Posted on April 6, 2012 by Fast Lawsuit Team
Faulty electrical wiring may simply give you an unpleasant jolt. Or it can be career-ending. Worse, an electric shock can be fatal.
Take the case of a commercial airline pilot who suffered from electrocution while taking a shower in his hotel bathroom. He had recently passed a physical examination that vouched for his good health and eligibility to fly a plane. It was shown that the light fixture in the shower was defective and caused the electric shock, which affected his eligibility for his job. The pilot has the right to sue for compensation – for the pain and injury, as well as for the loss of his job.
Electric shock and burns
Electric shock and burns are caused by electricity passing through the body. The severity of the physical damage depends on the area of contact, the strength of the electric current and the length the person was exposed to the electric current. When the current that passes the body is perpendicular, passing from hand to hand, there is fewer electrical current that passes through the body. When the current passing through the body is parallel, passing from head to toe, there is more damage as more vital areas in the body are affected. If the person is wet (due to a shower or sweat), this could also have a negative impact on the severity of the injury.
Physical effects of an electric shock could include:
- Contact burns
- Deep burns in internal tissues
- Muscle injuries since the electric shocks force violent contractions of the muscles.
- Bone injuries (dislocations or fractures) – the violent contractions can also break or dislocated bones.
- Internal organ damage (kidney failure)
- Brain damage
- Cataract formation
- Death due to cardiac arrest
There are also secondary effects to the electric shock. If the person fell or was thrown backwards during the shock, he can also sustain additional injuries.
Causes of Electric Shock
Electric shock can be caused by:
Work accidents. Workers, particularly in the construction industry, have a higher than normal risk of electric shock, especially if safety procedures are ignored or violated. Construction sites may have open lines. Those working on roads may touch underground cables.
Defective products. Users of defective products may experience electric shock caused by faulty design or by faulty manufacturing.
Maintenance problems. Customers may be victimized in public facilities such as amusement parks, hotels, hospitals and so on if some of the equipment is poorly maintained.
Contractor mistake. Errors in the construction of the house and set up of electrical lines may result in electric shock injuries.
Other causes of electric shock include water penetration, sockets with too many electric appliances plugged in and faulty wiring.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for the Electric Shock
For you to have a case against the erring party, you must show that the other party has a duty of care to you – you are a customer, an invited guest, an employee. The other party must have the responsibility of ensuring that the product or premises is safe from electric shocks. It must be shown that if they had not been negligent, the shock and subsequent injuries could have been prevented.
If you are a victim of electric shock, you must make sure to seek medical treatment for your injuries so that it can be shown that you have done your part to minimize the amount of damage you sustained.
When you file an electric shock lawsuit, you should include the following:
- Medical expenses related to the electric shock (both present and future)
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Cost of adaptive equipment and therapy
While you are waiting for your lawsuit to settle, you should consider applying for a lawsuit cash advance. This will help fund your medical treatment to ensure that there is no further physical damage. The cash you get from lawsuit funding can be also used to pay for your day-to-day expenses, as well as to cover for court-related costs.
FastLawsuitMoney.com is a reputable provider of lawsuit settlement loans for people who are awaiting the settlement of their lawsuit and are in dire need of funding. With FastLawsuitMoney.com’s streamlined applications process, you don’t need to provide records of your employment or credit rating. You can also get your funds quickly, once your application is approved.
Posted on April 3, 2012 by Fast Lawsuit Team
So you have been injured because of a careless driver, a defective product or a slip and fall at the mall. If you are lucky, you may get away with just minor bruises. However, if the accident was particularly catastrophic, you may end up in the hospital with:
- Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash
- Broken bones
- Brain tissue injuries
- Spinal cord or back injuries
- Paralysis
- Dismembered limbs
- Injuries to the internal organs
These serious injuries will require extensive treatment at the hospital. Your treatment expenses will usually involve the following:
- The professional fees of your doctors, surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses. There are also cases when your doctor will refer you to a specialist for a more detailed diagnosis.
- Laboratory or diagnostic testing such as CAT scans, x-rays, blood tests or MRIs.
- Medications
- The fees for physical or occupational therapy. Physical therapy seeks to help patients recover their normal functions after the accident. Meanwhile, occupational therapy is geared towards functional limitations where an accident victim is unable to perform the activities they usually do not just in their occupation but also in their day-to-day living.
- The fees of a psychotherapist to help deal with the psychological effects of the injury. The victim may suffer from anxiety or depression after the event. The accident may render him physically disabled or may cause him to lose his job. He will need the help of a mental health therapist to help him move on from the trauma.
- The fees of a chiropractor, for problems with alignment of the bones.
