A personal injury attorney is a lawyer who has been trained and licensed to handle injuries caused by the negligence of another person or company. Personal injury attorneys are experienced in assessing potential legal issues and helping their clients obtain maximum compensation for the injuries and losses they have suffered.

A good personal injury attorney will help their client get back to their normal life as quickly as possible. They will review medical records, gather evidence from eyewitnesses and experts, negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, prepare for trial.

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Depending on the severity of an injury, the attorney may need to hire outside experts to assist with the case. For example, if there was a car accident, the lawyer will likely need to retain an expert to investigate how the crash occurred and determine liability. They may also need to obtain the services of an economist or other financial expert to project future medical treatment and lost income.

In most states, victims of personal injury are entitled to a award called damages. These are designed to compensate the injured party for their losses and put them back in the position they were in before the defendant’s negligent conduct. Economic damages include medical bills, property damage, future loss of income and costs associated with physical and emotional rehabilitation. Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

When an injury occurs, it is important to keep receipts and documents related to medical expenses in one place so that the personal injury attorney can gather them quickly. It is also a good idea to document the accident scene with photographs and videos, if it is safe to do so.