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Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer

When filing a personal injury lawsuit, some people think they can represent themselves without a Columbus personal injury lawyer. However, this is not an easy task, and doing so could negatively affect the amount of compensation you receive. A skilled attorney at our firm can help every aspect of your case and will do the heavy lifting while you focus on your recovery and your life.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

A person can be injured due to various different circumstances. Some of the most common causes in Columbus include:

Statute of Limitations on Injury Claims

The statute of limitations is the time an injured party has to file a lawsuit. When lawsuits are filed after the statute of limitations has run out, the courts will almost always throw out the lawsuit, and the accident victim is barred from pursuing any compensation.

Most personal injury cases in Alabama have a statute of limitations of two years. That means in the majority of cases, accident victims have only two years to file their lawsuit. There are some very narrow exceptions, however.

Victims have two years from the date of the accident or two years from when they discovered or should have discovered, their injuries. Medical malpractice cases have a statute of limitations of two years as well – or six months from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered.

Claims against a government entity such as a county or city have different deadlines. Claims against a city have a statute of limitations of six months from the date of the accident. Claims against a county have a statute of limitations of one year from the date of the accident.

Role of a Lawyer in an Accident Case

Gathering Evidence

One of the first things a proactive Columbus personal injury attorney like David Bence will do is gather important evidence such as witness statements, photographs, video surveillance, and accident reports. This will help an attorney determine how the accident happened and determine who was really at fault.

Once your physical condition has stabilized, a lawyer can gather medical reports, records and bills, employment records, and other documentation to calculate the full extent of your losses.

Requesting Comprehensive Payments

Once an attorney knows how much to ask for in damages, they will then be able to negotiate with the insurance company from a position of strength. If an offer is made, an attorney will then present you with the offer and advise on whether it’s fair.

This is an area in which personal injury attorneys are particularly helpful. Some accident victims are happy to receive anything at all from the insurance company. When they jump at the first offer, they could miss out on the full amount of compensation they actually deserve. If the insurance company does not offer fair compensation, an attorney can then file a lawsuit and prepare the case for trial.

Defending Your Rights in Court

If the case does go to trial, having a knowledgeable legal professional by your side is especially helpful. Before the trial begins the case will move into discovery. At this point, both sides can ask for information, and each side is obligated to provide it. Discovery may involve depositions of many people, including experts and witnesses.

If the case goes to trial, a personal injury lawyer in Columbus can argue your case to the jury, question and cross-examine witnesses, and present evidence to help you win your case.

Contact a Columbus Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you have been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you need an experienced Columbus personal injury lawyer on your side. At Bence Law Firm, LLC, we know how to seek the compensation accident victims deserve and we want to help you with your personal injury claim. Now is the time for you to focus on your physical recovery, so don’t try to handle a lawsuit on your own. Contact us today for a free claim review and advice about your best legal options.