Last updated 10 hours ago
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by dealing with your insurance company after a car accident, it may be time to call a car accident attorney. During your initial consultation, take the time to ask him a few questions about how he will handle your case.
How much experience do you have with car accident cases?
Auto accidents are a specialized legal area, and you need an attorney who knows how to handle them. Even if he is experienced with other areas of personal injury law, he may not be equipped to represent you well in this matter. Find an attorney whose experience you can trust.
What will be the steps of my case or settlement?
Dealing with an insurance company or, if necessary, filing a personal injury lawsuit can be a long, involved process, so ask your attorney to explain to you the steps involved in obtaining an insurance settlement or going to court, to be sure you understand. Additionally, you should ask him for an estimate of how long the process will take, but always know that he cannot guarantee anything.
What damages can I recover?
After you have explained your accident and injuries to your attorney, he may be able to give you an idea of financial compensation that you can receive. For example, you can usually receive compensation for medical bills, but you may also be able to receive damages for loss of enjoyment of life or disfigurement, if you have experienced these effects.
What steps should I take now?
While your attorney is preparing to negotiate with your insurance company, he may ask you to assemble certain documents or speak to your physicians regarding your treatment. This will help him put together a compelling case for your settlement or lawsuit.
An auto accident can change your life forever. For help dealing with the effects of a car accident and obtaining the damages you deserve, call the Law Office Of Sherrill P. Cline. Attorney Cline has been practicing personal injury law for more than 20 years. To reach our Worcester office, call (508) 283-3712.
Last updated 1 day 4 hours ago
Tractor trailers have the potential to do tremendous damage to smaller vehicles when involved in car accidents. To avoid that, do your part to prevent accidents. When you’re on the freeways or highways, follow these tips to stay safe around semi-trucks and tractor trailers.
Be aware of blind spots.
Semi-trucks have blind spots, or “no-zones,” behind them, in front of them, and on either side. In these areas, drivers cannot see you and therefore cannot work to avoid you, so try not to drive in these dangerous areas. If you’re driving behind a truck, stay a good distance behind, don’t drive directly next to them, and drive far enough in front that you can be easily seen by the driver. By itself, this will do a lot to prevent collisions.
Give trucks space to stop.
Because of their increased momentum, semi-trucks have difficulty stopping quickly. They require much more space to decelerate and come to a stop than a normal passenger car. If you’re driving in front of a truck, stay ten to 20 car lengths ahead of it to allow it time to stop without hitting you. Similarly, if you’re passing a truck, don’t cut back into the lane right in front of it. Wait until you can see its headlights before moving into the lane.
Yield when needed.
If a truck needs to pass you or merge into your lane, allow it to do so, even if you think you have the right of way. A momentary inconvenience is much better than an accident. Because trucks can’t maneuver the way cars do, activities like changing lanes are much more difficult.
In an auto accident, semi-trucks can cause serious injury and damage, even death. If you’ve been in one of these accidents, dial (508) 283-3712 to discuss filing a lawsuit or obtaining a settlement with the Law Office Of Sherrill P. Cline. We can help you determine who was responsible for your accident and get the justice you need.
Last updated 8 days ago
After reading our recent blogs about personal injury, disability, and other important topics, you may still have a few unanswered questions. To find out more, take a look at these websites for additional information.
In the Worcester area, count on the Law Office Of Sherrill P. Cline for representation in civil matters like personal injury and disability. To schedule a free consultation, call (508) 283-3712
Last updated 12 days ago
Personal injury law is a broad field of legal practice that includes lawsuits for auto accidents, defective products, slip and fall injuries, and wrongful deaths, among others. To find out more about personal injury law, check out the rest of this article.
What is a personal injury?
A personal injury is damage to a person, whether emotional, physical, or mental, rather than damage to property. These injuries are usually caused by another person’s negligence or lack of care, or by defective products.
What is personal injury law?
Personal injury law seeks financial compensation for victims of accidents and injuries. To obtain these financial damages, a plaintiff must prove the defendant’s negligence. To do so, he must establish three components:
- Existence of a duty of care. Many people have a responsibility to act reasonably and safely to ensure the well-being of those around them. Though a person cannot be expected to anticipate every possible accident or injury that could occur, he must take steps to stop those that are obvious.
- Breach of duty of care. The next step of negligence is a breach of that duty of care. This could be something as simple as failing to clear ice from a sidewalk in winter. Though this seems small, it illustrates an oversight on the part of the property owner that could lead to injury.
- Injury. To be able to file a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff must show that he sustained injuries as a result of the breach of duty of care. If a person falls on an icy sidewalk but suffers no injuries or lasting effects, he has no grounds to file a lawsuit. If he breaks his arm or suffers emotional trauma, he may be able to ask a court for financial compensation.
If you think you’ve been the victim of a situation that fits the above criteria, dial (508) 283-3712 to reach the Law Office Of Sherrill P. Cline today. Attorney Cline has been in practice for more than 20 years, giving her the experience she needs to represent you successfully in court.
Last updated 15 days ago
The statute of limitations is a key concept in personal injury law that affects when a lawsuit must be filed. To learn more about this, read on.
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is law that sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. Any lawsuit filed after this period has elapsed will be considered invalid. For most Massachusetts personal injury cases, the statute of limitations stands at three years. However, in an effort to allow plaintiffs to seek compensation for injuries that may not be immediately apparent, Massachusetts includes a provision for the discovery rule. Under this rule, the statute of limitations begins to run on the day an injury is discovered or should have been discovered. This is especially key in medical malpractice cases, in which patients may not discover that they have been harmed until medical complications occur later. The statute of limitations is an incentive for plaintiffs to file lawsuits in a timely manner, to keep memories of the accident or incident fresh in their minds.
Effect on Personal Injury
If you think you have a personal injury case, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible to avoid the statute of limitations running out. Though three years may seem like a long time, your attorney will need ample time to compile evidence for your lawsuit. Don’t let your lawsuit get thrown out on a technicality; instead, call a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to make sure your claim can be filed. Though your claim must be filed within three years, the lawsuit does not need to be resolved within that timeframe, allowing you plenty of time to resolve it fully in court.
After an accident or injury, call the Law Office Of Sherrill P. Cline as soon as possible to evaluate the possibility of filing a lawsuit. To reach our office in Worcester, call (508) 283-3712 today. We offer free consultations!
