How Long Does it Take to Get Compensation in A Personal Injury Case?
June 27, 2013 | Adriel B. VillarrealIt takes time to settle a personal injury case. There are a lot of factors that go into the timing. While you may want it all to be over with as quickly as possible that’s not always a good idea. Sometimes it can take months for all of the complications of an injury to come to light. You should never settle a personal injury case until you’re sure that you know the extent of all of the injuries. However, much depends on other factors such as the complexity of the case and the willingness of all parties to come to a fair settlement. Each case goes through a specific process. On average this process takes 12 to 18 months when the court is involved. The process starts when you hire a personal injury lawyer. The attorney will start communicating with the insurance company on your behalf. The attorney will also start to gather all of the information that he or she can gather. He or she will try to ascertain what happened and who is responsible. He or she might find other insurance companies or parties who might also be responsible for paying damages. Negotiations for a settlement may start shortly after you hire the attorney. Taking a settlement is always your choice….
Read MoreEmployee Spotlight: Eny Maldonado-Johnson, Paralegal
June 26, 2013 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.BGS Criminal/Personal Injury Paralegal Eny Maldonado Johnson joined the firm in 2008 as part of a firm wide effort to increase our abilities to serve our greater community. She speaks fluent English and Spanish and offers translation skills within our firm, particularly within our Personal Injury and Criminal law practice areas. Eny moved to the United States from Ecuador and now makes her home with her family in Andover, Minnesota. She graduated from North Hennepin Community College in the Spring of 2009 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She offers Spanish/English translation services to all BGS areas of practice, however, she works most closely with Criminal/Personal Injury Attorney Adriel Villarreal who is also fluent in both English and Spanish. We asked Eny to write for our community blog page and she submitted this piece about the importance of volunteerism. Why Volunteer? by Eny Maldonado-Johnson There are many answers to the question, “why is volunteering important?” Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own. Even though this is not something you will get paid for, the benefits can actually be greater than money. It is an important way to create a healthy community. During times of disaster, people need help; if you are feeling frustrated or overwhelmed by the news…
Read MoreWhen Should You Speak to a Personal Injury Attorney?
June 24, 2013 | Adriel B. VillarrealMany people wait far too long before speaking to a personal injury attorney. Waiting to call an attorney can be a problem if they’ve already taken actions that could severely limit or impact their ability to obtain a fair settlement. Any kind of accident can be chaotic. Your first priority in any accident is to promptly seek the medical care that you need. Be sure to follow all of the doctor’s orders and remain under their care until release. Do not leave before the doctor would recommend or stop treatment because you “feel better” as you could be in for problems later. Many injuries or injury complications don’t show up for weeks after the accident. Once you’ve received your immediate medical care you can start contemplating the next steps. You should talk to an attorney first before you talk to anybody from the insurance company. This includes insurance adjusters, lawyers, or even customer service personnel. In a personal injury case, most of the effort revolves around getting the insurance company to pay a fair and balanced settlement that takes all of your injuries and complications into account. Often, the insurance company will try to lure you in by offering a settlement that may seem high to you but which could be, in reality,…
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