- The installation of prosthetics or adaptive equipment. This may include computer-aided equipment, wheelchairs, medical aids, artificial teeth or artificial limbs. There may also be home improvements in order for the victim to adapt to the injury or any resulting disability.
Other expenses may include cosmetic surgery (to repair damages caused by the accident), lifetime care, traveling and lodging expenses for the family or caregiver(while they are taking care of the victim in the hospital) and organ transplants.
The importance of computing your medical expenses
The amount of medical expenses provides an important baseline for the rest of the personal injury claim. In some instances, compensation for pain and suffering is based on a multiple of the medical expenses.
Future Medical Expenses
When computing for your medical expense claim, you should also include future medical expenses. Your injuries may necessitate continued therapy. Remember that once you settle your claim, you waive the right to further claims so you must carefully estimate the cost of future treatments.
Also, keep note of the following since your personal injury claim may involve a substantial amount of money:
- Keep your doctor’s records, as well as all bills and receipts. The doctor’s report should include a description of your condition and injuries, as well as the recommended treatment.
- Avoid signing anything from the insurance company (regardless of it is your insurance company or the other party’s insurance company) without advice from your lawyer. The insurance company may ask you to undergo an independent medical examination.
- You need to seek medical treatment for your injuries. The court will check whether you as a victim also did your part in preventing additional expenses. If you failed to seek medical treatment until your injuries have become worse, this may harm your personal injury lawsuit. The more one waits to have treatment, the bigger the possibility of needing more expensive treatment or the bigger the chances of developing a chronic illness.
- Your treatments should be reasonable, prescribed by your doctor and related to the injury. You cannot include a liposuction or a nose job along with the treatments for your injury. You can expect the other part to go through your medical expenses claim.
- Pre-existing conditions may also affect your claim. Be sure that your doctor has also documented the effect of the accident on your pre-existing condition.
Lawsuit Funding for your Personal Injury Claim
As you can see, computing for medical expenses can be a detailed affair. You can also expect the other party to not take your claim lying down. They will try to dispute each item so as to minimize the medical expenses they need to pay you. Remember, your medical expenses (as well as the rest of your personal injury claim) may prove to be a substantial amount. You need to stand your ground to ensure that you get the fair and just compensation that you deserve.
One way to help you work towards the right compensation amount is to get lawsuit funding. Lawsuit funding will give you access to quick and ready cash at the time when you need it. With a lawsuit settlement advance, you will be able to refuse offers that are below the amount you expect.
If you need a lawsuit loan, you can go to FastLawsuitMoney.com. As a reputable provider of settlement loans, FastLawsuitMoney.com can provide you with quick and ready cash once your application has been processed and approved.
Posted on March 3, 2012 by Fast Lawsuit Team
A saying goes, “Be true to your teeth, or your teeth will be false to you.” Our oral and dental health is important. We practice good dental hygiene not just for cosmetic purposes (to have that bright, white smile) but for health purposes as well. Bad dental health can lead to a host of other illnesses (such as heart disease). That is why it is recommended that we regularly go to our dentist for check-ups and treatments.
Dental Malpractice
As with other medical practitioners, dentists can make serious mistakes and acts of negligence that will result in service that falls below the prescribed standards of care. Dental malpractice covers treatment, failure to treat misdiagnosis or other mistakes or misconduct that no other reasonably prudent dentist or dental practitioner would have committed.
You must also remember that for the dental malpractice to be considered actionable, there should be injuries resulting from the malpractice.
Some cases filed with regards to dental malpractice covers:
- A failure to detect oral cancer
- A patient whose dentures were ill-fitting, which resulted into pain
- A patient who underwent severe pain and suffering for a dentist’s failure to provide him with immediate treatment due to an abscessed tooth. As a result, the patient had a severe infection to his brain that caused permanent spastic quadriparesis (muscular weakness of all limbs)
- A patient who suffered from multiple fractures in the jaw during wisdom teeth extraction
These cases were successfully filed and settled.
Here are other possible dental injuries and dental malpractice where the dentist may have liability:
- Wrongful death due to a treatment or oral surgery gone wrong
- Injuries (temporary or permanent) to the nerves of the chin, tongue, lips and jaw
- Delayed or improper treatment of oral diseases
- Injuries arising from the faulty use of anesthesia
- Misdiagnosis of oral condition
- Failure to diagnosis oral cancer, gum disease and other serious oral problems
- Infections and injuries due to misaligned or faulty prostheses, root canal or crown
- Improper treatment provided by an unlicensed dentist
- Infection sustained due to unclean, faulty or improper use of dental implements and products
- Loss of taste or numbness
- Structural damage to the gums, chin, lips or tongue
- Root canal injuries where treatment used Sargenti Paste (N2)
- Injuries resulting from teeth extractions that were unnecessary
- Failure to get informed consent from the patient
A Dental Malpractice Lawsuit
A dental malpractice lawsuit is particularly challenging. It is but natural that the dentist you sued will try to refute your claim, or at least, devalue it. Much of the case rests on expert opinion and testimony. Thus, you may have to prepare yourself to get the best experts that will sufficient prove your claim and protect the rights you have to demand for compensation for the injury, as well as the pain and suffering your went through.
