Guide to Finding Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyer

When you experience an injury and wish to seek damages for compensation, there are many different factors to consider. WI personal injury lawyers specialize in many different kinds of accidents to help those who are considering pursuing civil litigation. Going to court is not a process to be undertaken lightly, nor is finding an attorney to represent you. If you are thinking hiring a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Types of personal injury

There are many different kinds of accidents that can cause physical harm. Some incidents that may lead you to want to hire a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer:

• A driving accident in which you are hurt by your vehicle without another party’s involvement, such as an SUV roll-over or a malfunctioning seatbelt

• A driving injury in which you are hit by another car or truck

• An injury caused by a defective product

• An injury that takes place on someone else’s property because of unsafe conditions, known as “premises liability”

In most cases, injuries sustained on the job are not grounds for hiring WI personal injury lawyers. Instead, you should seek workers’ compensation and hire an attorney specialized in that field if you have trouble receiving what you are entitled to. Wisconsin personal injury lawyers can help you with litigation for all the other kinds of injuries.

Assigning blame

In Wisconsin, the rule of modified “comparative negligence” is used when evaluating lawsuits. This means that a WI personal injury lawyer arguing for a plaintiff must prove that the person being sued was at least 51% or more responsible for any accident. If you are half responsible for your injuries, you are not entitled to any compensation. The statute of limitations is generally three years. After this time, no Wisconsin personal injury lawyers can file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Determining who is at fault for any incident can often be difficult. For example, if you are injured by a defective product, a WI personal injury lawyer must determine which party or parties are at fault, including:

• Manufacturers of faulty parts

• Manufacturers of the final product assembled in a defective way

• Wholesale retailers who sell these defective products to stores

• Stores or salesmen who pass the defective product on to a customer who is subsequently injured

In some cases, a product may be defective because of inadequate safety instructions. It is also possible that it may have been flawed from the beginning because of design errors that could be observed in the planning stage. Determining who is at fault is essential before a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer can begin constructing a strong case.

What to do when you are injured

After any accident, the most important thing to do is take care of your health. Visit a physician or emergency room if necessary. Make sure to obtain records from any doctors you consult which document your injuries. Wisconsin personal injury lawyers cannot seek compensation for damage to your body which has not been documented.

Make sure to file a claim with both your insurance company and that of any party you believe may be responsible for your injuries. No WI personal injury lawyer can gauarantee that you will receive financial compensation in court, but you may be able to recover some of your medical expenses this way. Retain copies of any correspondence you have with any insurance company. This kind of documentation will help a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer demonstrate you have acted in good faith at all times. Obtaining a settlement from an insurance form does not prevent you from suing for additional damages later.

Hiring a WI personal injury lawyer

If you decide to pursue civil litigation, you must begin the legal process within three years of any incident. Alone or with the help of a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer, you can sue for:

• Medical expenses

• Physical pain or emotional suffering

• Lost work wages

• Disfigurement

• Marital strain caused by your injury

You are not required to have an attorney to advance litigation and have the option of representing yourself in a “pro se” capacity. However, this kind of lawsuit can be highly technical. Most people will benefit from the advice of WI personal injury lawyers with specialized experience in their kind of case.

Do not rush into hiring an attorney. Ask friends and family to recommend WI personal injury lawyers they have successfully worked with. You may also receive a referral to a qualified specialist from the Wisconsin State Bar. Before agreeing to meet with any Wisconsin personal injury lawyer, look up their disciplinary records online to make sure they have not been cited for any ethical violations.

Prepare for your first meeting by assembling as much documentation as possible. No WI personal injury lawyers can offer a useful opinion about the strength of your case until they have as much evidence as possible. Be prepared to answer all their questions honestly and candidly. In return, you should be prepared to extensively question all Wisconsin personal injury lawyers you talk to. Some things to ask about include:

• What is your level of experience with my kind of case?

• If you are not qualified to represent me, can you recommend me to a more experienced WI personal injury lawyer?

• How long will my case take to be resolved?

• How frequently will I be updated about progress in my case?

Paying Wisconsin personal injury lawyers

If the odds of you receiving some form of financial compensation are high, some attorneys may be willing to represent you for free in exchange for a percentage of whatever settlement you receive. These WI personal injury lawyers will be working on a “contingency” basis. However, this does not mean you may not be liable for some pretrial expenses. For example, a WI personal injury lawyer may wish to hire an accident reconstruction specialist or other type of expert witness. Be sure to ask what kind of pretrial expenses you may be liable for.