If you were in an accident you may be wondering: Do you have a case?
Each lawyer has his own screening criteria but they will generally follow this pattern:
1) Were you injured? Sometimes mere injury isn't enough. Some states require a "permanent injury" before you can recover non-economic compensation in a car accident case.
2) was your injury caused by the negligence of another?
If the other driver ran a red light or stop sign, or rear-ended you, then he was most likely negligent.
Now, if you are careless and drive off the road you can't sue yourself. Well, you can try, but your insurance won't pay the claim.
Note: for dog bite cases in some states you don't have to show negligence of the owner. If his dog bit you, he's liable. Likewise, with dangerous products. If you are injured by a product and it is proven that the product was dangerous then the manufacturer is liable for your injuries.
3) Was the property damage (auto accident cases) enough that a jury would believe the injuries were caused by the accident?
4) the final one is intangible: do we like the injured person?
The last question may seem arbitrary but we have found that if we like a client and the client likes us, we get a better result. Given the amount of time and money we invest in a case we like to base our investment on a firm foundation: a solid trustworthy client.
When you first call a law firm about your personal injury accident legal case you will likely be directed to a paralegal. Here is what Black's Law Dictionary says about paralegals:
"A paralegal is "a person with legal skills, but who is not a attorney, and who works under the supervision of a lawyer or who is otherwise authorized by law to use those legal skills. Paralegal courses leading to degrees in such specialty are now afforded by many schools."
While many paralegals obtain a certificate or degree before working on a Utah personal injury accident legal case, some paralegals gain their training on-the-job. The most famous example is Erin Brockovich (played by Julia Roberts in the movie of the same name)
Erin Brockovich was a twice-divorced mother of three young children who convinced her attorney to hire her at his law firm. While working, Erin stumbled upon a cover-up involving contaminated water in a local community which was causing devastating illness among its residents. Erin's persistence led to the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history....$333 million.
Erin's employer rewarded her with a bonus of more than a million dollars. So, you see a paralegal can become rich and famous and without even going to school!
My point is this: paralegals are valuable in the legal profession, so don't be put off that you don't get to talk to a lawyer on your first call.
The paralegal will screen your personal injury legal case.
Rex Bush is founder of Bush Law Firm near Salt Lake City, Utah where he handles personal injury cases in Utah and throughout the United States and Canada. For information on personal injury issues visit his website: Utah Personal Injury Attorney
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Check Peoples Criminal Background To Access Arrest Records of Someone
By: James Nash | 09/11/2009Usually on television you will see the character accessing a database to find criminal arrest records or they hire a private investigator to tap out a few keystrokes and print out the total life history of a person without any effort.
Accelerating Out of Control? What to Do
By: Paul Fleming | 08/11/2009A review of the recent reports of cars accelerating out of control and what drivers should do to not only protect their personal, but also their financial safety. Presented by LemonLaw.com
How do I get my Thai Fiancee United States Citizenship?
By: Ben Hart | 08/11/2009A brief overview of the full process of getting a Thai Fiancee a US passport, from the initial K1 visa until the US naturalization process.
Personal injury lawyer Houston – finding the right one
By: Lewis Dylan | 08/11/2009The world in general is getting more and more dangerous by the day. Along with the world; work places are also in increasingly becoming dangerous. To be more specific the work hazards that workers are exposed to are also on the rise. In spite of all the protective gear however personal injuries are quite frequent.
How To Correctly Undertake Site Induction Training
By: Martin Sejas | 08/11/2009Site induction training is one of the most important yet under appreciated parts of any construction project. This article aims to briefly cover the major components of site induction training.
A Criminal Attorney For Murder Charges
By: Linda49818a | 08/11/2009Possession of explosives, aggravated assault, burglary, carjacking, drug crimes, drunk driving, and unlawful use of credit card are all criminal charges and filed in a criminal court.
Legal Document Drafting
By: Achal Madhavan | 08/11/2009We offer you the legal document drafting facility where you can convert your own content into template format for automated legal document drafting.
Traumatic Brain Injury - What You Must Know
By: Rex Bush | 10/09/2009 | MedicineTraumatic brain injury is a serious medical condition that can extremely affect a person's life. It can be a confusing injury since it often produces a variety of symptoms that vary greatly from person to person. Symptoms can also vary in adults and children. The best way to learn about...
Car Accident Shoulder Injuries - What You Must Know
By: Rex Bush | 10/09/2009 | LawShoulder injuries in a car accident are common. They are caused mostly by the jerking movements that occur in an accident and may be further aggravated by seat belt shoulder straps. Shoulder injuries may also be related to neck injuries. Understanding more about shoulder injuries will allow you to recognize...
Personal Injury Medical Exam - Your Must Know Guide
By: Rex Bush | 01/08/2009 | LawWhether you were injured on the job or in a car crash, a Defense Medical Exam is one of the pitfalls of an injury case. Sometimes it is called an "Independent Medical Exam" but that is totally a misnomer as there is nothing "independent" about it. Many insurance companies hire doctors...
Yellowstone Park: Top 6 Things to See and Do
By: Rex Bush | 01/08/2009 | TravelYellowstone Park: Top 6 Things to See and Do I first came to the Park in 1972. I was a year out of high school and traveling about the west in an ancient Studebaker with my friend Mike and my dog Grover. We'd been sleeping in my car by the roadside...
Personal Injury - What You Must Know About Vocational Rehabilitation Services
By: Rex Bush | 21/07/2009 | LawWere injured in an accident? Are you unable to go back to your job? If so, you may be able to get trained into a new career through your state's vocational rehabilitation service. Commonly known as "state rehab" your state's service provides eligible people with various services to help them get back...
Power of Attorney - Special Power of Attorney: The Basics
By: Rex Bush | 21/07/2009 | LawA power of attorney is a piece of paper. With it you give someone the power to act for you. The person acting for you is your agent also known as your "attorney-in-fact." (So, if you have always wanted to be an attorney-here's your chance. Just have someone execute a power...
Personal Injury - Act of God: What You Must Know
By: Rex Bush | 16/07/2009 | LawWhat is an "act of god?" Black's Law Dictionary defines it as "An act...[caused] exclusively by violence of nature without the interference of human agency." Typically these are "events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters for which no one can be held responsible." (Wikipedia.) However, if a...
Personal Injury--Do You Have a Case?
By: Rex Bush | 09/07/2009 | LawIf you were in an accident you may be wondering: Do you have a case? Each lawyer has his own screening criteria but they will generally follow this pattern: 1) Were you injured? Sometimes mere injury isn't enough. Some states require a "permanent injury" before you can recover non-economic compensation in a...