You should also remember that there is a statue of limitations for dental malpractice claims – although the length of time will vary from state to state. If you are not able to file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations, you can no longer claim for the compensation due you. Also, if you are suing a dentist or dental practitioner that is under the employ of the government or a public hospital, you are required to provide formal notification regarding your claim in as quickly as 180 days.
The importance of ready cash
The lawsuit will most likely require the hiring of expert witnesses to show that the dentist is the person directly and irrefutably responsible for the injuries and the subsequent damages incurred. You also don’t have the luxury of time. This pressure to file the case and hire your expert witnesses is further compounded by the fact that you may need additional funds to treat the injuries you sustained due to the dental malpractice. And since your claim will eventually be paid by the insurance company that covers malpractice complaints for the erring dentist, you can expect the lawsuit to be a long and drawn-out process.
This is where lawsuit funding can help. Lawsuit funding can provide you with the funds to say “no” to the offers that may first be sent out to you by the other party. Without the cash to help tide you over, it may be very tempting to just give in and give up on the lawsuit.
The great thing about settlement funding is that it is non-recourse funding. This means that you don’t have to pay the funds back in the event that the case fails to settle. The lawsuit loan also is based not on employment records or credit standing, but on the merits of the case.
For quick and easy lawsuit loans, you can trust on FastLawsuitMoney.com. FastLawsuitMoney.com has built a solid reputation for processing applications quickly. You can receive your cash in as quickly as 24 hours once your application is approved.
Posted on February 13, 2012 by Fast Lawsuit Team
You are required to prepare for debt collection lawsuit that your creditor files against you on defaulting on payment. But it is advisable to pay off the debt by enrolling in debt solutions program before your creditor files a lawsuit against you. It will help you avoid the legal hassles and at the same time eliminate your financial woes.
But if your creditor has already filed a lawsuit against you then before facing your collector in the court ensure that you acquire basic knowledge on this procedure. Due to lack of knowledge on the part of the consumers they lose the lawsuit. Therefore, here are the following things that you need to keep in mind in order to deal with a debt collection lawsuit.
If the consumer does not have proper knowledge on the litigation process then you can lose the debt collection lawsuit. The litigation process for debt collection lawsuit can be intricate. The complexities can be one of the essential reasons behind making careless mistakes that leads to losing the case. So you are required to acquire prior knowledge on the credit card debt litigation process.
The attorneys of the creditors will present logical arguments before you and if you are not well prepared then the attorney can steer you away from these arguments. Therefore, you are required to be prepared with the litigation process in order to avoid losing the lawsuit.
During a lawsuit you can argue that your bank or creditor didn’t loan you money that was in their control. This is considered to be an effective argument because creditors do not have money in their control before issuing your credit card.
Make sure that you force your creditors to present the original signed and dated contract with the terms of your agreement. Usually creditors use fake contracts with more binding terms in order to compel consumers to make payments.
Therefore, you can take legal help in order to know about litigation process. A skilled lawyer will guide you through the debt collection lawsuit and help you with the counter argument. Once you are well aware of the process then your creditor will not be able to win the lawsuit against you.
Posted on January 8, 2012 by Fast Lawsuit Team
The aftermath of an auto accident can be quite overwhelming and even devastating. No average person can ever be fully prepared for a disastrous car accident. It can dig holes into your pocket miles deep that will take years to mend. An auto accident can change your life so drastically that your entire lifestyle changes as a result.
If the accident was a big one and you’ve sustained significant injuries, you may not be able to return to work right away, or may subsequently be forced to leave your job. Thus, the income that you always depended on has been immediately cut short, and at a time when you will need even more money to tackle the additional costs of recovery. You also have the new burdens of medical treatment expenses.
Your vehicle may be damaged or needs replacement. Your household bills, utilities, food, rent or mortgage do not stop to accommodate your trauma. You will have to maintain payments to keep the roof over your head, keep the light on, and get food to eat.
Your family obligations may also be seriously affected. If you have children, then your ability to provide sufficiently for them may be hampered, and your assistance in caring for them will be compromised. School fees, tuition, school books, activities, events and childcare will all be affected by your new economic situation and physical restraints.
