorrect. For instance, one premises liability lawyer in Reno points out that trespassers who are purposely harmed by the property owner might be entitled to compensation for their injuries. Many people would assume that because the trespasser was breaking the rules, they aren’t entitled to anything. It’s a good idea to speak to a lawyer because you might have made assumptions that are wrong or not in your best interest.
A Clear Outline Of Your Options
When you’ve been injured, you have many possible routes of action available to you. It’s unlikely, however, that you’re being informed of all these options. Likely the property owner has outlined one pathway that resolves the issue quickly and inexpensively for them. A company or insurance provider might suggest another course of action that best meets their needs. By talking to a lawyer, you can be sure that you’re hearing about all your options.
This is vital to do early on as many pathways are exclusive. This means that once you select one course of action and begin the process of it, you’re forfeiting your right to take a different course of action later if you change your mind.
Legal Advice And Support
Dealing with a legal proceeding can be stressful. It’s an incredibly complicated thing that is easy to mess up if you’re not experienced with it. Working with a lawyer can provide you with solid legal advice based on years of real-world experience. It can also mean that you have someone standing beside you, walking you through each step you need to take. This can speed up the process as there will be fewer paperwork errors or deadlines missed. It can also increase your chances of having a favorable outcome where you’re given what you need to thrive post-injury.
Even The Playing Field
If the incident goes to court, you can bet that the other party is going to have a lawyer. If you’re dealing with an insurance claim, you can bet that the insurance company has a team of lawyers. If a company is involved, there’s no doubt that the company is focused on protecting itself legally and building good PR. If you go into this kind of situation alone, there’s a very good chance you’re going to be torn to shreds. Laypeople are notoriously terrible at defending themselves against a lawyer’s sharp questioning. Working with a lawyer means having someone on your side who knows how to handle these kinds of situations.
Having read through the above, you should be aware of several of the benefits a lawyer can offer you if you’ve been injured on someone else’s property. Injuries can be life-altering events. They can dramatically change your plans for the future as well as your needs in the present.
