Jim Leach Answers Questions About Your Personal Injury Case

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident, you may have a right to file a personal injury claim. The best way to determine if you have a claim is through a one-on-one consultation with one of our Parkersburg personal injury lawyers. During this consultation, the details of your case will be evaluated and your cause to file suite established.

Making a Personal Injury Claim

Personal injury is an extremely complex area of law. To win a proper settlement you will require an experienced and aggressive personal injury lawyer who is dedicated to helping you get every penny you deserve.

Parkersburg lawyer Jim Leach focuses on severe personal injury. Even though these injuries may seem to speak for themselves, the process of collecting compensation through a lawsuit is not as simple as it may seem.

To file a personal injury claim, we must first establish that:

• You have been injured.
• A third party can be held liable for your injuries.
• Damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and suffering will result from your injury.

Oftentimes establishing these things requires a thorough investigation. You can help us determine if you have a personal injury claim by providing us with documentation during your initial consultation.

Good things to bring to our first meeting include:

• Medical records related to your injury
• Documented property damage
• Information about lost wages
• Contact information for any witnesses.

With this information we can better assess your case and quickly let you know if you have a personal injury claim.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in West Virginia, please contact Jim Leach Attorneys at Law to schedule a free case evaluation today.

Serving West Virginia Areas of Parkersburg, Charleston and Morgantown

If you have suffered an injury to your person or property and that injury was someone else’s fault, then you have a personal injury case. It is important to note that a personal injury does not always have to be a physical injury. Some personal injury claims may be based on a variety of nonphysical losses and harms.

You may also be entitled to damages if someone has attacked your reputation, invaded your privacy, subjected you to extreme emotional distress, or committed verbal abuse. In order to seek damages for your injuries, you must first be able to prove that they were caused by the negligent actions of another.

Even if your personal injury case involves only minor injuries, you may still be entitled to substantial monetary damages. Medical expenses including hospital bills, medications, and personal therapy can be recovered. In cases of extreme negligence, punitive damages can be recovered to ensure that the conduct is not repeated in the future. In the case of a death within a family, surviving family members can recover damages through wrongful death lawsuits.

Many personal injury claims can be resolved through mediation rather than a jury trial. Mediation has become one of the most popular methods of arriving at a reasonable compromise settlement, especially in claims that would be very expensive and difficult to litigate. When mediation is successful, the claim or litigation ends without any further costs to the client. If mediation fails, you must then resort to litigation and jury trial to recover the compensation you deserve. A successful mediation is an extremely cost-effective procedure that can save you an enormous amount of money in litigation expenses.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligent actions of another, please contact our West Virginia personal injury attorneys today to arrange a consultation.

Serving West Virginia Areas of Parkersburg, Charleston and Morgantown

Car accident injury claims are often more complicated than they initially seem. If you choose to handle the claim process by yourself, you risk leaving out certain steps that can legally protect you, or else failing to adhere to the specific procedures and rules that each state imposes for car accident claims.

Sometimes, it is obvious which person is at fault in an accident. However, in many situations, determining fault requires a careful examination of the evidence. Accidents occur quickly and suddenly; in many cases, even the drivers who are involved are not sure about the details of what happened. Ultimately, you may not have all of the facts about your accident at hand, which would render any statements you make to insurance companies potentially inaccurate.

In addition to this, if you are injured during an accident, your ability to pursue a claim may be compromised by your time in the hospital. Even if your claim is successful, you might not secure the full measure of compensation that you are entitled to.

Protecting the Rights of Accident Victims

Our experienced West Virginia car accident attorney can perform a complete investigation of your accident while you focus on recovering from your injuries. We know the insurance industry inside and out, making us effective negotiators on your behalf. We know what questions to ask and how to keep your rights protected throughout the accident claim process.

In addition, we can help you:

• Collect the evidence needed to prove fault and the cause of your injuries.
• Speak with medical experts and obtain medical records.
• Obtain statements from witnesses and other drivers.
• Understand the real value of your personal injury claim.

Usually, the primary concern of people who have been injured in a car accident is how to pay their medical bills and make up for lost income. Hiring our attorney will not only simplify the accident claim process for you, but help ensure that you and your family receive the compensation you need to make a full recovery.

We are personally invested in the welfare of our clients and the outcome of each case. If you have suffered serious injuries in a car accident, make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Please contact our experienced car accident attorney Jim Leach today for a free consultation. Our firm serves clients throughout West Virginia.

You can sue. The form you signed merely granted consent for the surgery to be performed. It did not make the surgeon exempt from paying for fatal mistakes caused by medical malpractice.

Please contact our experienced West Virginia wrongful death attorney Jim Leach today for a free consultation. Our firm serves clients throughout West Virginia and Ohio.

You may receive compensation for any of the following:

• Medical and funeral costs
• Lost benefits
• Lost future earnings
• Lost inheritance

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Mental anguish

Most likely, you would not be able to file a claim. In most cases spouses, children, and parents are the only ones entitled to bring a wrongful death action.

Yes, it does matter. Wrongful death claims are very complex and require the expertise of an attorney who is familiar with the wrongful death laws in your state. You wouldn’t go to a dermatologist for a heart condition, so you shouldn’t go to a corporate lawyer for your wrongful death case.

Yes. Even if your deceased loved one never held a job or contributed to the family financially, there are other ways he/she may have contributed. A parent/spouse who worked at home contributes service, guidance and nurturing. Non-monetary contributions are quantifiable as “pecuniary losses” in a wrongful death action. The damages awarded for the deaths of children and the elderly are usually modest.

No, the laws vary from state to state. An experienced wrongful death attorney licensed in your state can assist you in understanding the law and your rights regarding the law.

A criminal case occurs when the government seeks to punish someone for an act that is classified as a crime. A civil case has to do with the rights and duties that individuals and organizations legally owe each other. The burden of proof is much higher in a criminal case, and the penalty can be imprisonment. In a civil wrongful death case, the defendant, if he loses, will have a monetary judgment entered against him. You can be found not guilty criminally but be found liable for wrongful death in a civil case.