After a major auto accident, you can easily find yourself in a load of debt it may take some time to clear. Getting a good lawyer to pursue a personal injury case in court could compensate for your losses and cost of recovery, but even waiting for the case to settle can take a while. While you wait, life continues to move on, your needs are rather immediate and will not wait or go away.
If you have a good case, there is a way you can get money that you need right away, by obtaining settlement funding. A lawyer would do all the necessary investigations to determine the strength of your case and the likelihood of winning compensation. If you have a strong case, then a settlement loan can help you climb out of the deep hole you have suddenly found yourself in. Once your case goes through you pay back the lawsuit loan, but if your case does not win, you still owe nothing. A lawsuit loan from Fast Lawsuit Money is a non-recourse cash advance. You can make your choice stress-free and guaranteed no strings attached.
Life after an auto accident can be catastrophic but it does not have to be the end of your life. Fast Lawsuit Money wants to help you get back on your feet.
Posted on December 30, 2011 by Fast Lawsuit Team
There is no telling when it may happen, and if it does happen, the damage can be disastrous: an auto accident. Driving can be a dangerous activity especially when precautionary safety driving measures are not taken. Auto accidents happen every day and are extremely common. An accident does not have to be your fault. It could be the result of another, negligent, driver whose eyes were not on the road, who disobeyed traffic signal, or who was distracted. The unfortunate circumstance is that you are left with injuries and damages that have now altered your life and now generate the urgent need for much more money than you have.
The most common type of auto accident personal injury claims are for car accidents, but people suffer a broad range of injuries from other kinds of motor vehicle accidents. In trucking accidents, as one can reasonably suspect, the victims are usually the ones in the smaller vehicle, due to the sheer size and impact of the truck. Motorcyclists risk greater endangerment in auto accidents, as, without a seatbelt and a frame, they are physically much less protected than their driving counterparts. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 37 times more likely than other vehicle operators to die in a motor vehicle accident. SUVs are notable for how easily they tend to roll over and have their fair share of accidents. Bus accidents are reportedly on the rise due to insufficient government regulation and stressful conditions for drivers who sometimes have to hurry to stay on the bus schedule given to them. Buses pose a unique concern, because, unlike other very large motor vehicles, the passengers in a bus have no seatbelts or other restraining devices.
Auto accidents can affect the occupants of the vehicles in the accident, or even innocent bystanders who are close to the accident. Victims can suffer any or several of a range of injuries and diverse symptoms, from minor injuries, to complicated and permanent conditions. As a victim in a motor vehicle crash, you may suffer from whiplash, bone fractures, burns, damage to your knees or joints, head trauma or brain injury, or spinal cord injuries.
A personal injury lawsuit filed after a car accident can help you manage the overwhelming expenses of your recovery. Not only do you face the challenge of medical treatment or rehabilitation, but may have to compensate from time away from work, less income, and more strain trying to manage typical daily, weekly and monthly expenses.
Money from a lawsuit can cover medical bill expenses, physical rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Depending on the severity of your damages and urgency of your need, you can apply for settlement funding. A settlement loan will give you the money that you need right away while you wait for your case to settle, without having to pay it back whether your case wins or loses. While your lawsuit is being pursued, your needs are still ever-present. Fast lawsuit money helps you to deal with the things that are urgent while you begin to piece your life back together.
Posted on December 24, 2011 by Fast Lawsuit Team
Nearly half a million people are injured each year from distracted driving accidents. Distracted driving is a common cause of traffic collisions. This means that a significant amount of motor vehicle accidents causing damage and injury could be prevented if drivers maintained attentiveness on the road.
Driving has become a necessity in the society we live in. It gets us where we are going much faster and more efficiently. But driving can be an extremely dangerous activity, particularly when the rules of the road are not followed, or drivers are distracted. Driving requires the coordinated use of your able arms and body, your eyes and sight, and your mental alertness and attention. A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from a task. In distracted driving, the driver does not have his full attention on the road.
Statistics taken from the United States government Distracted Driving website states that there are three main types of distractions – distractions that involve taking your hand off the wheel, taking your eyes off the road, and taking your mind off driving.
There are several activities that fall under these three categories. Distracted driving includes: texting, using a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a navigation system, watching a video, or changing the radio, cd player, or MP3 player.
Of all these, texting is considered one of the most dangerous activities while driving because it involves all three types of distractions – manual, visual, and cognitive. When you send or receive a text, your eyes leave the road for about 4.6 seconds, which, if you are driving at 55 mph, is the same as driving the entire length of a football field blind. You are 23 times more likely to crash if you text while driving.
