What Do Personal Injury Lawyers Do?

Law Blog

Many people aspire to certain careers but don't quite understand what those professions entail on a day-to-day basis. One of these mysterious professions is that of a personal injury lawyer. If you have always wanted to help people seek justice after a personal injury, you can study to be a personal injury lawyer. But what types of things would you be doing all day if you became one? Here are a few main duties of a personal injury attorney.  

Collect Evidence

Once a lawyer takes on a client with a personal injury, they will start collecting evidence to build a case. The very fact that they took on a client means they believe there is enough evidence to potentially win the case, but they need to get organized. This includes gathering official insurance statements, medical bills and records, photographs of accident scenes or injuries, and other items that might be helpful to a client's case. This may require some sleuthing, and a high level of organization and deciphering skills.

Talk to Witnesses

Lawyers also must find and talk to any witnesses present at the time of the accident. If their client was injured at work, they may ask the employer for a list of employees working on the shift that day and contact each one for a statement. If the client was injured by a dog while running in their neighborhood, the lawyer will attempt to contact the residents of the neighborhood until they find people who saw the incident in person. Finding good witnesses can be invaluable to building a case, so knowing how to find and gain a witness' trust is paramount.

Negotiate on a Client's Behalf

One of the best services you can give your client as a lawyer is to negotiate on their behalf. Lawyers must become comfortable negotiating with insurance companies and navigating the complex legal system. They must know how to respectfully push back on other lawyers and judges to win a case. They use their understanding of case law to find loopholes that can help them win. 

Lawyers negotiate with an end in mind: damages. They seek damages (or monetary payment) for things like loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, medical expenses, legal costs, and emotional distress. You must feel comfortable asserting yourself, because you'll be doing it every day as a lawyer.

These are just a few of the tasks that lawyers complete in the duration of a personal injury case. You can learn more about daily duties by speaking with a local personal injury lawyer (such as one from Schlicter & Schonack LLP).

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29 October 2015

Every Business Owner Needs to Be Well-versed in Law

While I took a few business classes in college, I left early to start my own business. I thought I had the knowledge I needed to become a great business owner and was eager to start my business. Soon, I had a new business that was actually performing pretty well in sales. Unfortunately, I hadn't taken any law courses in college, and I soon realized I made a few mistakes when starting my business that could cause me some legal trouble. Thankfully, a great business lawyer helped me correct my mistakes before I had any legal problems, but I then decided to take those business law courses. I want to help business owners and anyone else who would like to learn more about the law by starting a blog where I will share what I have learned and will continue to learn. I hope I can help you!