A personal injury lawyer is someone who represents people who have been injured, either physically or psychologically, as a result of someone else’s negligence. The guilty party can be an individual person, a company, a government department, or some other entity. Such a lawyer is therefore well versed in the law that governs injury to a person, damage to a person’s property, a person’s reputation, and a person’s rights.
Although personal injury attorneys are licensed to practice in most areas of law, they usually concentrate on cases that relate to injury. These include motor vehicle injury, injuries at the workplace, medical negligence, paraplegic and brain injury, as well as slip and fall injury. The lawyer has to follow a code of conduct and ethical rules laid down by a bar association when serving his or her clients.
Once the lawyer has received a license to practice, they are permitted to file complaints, defend cases in a court, draw up legal documents, and give legal advice to people wishing to lodge a personal injury claim. In some countries, a personal injury attorney is also called a plaintiff attorney.
When first consulting with such a lawyer, he or she will first evaluate the client’s case. This involves an in-depth study of the circumstances surrounding the injury and the nature of the negligence that caused the client’s injury. When all information is gathered, a strong case can be made against the defendant.
The main aim is to ensure that the client receives justice and a fair settlement for the loss and suffering caused. As already stated, the attorney is required to operate within strict parameters while building the case. He or she will be registered member of a bar association which states that loyalty and client confidentiality are practiced at all times.
Like most other lawyers, personal injury attorneys can practice as individuals, or they may be employed by legal firms – small, medium or large. He or she can also own a law company or be a partner in the business. You can often get more personal attention if you deal with an individual practitioner.
Furthermore, attorneys who practice on their own are more likely to accept smaller cases. The costs are usually less because they don’t carry the hefty overheads of a large law firm. Therefore, the public find them much more accessible and affordable.
A small law firm usually comprises of 2-10 attorneys who have expertise in many areas of personal injury claims. A medium-size company usually comprises of 10-50 attorneys who provide legal representation in all areas of the law. The company would also have several lawyers that deal exclusively with personal injury claims such as Paraplegic and Brain injury Toronto. A large law company usually has more than 50 attorneys. Often, a large firm has an excellent reputation because it has been in existence for a long time.
A personal injury lawyer in the USA can become a member of many professional organizations. There are certain associations that call for mandatory membership while others are voluntary. Some common bodies are the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, the American Bar Association, or the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.