Driving while on a cell phone reduces driving brain activity by 37%. Studies found that drivers that use hand-held devices were 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to get hurt. Using a cell phone while you are driving delays your reaction time at the same level as if you had a blood alcohol concentration of .08. Headset cell phone usage is not that much safer than hand-held usage, either.
Armed with these statistics, drivers can make the extra effort to drive more safely. It is important to shut off your devices while you are behind the wheel. You can also be a responsible passenger by reminding the driver of safety precautions. It takes very little effort to make the roads safer and thus avoid a great deal of stress, damage, pain, and loss.
If you are the victim in a car accident resulting from the negligence of a distracted driver, a lawsuit may cover property repairs, medical expenses, lost income, and even psychological pain. While you wait for your lawsuit settlement, none of these damages wait with you, or go away. Lawsuit funding can help you meet needs that are immediate and demanding. To see if you qualify for settlement funding, your lawyer can determine the strength of your case and likelihood of winning. A lawsuit loan can help you take care of immediate expenses resulting from your accident and, in any event, you only have to pay it back if you win your case. Don’t let someone else’s negligence pull your life completely apart. You have options.
Posted on October 26, 2011 by Fast Lawsuit Team
Being a victim of an automobile collision is no simple matter. The property damage may be considerable – but it’s the personal injuries that may, literally, cost an arm and a leg. A person who suffered from bodily injuries as a result of an accident can face a long, painful and expensive journey towards recovery.
If you have been injured as a result of a car accident where the other party was at fault, you have the right to seek for compensation from the other party (and their insurance company). However, you will find that the initial settlement offer is far from what you may need to fully recover from the injuries, let alone compensate you for the pain and suffering you went through.
You may have to file for a personal injury lawsuit against the erring party in order for you to get the compensation. You can use the money to help with the following:
- Medical expenses. This can cover hospital bills, physician’s fees and diagnostic/laboratory fees. It will also include prescription medication, as well as the cost of therapy and rehabilitation. Other related expenses may also be included, such as the transport cost of your caregiver going to and from the hospital and so on.
- Wage loss. While you are laid up in the hospital, you may not be able to work. Even if you filed for sick leave for your hospital stay, you are still entitled to claim for loss of income for the days you spent in the hospital.
- Childcare and household services. This is to compensate you for additional expenses for childcare and housekeeping services while you are in the hospital and during your recovery.
- Medical Mileage. This covers transportation expenses to and from the hospital or doctor’s office, as well as rehabilitation and therapy clinics. This provides for the cost of mileage (gas, automobile depreciation) if you drive or the fare on a bus or taxi if you don’t.
- Attendant care. This covers the cost of hiring in-home nursing or attendant care. This includes assisting in medication and therapy, as well as in activities for daily living (eating, bathing, going to the toilet and so on). Family members who take care of the injured person will also be entitled to compensation. Be sure to document the number of house spent and the nature of services provided. It will also be helpful to have a doctor’s prescription that you need attendant care.
- Pain and suffering. In some states, there is provision for compensation on pain and suffering. In other states, the person injured must show impairment – how his quality of life has changed or deteriorated as a result of the accident. During the lawsuit, you will have to show the effect the personal injuries had on your life – your relationship with your spouse, family and friends, your work and your ability to enjoy the hobbies, sports and recreational activities you enjoyed prior to the accident.
In order to present your case for compensation, you need to keep meticulous records of all expenses, visits to the doctor and therapists, as well as other related expenses. Be sure to keep receipts of these.
When you have filed a personal injury case, be sure to:
- Get immediate medical attention for all the injuries you incurred. This will show that you took care of your well-being and made sure that injuries did not get worse for lack of medical attention. Even if you feel “fine” after a collision, have yourself thoroughly checked to rule out hidden injuries (particularly in the brain and the back), which do not immediately manifest themselves.
- Go to all your medical appointments and therapy sessions. This will show the court that you are really injured and that you did all that you could to be back on track.
- Document all the personal injuries. This is where your doctor’s report will help. You need to outline all the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident. Be sure to also relate all your symptoms to the doctor. There are some instances where mild traumatic brain injury or closed head injuries were denied payment because these were not reported earlier. The rule of thumb is that if something hurts or if there are changes in your body (feelings of light-headedness or dizziness, headaches, problems in concentration, a continuous ringing in the ears), you should tell your doctor.
- In your lawsuit, try to be accurate and complete as possible. Disclose previous injuries, particularly injuries that occurred in the same area as your injuries from the car accident. Don’t try to hide anything – your medical records will be accessed and the other party’s lawyers will try to discredit your claim if they find out that you tried to hide something. This does not only apply to past injuries but also to “relevant” events such as previous automobile accidents or even a DUI or criminal record.
