Negligent Case—Looking at Your Options
Accident happens, and when it happens in some cases, there is negligence from one or more party involved. Negligence means the defendant going against the standard of duty in order to change the outcome of an accident. Even if it started with good intention on the defendant’s part, negligence often ends in bad results for the plaintiff.
What If You Are A Defendant
A negligent action is where one party is seeking relief from another. The most common type of action here is seeking monetary compensation from the defendant who caused the injuries or destruction of the property. As an example, you witness a car accident – two vehicle collision with one vehicle’s driver trapped inside the car. Instead of calling the emergency hotline, which is a standard procedure, you with the intention of saving the driver attempt to break open the vehicle door with a hammer. The door falls open on the driver’s head rendering him unconscious and leading to his death. The autopsy reveals that the driver was only slightly injured before the head injury caused by the falling door. Had you done nothing, the driver would have survived and walked away unscathed.
What Can Happen Next?
The driver’s party can now sue you for negligence because your action was unreasonable given the facts and circumstances of the accident. A reasonable response would have been calling the ambulance and staying still. Your negligent action may result in the driver’s family seeking monetary compensation either paid from your own pocket or covered through insurance.
What you need when facing such a dilemma is a personal injury lawyer. Most lawyers dealing with negligent and personal injury cases are also an assault attorney lincoln ne. Not having a lawyer will make you an automatic suspect in the eyes of potential juries or judges. Not having a lawyer can also be a fatal mistake considering the extent of tasks involved in negligent cases. Although many courts will allow defendants to defend themselves, nothing can prevent you from seeking the help of an attorney. They are there to protect you from miscommunication or misunderstanding. Also, listening to your attorney before the case goes to court is equally important here. Listening to your lawyer, in fact, helps you properly file your papers, file counter claims and so on. Heeding to their advice will give you an idea about what to expect in the court and how things really work in cases like these.
Finding the Right Attorney
Always do your research when selecting a good attorney who can fight for you. Searching on the internet could be a good first step. Make sure that you know all about the court handling the case as well as the credentials of the attorney speaking on your behalf. Check to see if they have handled many cases like yours, and if possible, ask for referrals. Remember, if you are being sued, you need to be prepared better than the plaintiff. Your response to questions should be intelligent and convincing as well.