Choosing whether or not to move forward with a lawsuit is a big decision for anybody. Here at the Cochran Firm Philadelphia office, we know that better than most. In some cases, however, it can mean the difference between shouldering years of medical bills and receiving the compensation you rightfully deserve. That is exactly why we’ve compiled this list of reasons why suing might be worth the hassle in some situations.
Read below for the top 10 reasons to sue and how to find the right lawyer when doing so.
- Consultations Are FREE
Yes, the Cochran Firm Philadelphia office does offer FREE consultations. This way, you can come in and receive counsel regarding your case without committing to anything.
- It’s Not As Expensive As You Think
There’s a common misconception that lawyers are always expensive. Fortunately, this is not always true. For example, many legal practices handle cases on a contingent fee basis. This means that their fees come out of your final settlement rather than upfront out-of-pocket payments.
Fortunately, the Cochran Firm Philadelphia office does, in fact, provide legal assistance on a contingent fee basis. In other words, we don’t get paid until you get paid. Not only does this ease your burden, but it ensures that everyone in our community that needs help can get it. So please don’t wait. Call or visit our website to schedule a consultation with one of our Personal injury lawyers in Philadelphia today.
- Medical Bills
One of the best reasons to sue is simply to receive monetary compensation. Say someone injured you by hitting you, resulting in expensive medical bills and a hospital stay. You shouldn’t have to pay those bills out of pocket. The person responsible should be shouldering that burden. In a personal injury lawsuit, you might be able to receive compensation for expenses like that.
Keep in mind that personal injury can come from a variety of sources – car accidents, assault, injury by slipping, etc…
- Permanent Injury/Disability
In worse cases of personal injury, you may lose more than just money. For example, a workplace injury could leave you unable to work for years at a time. In this case, you should immediately seek a personal injury lawyer to pursue workers comp or a lawsuit.
- Loss/Damage of Property
In the event that someone causes damage to your property, that can become a large expense as well. Say someone blows through a red light and hits your car with theirs. Now, your car might be totaled, and you have no way to get to work. Those kinds of expenses should receive monetary compensation as well. Seeking the assisance of a qualified car crash lawyer can help you navigate the legal proess and ensure that you receive the appropriate compensation for the damages caused
- Emotional Distress
Now, physical injury and property aside, emotional distress is an important consideration too. Consider a situation where someone causes you to undergo a traumatic event that impacts you for life. Conditions such as PTSD can require years of therapy and may even impact your ability to work. Don’t brush things like this off.
- No Workers Comp Insurance
If you’re not familiar with workers comp, take some time to read through a few of our other articles on this topic. Workers comp is designed to protect employees from unexpected injuries in the workplace. Remember that you should always report workplace injuries as soon as they happen and receive medical attention.
In the case that your employer does not carry workers comp insurance, however, you may not be eligible for your rightfully deserved compensation. In this case, you should immediately consult with a lawyer regarding possible next steps.
- No, Finding A Lawyer Is Not That Difficult
Now that you know that lawyers are affordable let’s talk about how easy it really is to find one. For example, here at the Cochran Firm Philadelphia office, we’re happy to handle a variety of cases, including various types of personal injury.
Simply call a legal practice to ask whether they can help you with your specific case and schedule an appointment. Fortunately, many lawyers offer FREE consultations these days, so looking around for one doesn’t have to cost you anything. Just make sure you ask beforehand whether or not the first consultation is free.
- You’re Protecting Others
Now, if all of those reasons aren’t enough for you yet, keep this in mind. When you take steps to stand up for yourself, you’re not only protecting yourself, but you’re also protecting others. Say your lawsuit forces your employer to look back on how they treat their employees and fix their errors. This is great! It means that you’ve paved the way for better treatment of future employees at your company. So don’t hesitate to take a stand for yourself today.
- A Lawyer Can Guide You The Entire Way
We do realize that lawsuits can be a stressful and daunting process. Don’t worry your lawyer can talk you through the entire process and help you with the paperwork.
The most important thing is to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible and be completely honest. Keep in mind that in some cases, there may be a time limit for filing a lawsuit against a party. In this case, it’s extremely important to consult with legal counsel as soon as possible after the incident so that they can file paperwork before the deadline.
How To Find A Lawyer
Now that we’ve gone over some of the reasons why you might want to move forward with a lawsuit, let’s talk about the how.
First of all, you should know that not all lawyers are the same. In fact, most legal practices specialize in one kind of law or another. For example, say you’re looking for legal advice regarding a case where someone else caused you physical injury. In this case, you may want a personal injury lawyer.
In terms of searching for a legal practice, word of mouth will perhaps be your best asset. Try asking around through friends and family to see if anyone knows a good lawyer. Next, call to schedule your consultation. You may also want to ask whether or not they offer free consultations (this way, you won’t have to commit to any legal fees during your initial meeting).
During your first meeting, make sure to explain your case and ask whether the legal practice handles cases such as yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are just a few last answers that we’ve compiled for some frequently asked questions.
What Is Personal Injury?
According to the Legal Information Institute (LII), personal injury includes “every variety of injury to a person’s body, emotions, or reputation, as contradistinguished from injury to property rights”.
How Much Does A Lawyer Cost?
The short answer to this is that it depends.
For example, according to Contracts Counsel, “the average cost of a lawyer in any legal field is $250 – $350 per hour”.
Having said that, many lawyers these days work on a contingent fee basis. This means that they do not charge upfront legal fees and simply take their payment out of your final settlement. For these types of legal practices, the legal fee might look something like 20%-45% of your final monetary settlement.
The Cochran Firm Philadelphia office is one legal practice that utilizes the contingent fee basis. This way, we can offer legal services to more of our community.
How To Find A Personal Injury Lawyer?
As we mentioned earlier, word of mouth is probably the best way to find a good lawyer. Local legal directories, google reviews, and other legal matching websites can all be excellent resources for finding a good lawyer, as well.
How Much To Ask For In A Personal Injury Settlement?
Deciding how much to ask for in a settlement can be a complicated process. The best thing to do is simply to contact an attorney and sit down for a consultation. They will be able to assess your medical bills and other costs in order to come up with a fair number.
Personal Injury Lawyer In Philadelphia
Are you looking for the right lawyer for your case? The Cochran Firm Philadelphia office would love to hear from you. Simply call or visit our website to schedule your appointment.
Our practice handles cases in the following areas: auto accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, police misconduct, product liability, premise liability, birth injury, and more.