- Understand that you can be under close watch. If the case covers a considerable amount, the other party may have close watch over you to show that you can do things that you claim you can’t do (i.e. driving, taking out the garbage). This may be used against you during the hearing of the case.
- Give statements only upon your lawyer’s advice. Don’t give any statements, even to your own insurance company. Ask your lawyer first.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit may prove to be a long and arduous journey. You may need to be equipped with enough funds to ensure that you can see your lawsuit all the way through, or to negotiate with the other party for compensation that is fair and just to you, considering the extent of your injuries.
This is where lawsuit funding can help. Unlike loans, where you need to show your employment standing and your credit rating, lawsuit funding is based on the strength of your case. With funds, you can stop letting money matters worry you so that you can concentrate on building a strong case.
Also called lawsuit loans, this provides you with ready cash even before your case is settled. You can use the money to pay off your medical bills, provide for your family’s everyday needs and pay for other court-related costs.
One excellent provider of lawsuit settlement fundingis FastLawsuitMoney.com. Over the years, FastLawsuitMoney.com has built a solid reputation of providing fair and fast cash to those who need it urgently. With FastLawsuitMoney.com’s streamlined application process, you can receive the lawsuit funding in as quickly as 24 hours, once your application is approved.
Being a victim of an automobile collision is no simple matter. The property damage may be considerable – but it’s the personal injuries that may, literally, cost an arm and a leg. A person who suffered from bodily injuries as a result of an accident can face a long, painful and expensive journey towards recovery.
If you have been injured as a result of a car accident where the other party was at fault, you have the right to seek for compensation from the other party (and their insurance company). However, you will find that the initial settlement offer is far from what you may need to fully recover from the injuries, let alone compensate you for the pain and suffering you went through.
You may have to file for a personal injury lawsuit against the erring party in order for you to get the compensation. You can use the money to help with the following:
- Medical expenses. This can cover hospital bills, physician’s fees and diagnostic/laboratory fees. It will also include prescription medication, as well as the cost of therapy and rehabilitation. Other related expenses may also be included, such as the transport cost of your caregiver going to and from the hospital and so on.
- Wage loss. While you are laid up in the hospital, you may not be able to work. Even if you filed for sick leave for your hospital stay, you are still entitled to claim for loss of income for the days you spent in the hospital.
- Childcare and household services. This is to compensate you for additional expenses for childcare and housekeeping services while you are in the hospital and during your recovery.
- Medical Mileage. This covers transportation expenses to and from the hospital or doctor’s office, as well as rehabilitation and therapy clinics. This provides for the cost of mileage (gas, automobile depreciation) if you drive or the fare on a bus or taxi if you don’t.
- Attendant care. This covers the cost of hiring in-home nursing or attendant care. This includes assisting in medication and therapy, as well as in activities for daily living (eating, bathing, going to the toilet and so on). Family members who take care of the injured person will also be entitled to compensation. Be sure to document the number of house spent and the nature of services provided. It will also be helpful to have a doctor’s prescription that you need attendant care.
- Pain and suffering. In some states, there is provision for compensation on pain and suffering. In other states, the person injured must show impairment – how his quality of life has changed or deteriorated as a result of the accident. During the lawsuit, you will have to show the effect the personal injuries had on your life – your relationship with your spouse, family and friends, your work and your ability to enjoy the hobbies, sports and recreational activities you enjoyed prior to the accident.
In order to present your case for compensation, you need to keep meticulous records of all expenses, visits to the doctor and therapists, as well as other related expenses. Be sure to keep receipts of these.
When you have filed a personal injury case, be sure to:
- Get immediate medical attention for all the injuries you incurred. This will show that you took care of your well-being and made sure that injuries did not get worse for lack of medical attention. Even if you feel “fine” after a collision, have yourself thoroughly checked to rule out hidden injuries (particularly in the brain and the back), which do not immediately manifest themselves.
- Go to all your medical appointments and therapy sessions. This will show the court that you are really injured and that you did all that you could to be back on track.
- Document all the personal injuries. This is where your doctor’s report will help. You need to outline all the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident. Be sure to also relate all your symptoms to the doctor. There are some instances where mild traumatic brain injury or closed head injuries were denied payment because these were not reported earlier. The rule of thumb is that if something hurts or if there are changes in your body (feelings of light-headedness or dizziness, headaches, problems in concentration, a continuous ringing in the ears), you should tell your doctor.
- In your lawsuit, try to be accurate and complete as possible. Disclose previous injuries, particularly injuries that occurred in the same area as your injuries from the car accident. Don’t try to hide anything – your medical records will be accessed and the other party’s lawyers will try to discredit your claim if they find out that you tried to hide something. This does not only apply to past injuries but also to “relevant” events such as previous automobile accidents or even a DUI or criminal record.
