Most people have heard that they should hire an attorney if they’ve been in an automobile accident that wasn’t their fault, but did you know that there are dozens of other instances where a personal injury lawyer can help? For instance, more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, over 450,000 Americans are involved in bicycle-related injuries, and over 1 million people will be involved in slip and fall accidents.
Common Reasons For Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
With statistics like these, it’s important to take whatever precautions are necessary to avoid such accidents from happening. Unfortunately, sometimes things still happen because of someone else’s negligence. When that’s the case, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost work time, and pain and suffering.
To be quite honest, in some instances, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. In today’s blog from Olga A. Koplik, Sacramento | Placer personal injury lawyer, we want to review some of the most common reasons for hiring an attorney, and if you’ve been the victim of an injury that wasn’t your fault, we encourage you to call our office to schedule a consultation as soon as possible.
Personal Injury Cases
Sometimes accidents are just that — “accidents”, but other times, the injuries sustained are the direct result of someone else’s action or lack of action. They can happen on the job, at a place of business, or even while you’re just walking down the street. The following are just a handful of examples of when you may need a personal injury lawyer.
Auto Collisions
It goes without saying that car accidents can be very serious and even fatal. But what about if your accident was a minor one and you don’t think your injuries are that serious? Getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible is a smart move that can help make sure you get what you’re legally entitled to.
For instance, sometimes it can take days or weeks for symptoms of injury to manifest. At that point, you may start to incur medical bills or may not be able to work. If so, you could be left footing the bill if you didn’t contact an attorney right after your accident.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slips, trips, and falls happen more often than they should, and oftentimes they’re the direct result of poor lighting, poorly maintained walkways, or clutter or tripping hazards. If you’ve had a slip or fall, it’s important to gather as much information as possible about what caused the fall and to not speak to an insurance company until you’ve been able to speak to an attorney. It is also important to contact an attorney in a slip and fall incident right away to preserve evidence, such as surveillance video which in most cases is deleted within 30-days from the day of the incident.
Dog Bites
Most people love dogs, and the majority of them are friendly, but every so often these animals can lash out and cause serious injury. In the State of California, when dogs injure another person, their owners are the ones who are held legally responsible. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, you should consult with a personal injury attorney especially if you’ve had to seek medical attention. If your injuries require stitches, antibiotics, or surgery, it’s easy to rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills, and those are bills that you may not have to pay if it’s proven that the dog owner was at fault.
Boat Accidents
When you’re enjoying time on the water, the last thing you want to think about is getting into a boating accident. Unfortunately, accidents happen in boats just like they do in a car. Most boating accidents occur because the operator either wasn't paying attention, was inexperienced, or was under the influence of drugs or other substances.
Boating accidents can be very serious and even fatal. If you or someone you know has been injured in a boating accident, a lawyer can help gather all of the information pertaining to the incident and help you get compensation if the other party is at fault.
Motorcycle Accidents
Compared to automobile accidents, accidents that involve motorcycles are often much more serious. Medical costs and motorcycle damage can quickly drain your insurance and any extra savings you may have. Insurance companies will try to settle cases quickly, which often results in the victim only getting paid a fraction of what they’re owed. That’s why it's so important to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able.
Bicycle Accidents
More and more people are taking to their bicycles to avoid sitting in traffic, save money, and make a better choice for their health and for the planet. Unfortunately, drivers of automobiles aren’t always on the lookout for bicycles and some just don’t like to share the road. If you’ve been struck by a car or have been in a bicycle accident as a result of someone else's negligence, an attorney can help you get compensation.
Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability cases involve personal injury that was caused by some kind of unsafe condition on someone else’s property. Slip and fall cases are usually considered a premises liability case, but there are several other kinds you should be aware of, such as swimming pool accidents, snow and ice accidents, elevator accidents, and inadequate building security which leads to injury or assault.
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, whether it was because of one of these examples or something entirely different, a personal injury lawyer can help determine if you have a case and answer any questions you may have.
Contact a Sacramento | Placer Personal Injury Lawyer Who Cares
If you’ve been the victim of an accident that wasn’t your fault, you already have enough to worry about. You shouldn’t have to agonize over-paying your medical bills or being taken advantage of by an insurance company. At the Law Office of Olga A. Koplik, PC we can provide professional, legal advice and help you gather the documentation you’ll need to build your case. In the event that your case goes to trial, you’ll have experienced legal representation available to help you get the best possible outcome.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you’ve been in an accident, call the Law Office of Olga A. Koplik, PC or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation.