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FAQs

How do I know if I need a personal injury lawyer?

If you have been injured because of someone's irresponsibility, you very likely will want justice and compensation for your losses. Should you pursue a settlement on your own? It's not a wise move. Personal injury victims typically are up against big insurance companies and their teams of attorneys. In many cases, the insurance companies will attempt to minimize your compensation or deny your claim altogether. Knowing that most non-lawyers do not fully understand their legal rights, insurance companies may offer a quick settlement and try to convince you that it's the best deal you can get. They may try to take advantage of you by eliciting statements from you that can damage your case.

With knowledge of the legal system and insurance regulations, an experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to fight insurance companies. When you retain a qualified attorney, you have someone who can stand up for your rights so you obtain a fair resolution. A good lawyer can get you the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses. With an experienced attorney on your side, you will have peace of mind knowing that no avenue was overlooked. You can focus on recovering and moving on with your life.

How a personal injury lawyer can help: Determine total damages, gather evidence, build a strong case, communicate with insurance company, and negotiate a fair settlement.

Does it matter when I contact a personal injury lawyer?

Every personal injury law has a statute of limitations that can limit a victim's ability to seek compensation for his or her injury or loss. By acting quickly to secure legal representation, you can solidify your personal injury claim before any insurance company has bound you to a written statement. There is also the matter of witnesses and other supporting evidence (for instance, photography showing a broken railing), which can become harder to document if too much time goes by.

What role does a doctor have in a personal injury claim?

Of course, getting treatment for any injury should be your first concern, ahead of any claim you may be considering. With that in mind, your symptoms, your diagnosis, and your treatment are medical decisions that should be made between you and your doctor(s).

If you choose to involve an attorney, all discussion of your condition remains strictly confidential as attorney/client communication, though some medical evidence and/or testimony may need to be brought forward to advance your claim. Keep in mind, though, that medical treatment in and of itself is no assurance that you have a valid personal injury claim.

How do I document the extent of my personal injury?

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, our people are your resource. We will answer your questions and advocate for your rights. The more information you are able to provide, the better able we will be to do our jobs.

Valuable information may take the form of any or all of the following:

Should I accept a personal injury settlement?

Many times, injury victims receive a settlement offer from the insurance company for the at-fault party. This is a one-time check designed to pay for a lifetime’s worth of injury-related expenses. And if you have a lot of bills and expenses due to a personal injury accident, a settlement offer can seem like a lifeline.

But many times, settlement offers don’t come close to covering all of your expenses. And if you agree to accept a settlement offer, you can’t ask for more money in the future. Your case is settled. As a result, you might have to pay for any future bills out of your own pocket.

This is why you should carefully consider any settlement offer before you agree to accept. An experienced Maine personal injury attorney at our law firm can help you decide if you should accept a personal injury settlement offer or ask for more money. If you believe you deserve more, our legal team can work to negotiate a better settlement offer with the insurance company.

What is the average personal injury claim worth?

Many websites and lawyers often throw around a lot of numbers when it comes to how much money injury victims can expect to receive if they got hurt in a personal injury accident. But the truth is every personal injury accident is unique. As a result, there is no real average personal claim amount. How much money injury victims can expect to receive from one case to another is often very different. So if someone tells you how much money you can expect to receive if you got hurt in an accident without knowing what happened, you should be suspicious. The best thing to do is to talk to a Maine personal injury lawyer who can help you understand your legal options.

Factors that can affect the amount of a personal injury settlement: Severity of the injury. The impact on a victim's life. Percentage of fault. Strength of evidence. Insurance policy limits.

How much is my personal injury case worth?

The most important thing is you should be financially compensated for all your financial losses due to your injury. What you might not realize is just how many expenses this includes, which you can read more about below.

In general, the main factors that often influence how much money your personal injury claim or lawsuit is worth include:

Take all these factors into consideration and your personal injury case could be worth thousands of dollars or significantly more.

What personal injury expenses can I be compensated for?

As noted above, if someone caused your injury, you should be financially compensated for all your financial losses, including:

What determines the dollar figure of my personal injury claim?

A number of factors need to be investigated before a claim is determined; trying to "get to a number" too quickly often leads people to agree to a settlement that is lower than what they deserve. We make sure to consider all the ways the injured party has been affected: their income, their ability to support their family, their future ability to live independently, etc.

Different accident and injury scenarios involve different insurance coverage, perhaps from more than one party who may share liability for what has happened. Turn to Joe to get the full due diligence of looking at your case from every angle, to be sure that you get the justice you deserve.

Should I file a Maine personal injury lawsuit?

Sometimes, the best way to get the money you deserve for your injury-related expenses is to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages, the legal term for financial compensation. However, it’s also important to carefully consider all your options before deciding to take legal action. Some of the questions you might want to consider when debating whether to file a lawsuit include:

Not sure how to answer these questions or need some help? You’re not alone. Our dedicated team of experienced Maine personal injury lawyers can help you every step of the way. Our goal is simple – to help you obtain the money you rightfully deserve to get your life back on track.

Are the details of my personal injury case confidential?

Whether it is your employer, the other party involved in the case, or the general public, nobody will have access to any details that you do not wish to be divulged. At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we will always get your specific written permission before any information protected by attorney-client privilege is provided to any entity outside the firm. This enables us to work closely with you, and to consider every detail of what has happened, without any fear that an aspect of your case may become public without your consent.