Frequently Asked Questions from the clients at Carvalho & Associates
Sustaining injuries from an accident or someone else’s negligence can generate uncertainty about the future and an overwhelming amount of questions and concerns, making it difficult to know where to begin. Many people aren’t familiar with the legal process surrounding personal injury claims and haven’t considered the financial impact of their circumstance. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, our personal injury law firm at Carvalho & Associates in Las Vegas, NV is here to help answer your questions and put your mind at ease. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most commonly asked questions we receive from our clients. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us to schedule a complimentary, no-risk consultation.
Sustaining injuries from an accident or someone else’s negligence can generate uncertainty about the future and an overwhelming amount of questions and concerns, making it difficult to know where to begin. Many people aren’t familiar with the legal process surrounding personal injury claims and haven’t considered the financial impact of their circumstance. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, our personal injury law firm at Carvalho & Associates Attorneys at Law in Las Vegas, NV is here to help answer your questions and put your mind at ease. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most commonly asked questions we receive from our clients. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us to schedule a complimentary, no-risk consultation.
Being injured in an accident can be a very terrifying and traumatic experience, but it’s important to take the appropriate actions to the best of your abilities to ensure you’ll be able to present a proper injury claim. Immediately following the incident, be sure to take clear photos of all the injuries you have sustained and seek prompt care from a medical professional. You should follow all the instructions given to you by your healthcare provider and make follow-up appointments. You should also record a narrative of the events that occurred and collect contact information for any witnesses that were present. Keep this information for your attorney and your personal records.
While some personal injury cases may require a trial process, a large percentage of cases never make it to trial and are resolved before the trial date. Being proactive and strategically building your case will increase the likelihood of you reaching a settlement with the other party without the need for trial.
There isn’t a way to determine the precise worth of a personal injury case, but it is possible to determine an approximate value. You can calculate the estimated value of your claim by assessing the economic damages, including the financial cost accrued from lost wages, medical care, and emotional support. You should also consider including your pain and suffering, as well as the defendant’s ability to pay for the damages caused.
If you’re partially at fault for the accident, it is still possible to recover compensation. According to Nevada law, as long as the defendant is more to blame for your injuries, you can still pursue a proportional share of the compensation you would have recovered otherwise. This system is called comparative negligence, where a jury will decide how to assign fault among the parties involved in the accident.
Cases can often be resolved as quickly as a few weeks without the need for a formal litigation process. In some cases, your injury attorney can coordinate directly with the other party and the insurance companies to achieve a swift resolution. There are instances where litigation is necessary – which can continue for up to a year or more – but the majority of cases usually fall somewhere in the middle. You have some control over the amount of time your case will take to reach a settlement, but it depends on the complexity of your claim.
When you’re injured in an accident, you have a set time limit to file your claim to the court system until you can no longer pursue compensation legally. The limitation period for most personal injury cases is two years from the date of the accident. However, there are some claims wherein you only have 12 months to bring your claim or risk losing it.
Usually within 60-120 days after a lawsuit is filed, the parties are permitted to conduct what is called 'discovery.' This means that we are able to take sworn statements under oath of the opposing party through deposition, and written questions. The discovery process allows each side to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case so that a proper resolution can ultimately be made. Often times, the parties will participate in alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation, where a neutral third party (the mediator) attempts to help the parties reach an amicable resolution of your case.
Many personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas are prepared to help you pursue justice through the legal system without any money needed upfront. In many cases, a personal injury attorney will agree to provide you with legal representation and will only expect payment if your case reaches a resolution in your favor. The attorney will also deduct the costs they paid upfront in order to proceed with working on your claim. Always be sure to ask your attorney questions regarding payment for their services so there are no surprises.
Seeking legal support from a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney is the most effective approach to ensuring a resolution that reflects your best interests. Our team of personal injury attorneys at Carvalho & Associates is comprised of seasoned legal experts who have helped countless clients recover the maximum compensation for their injuries, and we are prepared to assist you in your unique legal circumstance. We will get to know you, get a better understanding of your priorities, and provide the thoughtful, compassionate legal counsel you deserve throughout the duration of your case. If you have been injured in an accident, you don’t have to face your legal situation alone. Get in touch with us to schedule a free, no-risk consultation today, where your recovery is our priority.