If you have been in some type of accident here in West Virginia, your first call is not necessarily to a Charleston personal injury lawyer. When you need a personal injury lawyer often depends on the type of accident you experienced and the severity of your injuries. If you’ve had a simple fender-bender on one of Charleston’s city streets, you can likely handle that yourself because you are comfortable with the deductible and the repairs costs are covered by insurance. Many insurance companies have divisions dedicated to fast-tracking repair-only insurance claims.
However insurance companies do not like to pay large claims and often lowball offers especially for medical care and costs. You may consider speaking with a Charleston personal injury lawyer like us here at the Love law firm, before dealing with the insurance company. We have handled many personal injury cases and know how to guide you and answer your questions.
The Injury Factor
If you sustained any injuries, you should begin working with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. That may mean the next morning after your accident. If you are still hospitalized or did spend an extended time in the hospital and have considerable expenses from the accident, you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able. If your loved one is unable to contact us, you should reach out to us on their behalf. If injuries are extensive, the medical bills, future rehabilitation, and loss wages are only some of the things you may need compensation for.
Why not wait ? Because the other party’s insurance company will be calling you within a few days to make a settlement offer. They may not wait until you get home before they call and want to talk you into taking their first settlement. Avoid saying anything except “hello” and “goodbye” and speak to a Charleston personal injury lawyer first. You need good legal advice before making a settlement or you may end up accepting a lower settlement than you need.
We at the Love Law Firm know more than you the types of things you can and should be asking for You may have long term or permanent disability. Your personal relationships may suffer because of you incapacity. You may not be able to return to work or if you do return, be unable to to the type of work you were able to do before the accident. Also we don’t want you to wait because West Virginia’s statute of limitations is just two years from the date of your accident to file a claim.
The insurance company doesn’t want you to know the value of your claim because they hope you’ll accept much less. If you accept their offer, you may not have enough to cover all your expenses but it is too late. They have closed the case and you can not come back for more. We strongly recommend you don’t agree to anything without talking to a personal injury lawyer first.
Factors That May Be Part of a Personal Injury Case
If your accident included:
• A fatality
• Lost work or school time
• Losses that include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, or loss of companionship
• Dispute over who is at fault
• Multiple people experienced injuries
• The accident occurred in a construction zone or similar area
• The report or insurance paperwork is incorrect
A personal injury attorney can make sure that everything is handled correctly and you are not deceived. Additionally, if your accident involves a municipality or state entity in West Virginia, you’ll have specific guidelines to follow when filing your claim.
The Love Law Firm -Leading Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer
We’ve been helping West Virginians for over 25 years with all types of personal injuries. From auto accidents to slips and falls, medical malpractice, specific injuries, and everything in between, we’ve helped thousands of West Virginians with all types of personal injury cases.
If you’ve been involved in a personal injury case in Charleston and need help, contact us at The Love Law Firm, or call us at (304) 344 5683. Your consultation is free, and we only collect if we win your case.
