Personal Injury

Gary J. Barrett, Attorney-at-Law with the Barret Law Firm The Barrett Law Firm handles severe injuries, because we know the devastation that such injuries can cause- the life-long hospital and medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, lost income from being unable to work and daily pain and suffering. Whether your accident has been caused intentionally, or by carelessness, recklessness, or malpractice, you may be entitled to be compensated for loss and damage suffered. If you have lost a loved one as a result of an accident, we can help you. If you would like information about how to obtain compensation on behalf of a family member who has suffered a catastrophic injury, we can advise you of how to proceed.

For every type of claim, certain legal criteria must be met in order to successfully win your case. Our attorneys can explain to you exactly what the law is, and what evidence you will need to establish a claim for compensation. Regardless of the specific legal standard applied, every personal injury claim has two main components that must be established: liability and damages. Liability basically means that the plaintiff (that is, the person seeking the compensation) has to prove that their injuries/damage are the result of somebody else's negligence. Once liability is proven, the question is how much compensatory damages will you get? If you can prove the extent of the injuries suffered, you can be awarded compensation for your losses. The amount you will receive will depend on a whole variety of factors, including the severity of the damage and injuries you have suffered and the nature of ongoing needs and expenses you will have.

If you have suffered damage that is the result of an accident or the fault of another person, you may be entitled to get compensation for loss of income (wages), hospital expenses, medical treatment expenses, rehabilitation, assistance with domestic and personal care needs, pain and suffering.

I am compassionate, honest, highly experienced and committed to fighting for your rights. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.

There are various limitation periods for bringing personal injury accident claims. Limitation periods vary according to the type of accident claim. It is best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible, whilst the evidence is still available and the circumstances of the case are still "fresh" in your mind. Don't leave it until it is too late to make a claim.

If you are dealing with severe injuries, then your potential compensation award may be a large amount. Obviously, the insurance company will try to minimize how much they have to pay out, so as to keep their profits high and costs low. If you are not represented by a lawyer, you may find it hard to dispute the evidence and legal arguments that an insurer will be putting against your claim. Insurance companies will send you to their own doctors, and they will do their best to find experts who will give medical opinions to say that your injuries are not so severe, or that most of your pains and disabilities are related to pre-existing conditions such as degenerative changes in your spine, arthritis, diabetes or some other cause. That way, they can try to reject your claim, or offer you a lot less money than what your claim is worth.

If however you have a lawyer, you will be at an advantage in fighting your case and receiving the maximum amount of compensation possible. Lawyers who are experienced in representing plaintiffs have access to medical experts who are not on insurer's panels, and are far more independent. There are doctors out there who are interested in giving objective evidence as to the extent and severity of damage suffered by accident victims. Choosing the right expert, as advised by a lawyer, can make a huge difference as to the result you can get in monetary terms.

The other aspect is that personal injury lawyers are trained to gather evidence, prepare witness statements and interpret the law in a way which will best support your case. They are the best people for negotiating your settlement and if necessary, fighting your case all the way through the court system.