- Understand that you can be under close watch. If the case covers a considerable amount, the other party may have close watch over you to show that you can do things that you claim you can’t do (i.e. driving, taking out the garbage). This may be used against you during the hearing of the case.
- Give statements only upon your lawyer’s advice. Don’t give any statements, even to your own insurance company. Ask your lawyer first.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit may prove to be a long and arduous journey. You may need to be equipped with enough funds to ensure that you can see your lawsuit all the way through, or to negotiate with the other party for compensation that is fair and just to you, considering the extent of your injuries.
This is where lawsuit funding can help. Unlike loans, where you need to show your employment standing and your credit rating, lawsuit funding is based on the strength of your case. With funds, you can stop letting money matters worry you so that you can concentrate on building a strong case.
Also called lawsuit loans, this provides you with ready cash even before your case is settled. You can use the money to pay off your medical bills, provide for your family’s everyday needs and pay for other court-related costs.
One excellent provider of lawsuit settlement funding is FastLawsuitMoney.com. Over the years, FastLawsuitMoney.com has built a solid reputation of providing fair and fast cash to those who need it urgently. With FastLawsuitMoney.com’s streamlined application process, you can receive the lawsuit funding in as quickly as 24 hours, once your application is approved.
Posted on October 8, 2011 by Fast Lawsuit Team
Back injury claims are one of the most common lawsuit claims involving car accidents. And the back is particularly susceptible to injury during a car accident. By “back”, we refer to the middle and lower spine, as well as the tissues and muscles that surround it. Injuries in this area may range from mild to severe. Back injuries usually result from trauma or from a degenerative process that is triggered by trauma – the trauma in this case would be the collision or car accident.
The back usually bears considerable impact in a collision, even if the passenger or driver is wearing his or her seatbelt. For instance, the body may be thrown to and fro as a result of a collision and this “shaking” may cause damage to the back area. There are also instances where the back is damaged due to a direct impact with a car.
Types of Back Injury Claims Resulting from Car Accidents
The following are the kinds of back injury claims in car accident lawsuits:
- Minor Back Injury. Muscle strain or injury, as well as damage to the spinal disc/s where the pain may last from two to five years. Surgery is usually not needed in this injury.
- Back injury that requires surgery. This moderate kind of back injury usually results from damage to the spinal cord and will require surgery. This may also include a condition where the spine aged prematurely as a result of damage sustained during a car accident.
- Serious or life-threatening back injury. This kind of injury may result in a permanent disability where organ function is impaired – there are problems with regards to the functions of the bladder, the bowel and even the sexual organs. This kind of injury may even lead to permanent paralysis.
Items included in the claim:
- Hospital and doctor’s expenses. This includes expenses for your hospital stay, doctors’ fees, diagnostic and lab fees, payments for x-rays and CT scans.
- Rehabilitation expenses. These involve expenses related to therapy, as well as of adapting your home environment to your injury.
- Other losses resulting from the injury. This includes days of work lost or job lost due to the accident, incidental expenses during a hospital stay (food expenses, transportation expenses, money to pay for housekeeper/child care while primary care giver is in the hospital).
- Compensation for pain and suffering. In some states, compensation for this may be included in the lawsuit filed. There is no set amount for compensation (and sometimes the judge or jury will determine the amount of compensation), although some states post a limit as to how much compensation should be awarded.
The insurance company of the party at fault will look at the evidence you hold and provide you with a settlement offer. Usually, if you don’t have legal representation or don’t know how to negotiate, the other party may try to settle the claim for a much lower amount.
However, it will be helpful to know that the amount of the claim will be based on the following factors:
- Who is at fault and what level of fault is attributed to each party
- The extent of the damage caused by the car crash
- The severity of the back injury and other injuries sustained
- The amount of physical damage suffered and whether these are temporary or permanent
- The number of days of work missed, as well as the kind of job that may be lost because of the injuries
- How the quality of life will be affected by the injury
- What actions you have made after the accident to minimize the injury sustained (Did you immediately go to the doctor? Did you have tests taken? Did you ignore the symptoms of the injury until it resulted in further injury?)
When you suspect a back injury
It is important to seek medical advice and attention immediately after a car accident or collision. You may not readily notice the effects of a back injury (especially if you used painkillers right after the car accident). The doctor will be able to assess any damage incurred during the collision by taking x-rays, or ordering a CAT scan or MRI.
