Personal injury is an area of law that covers damage done to a person, in terms of property, person, or reputation. The personal injury can be of two types either physical or physiological or both, but to sue, you must have a reasonably clear case that can hold the other person responsible, for e.g. your company, the other vehicle driver etc.
The major areas covered by Personal injury in Australia are the following:
- Workers Compensation
- Work place Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
- Unfair Dismissal
- Product Liability
- Public Liability
- Criminal Compensation
- Medical Negligence
- Motor Vehicle Accident
- Dog Bites
Different states in Australia have different laws regarding the claims one can make so make sure that your lawyer is conversant with the laws in that particular state. Many lawyers are also willing to waive their fees and do not want an advance amount. Their credo is that if you win you pay them a percentage of the claim awarded. This makes it much easier for you to approach lawyers in case of a personal injury.
Some tips on selecting a good personal injury lawyer are:
- Check out the background information on the net by surfing and finding out details about the firm and its lawyers.
- Ask your local newspapers for information.
- Visit the local hospitals. Hospital staff are usually familiar with personal injury lawyers.
- Collect Brochures and other material from different law firms for screening.
- Check references before hiring a lawyer
- Meet plaintiffs who have had personal injury suits and ask them about the lawyers they used.
- If your personal injury has happened in a particular geographical area, it is best to hire a lawyer from there.
Before meeting your lawyer it is a good idea to be prepared. This preparation would include collecting all documents relevant to your case like hospital records, accident records etc. Make sure you state the name of the firm or company that you are fighting against, as there could be a conflict of interest with the lawyer also having the same firm as a client in other law suits. Also make sure you check on the mode of payment, is the payment to be made in advance or is it to be a contingency one? Also make sure whether you would need to use other expert witnesses like an insurance assessor or a medical doctor to support your case, as this would add to your expenses.
Some prominent law firms specializing in Personal Injury Lawyers are:
- Marks and Sands
- Mathew Glossop
- Slater and Gordon
- Butcher Paull and Calder
- Maurice Blackburn Cashman
- Clark and Toop
- Robinson Gill
- Petersons
- Harwood Andrews
- Secombs
- Friedman Lurie Singh