Generally if you are injured in some way by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or corporation, you may have a claim for personal injuries. Unlike workers' compensation, where you may be entitled to compensation for simply being injured in the course and scope of your job, other kinds of personal injury claims require evidence that the person who caused the injury acted negligently or intentionally to cause the injury.

• Car Accidents- Although personal injury claims can arise in a variety of settings, car accidents are by far the most common way that a person suffers injuries caused by the negligence of another. Here are some important pointers if you are injured in a car accident that is not your fault.
  

  
  
  
  1. Call the Police-Notifying the police is required by law if there is serious injury or death, or if the property damage to one of the vehicles in the wreck exceeds $500.00. However, if you think there is any possibility that you may have been hurt, it is very important that you call the police regardless of your impression of the damage to the vehicles. The accident report generated by the police is the single most important piece of evidence that will be used in determining how much you will paid for your injuries. If you do not call the police and then later realize that you have been hurt, the information that could have been gathered from the scene is partially lost.
     
     
  2. Dealing with the Insurance Company- Although their TV commercials strive to create a different impression, insurance companies are in business to make money, and the less money they pay for your injury, the more they have for their bottom line. If the accident was clearly not your fault, an insurance adjuster from the at fault driver’s insurance carrier may contact you and seem very concerned and interested in compensating you for your injuries as soon as possible. The only incentive an insurance company has for making a quick settlement is to get rid of your injury claim as cheaply as possible. They have no interest in helping you in your time of need. If you do decide to deal with the insurance company on your own, you should be skeptical of any advice they give you and proceed with great caution.
     
     
  3. Call a Lawyer- Call our firm, or call another firm, but make that call. Most firms give a free consultation, so there is no reason that you should not at least discuss your case with a trained professional. This website and others give an overview of the system, but there are hundreds of variables that can affect your case. That is why it is so important to talk to someone about your case. If your injuries are not very severe and you want to do it on your own, we will gladly talk with you about the specifics of your case and give you some pointers. The more serious your injuries are, the more you stand to lose if you try to take on the insurance company on your own.
     
     
  4. Property Damage and Personal Injury Claim- There are two completely separate components of the compensation to which you may be entitled. Property Damage refers to the money to which you are entitled to for the damage to your car. A personal injury claim refers to the money you are entitled to for your injuries. These are separate claims and are usually settled at different times. The property damage claim can be settled after the cost of repairs, and possible diminution in value to your car has been determined. The personal injury claim should not be settled until you have fully recovered from your injuries.
     
     
• Other Injury Claims- Ms. Jenkins handled a defective design case against Ford Motor Company, which yielded a fair and lucrative settlement for the minor plaintiff who was blinded in one eye due to a faulty airbag design and insufficient warnings. If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured in some other setting, by negligent medical or nursing home care, or by a defective product or drug, give us call and we will be happy to discuss with you whether or not you may have a claim.