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    Riverdale Personal Injury Lawyer

    Accidents can happen anywhere and at any time. Seemingly simple incidents such as motor vehicle accidents, product malfunctions, and even tripping and falling could have tremendous consequences, and the financial strain such an accident may have on an individual and their families could be monumental.

    If you were injured due to another person’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation from the responsible party with assistance from a dedicated attorney. A Riverdale personal injury lawyer could help you learn about your legal options, work to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions, and seek compensation for your damages.

    Initial Settlement Offers from Insurance Companies

    After an accident that causes personal injuries, the insurance company representing the reckless or negligent party will usually come forward with an initial settlement offer. The timing and amount of this offer is designed to make it seem like a life-saver, and that it will cover all the losses the victim has sustained.

    Unfortunately, this may be a well-crafted illusion. In reality, the settlement offers that insurance companies bring forward in the immediate aftermath of an accident are often designed to drastically lowball the plaintiff by providing only a tiny fraction of the compensation they really need.

    These settlement offers come with a waiver that requires an accident victim to forego their legal rights to a personal injury claim as a condition for accepting the offer—leaving them without recourse once they realize the settlement leaves them without the lion’s share of the recovery they deserve. If a potential plaintiff retains a Riverdale personal injury attorney, though, an insurance company may change its tune and significantly increase its settlement offer out of fear of pending litigation.

    Filing a Personal Damage Complaint and Obtaining a Settlement

    If the insurance company still does not offer a reasonable settlement, or if there was no insurance company involved in the first place, the next step is often to file a complaint. This formal court document is served to the negligent party and states what happened, the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries, and why the plaintiff deserves to be compensated.

    After the complaint, the vast majority of personal injury cases will end in settlement, typically well before the prospective trial date. However, the lack of a trial does not mean a plaintiff could not benefit from the skills and knowledge of a personal injury lawyer in Riverdale. By gathering evidence of compensable damages and the details of the accident, legal counsel could pressure the other side towards making a reasonable settlement offer and could guide a plaintiff throughout the ensuing legal processes.

    Trial and Verdict

    In rare cases, the defendant makes no reasonable settlement offer, and a personal injury case will go to trial. There, a plaintiff’s attorney could argue why they deserves to be compensated, and how much they deserve, and the defense would respond with their own side of the story. The jury could then consider the evidence and reach a conclusion in their verdict which states whether the plaintiff should be compensated and how much they are to recover.

    Call a Riverdale Personal Injury Attorney for Legal Guidance

    If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident or as the result of someone else’s negligence, hiring legal help could make a huge difference in whether you recover the compensation you need and deserve. Contact a Riverdale personal injury lawyer today for the legal representation you may need.