Lawsuit Funding
Back injuries may be a challenge to prove during a car accident lawsuit claim. But there is quite a number of successful back injury claims. However, it is important to note that the legal process of negotiating with the party at fault, filing the lawsuit, presenting the case and awaiting the judgment and settlement may be a long and drawn out process. In the meantime, you may have to spend for your back injury treatments, as well as for other court-related costs. Perhaps, during this time, your back injury may have resulted in your not being able to get back to work. You may not just be losing income but your job as well. During this time, you may be faced with mounting bills and debt, without any income in sight.
This is where lawsuit funding can help. Lawsuit funding will enable you to continue with your back injury lawsuit claim and fight for the compensation that is due you. The proceeds from the settlement funding will help tide you over until you are finally able to get the settlement for the lawsuit. You are able to pay off any debt, spend for your treatment and fund any court-related costs without having to reach deeply into your pockets (or taking off a second mortgage on your home).
Lawsuit funding, which is often referred to as lawsuit loans, helps you stick it out instead of being tempted to accept a lowball settlement offer from the other party just to get your claim over and done with.
For fast and easy lawsuit loans, you can go to a reputable provider, such as FastLawsuitMoney.com. We specialize in providing settlement loans after we are able to evaluate your case. Don’t worry – settlement loans are provided not based on your employment record or your credit history, but on the merits of your case.
Posted on October 5, 2011 by Fast Lawsuit Team
Rear-end collisions. Head on collisions. Car accidents involving pedestrians or bikers. Traffic accidents involving delivery trucks, motorcycles and public utility vehicles. Car accidents come in many kinds. If you are a victim of one and the accident is caused by another party, you are well within your rights to demand compensation for the personal injury and damage to property you have incurred.
When filing a personal injury claim, here are some dos and don’ts for you to remember to make sure that you get the most out of claim and that your personal rights are protected.
Do’s:
- Go to the hospital. You may be held liable for not acting to prevent the injury from taking a turn for the worse. Seeking medical attention will show that you have indeed suffered a bodily injury and have done your part to minimize the damage sustained.
- Get in touch with your insurance company right after the injury or the accident as soon as you are able and you don’t have any serious conditions or injuries that prevent you from doing so. Your insurance company requires notification. It may be the first in line to pay for your injuries, and, after you have made your settlement with the other party’s insurance company, you will have to reimburse your insurance company for the money they spent on the treatments.
- Keep documentation of the accident. This includes police reports, witness statements and medical records. Save the bills and receipts of your medical and injury-related expenses as well.
- Do keep a written record of your contacts with insurance companies, their representatives and other pertinent personnel that may be involved in the claims process. If you make a call to the insurance company, be sure to jot down the essence of the call.
Don’ts:
- Immediately after the car accident, make statements that you’re ok and that you don’t have any injuries. The other party may use this against you. Please note that some injuries (especially back injuries) may not be immediately felt but will be manifest in the next days.
- Don’t admit any kind of liability – just give the facts of the incident. The police and insurance investigators are the ones tasked to determine who is at fault in the accident.
- Give in to the temptation to add to reports and statements. Being less than honest with your legal statements may jeopardize your claim – you may even be held liability for claims insurance fraud for posting false reports.
- Give anything in writing or sign statements provided by the insurance company or its representatives. Be sure to understand what the other party is asking you to sign or get legal representation.
- Allow the statute of limitations to run out on your claim. Each state has a given time limit as to when you can file your claim. Once this statute of limitations has run out, any liability the other party has on you with regards to your personal injury will be forfeited. This means that their insurance company does not have to pay you anything unless you file a claim or lawsuit prior to the expiry of the statute of limitations.
- Assume that the settlement offer provided by the insurance company is the last word or the final amount. Expect the first offer is a lowball offer. The settlement is still subject to negotiations. Also make computations of your own based on your actual losses. This includes past, present and future medical expenses, bills for therapy, adaptive equipment you may need to install in your home and vehicle, as well as loss of income or loss of job. Estimate these losses and other incidental expenses that may arise out of the injury (i.e. the need to hire household help or child care, transportation expenses going to and fro the hospital during the medical treatment).
If you are pressured to accept the first offer the other party presents because you need to pay for your medical and everyday expenses, you should first consider how much your claim is actually worth had you went through a personal injury lawsuit. This will prevent you from jumping at the first offers of the other party.
If you are ready to file a personal injury lawsuit, you should consider getting lawsuit funding. The process of this lawsuit or settlement funding will provide you with ready funds to cover court-related costs, medical treatment and therapy and family’s needs.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a lawsuit loan since this will help you resist the temptation of accepting a settlement offer for an amount that is considerably lower than what your claim is actually worth. The processing of the lawsuit settlement loan will require your attorney’s cooperation. All relevant documents will be reviewed to see your eligibility for a lawsuit loan.