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If you’ve been injured you may be wondering whether you should contact a lawyer. In most cases, the answer will be yes. Let’s look at the reasons why.

First, if someone else is responsible for causing your injury, you may have a right to receive compensation. Often an insurance company will be involved. This means that the other side will have a team of professionals working against you. Having your own lawyer will ensure that you level the playing field.

Second, most people who have been injured do not know the value of their case. The insurance companies will take advantage of this and attempt to pay as little as possible, or even deny your claim. By hiring your own lawyer, you can be confident that you are receiving fair compensation for your injuries.

Finally, handling a personal injury case is a lot of work. Most personal injury lawyers will work with a paralegal to gather, organize, and review hundreds or even thousands of pages of records to prove your claim. A lawyer and paralegal can easily spend hundreds of hours of time bringing your case to a successful resolution.

At Bergeron, Paradis & Fitzpatrick we have been helping injured Vermonters obtain compensation for their personal injuries for over 30 years.

Most personal injury claims can be settled without having to file a lawsuit in court. 

One reason why a case might go to court is if there is a dispute about who was at fault for the accident. Similarly, if there are questions about whether the injuries were caused in the accident, or whether they were pre-existing, this could be another reason why going to court is necessary.

Even for cases filed in court, most cases will ultimately settle prior to a trial. Every case filed in court will go through a process of discovery and mediation, and this will help both sides evaluate the case and reach a compromise to avoid the time and expense of trial.

The good thing is that as the client, you are always in control of whether to settle your case or whether to pursue it in court and at trial. Your lawyer can give you advice on what is a fair settlement and the risks and benefits of proceeding in court, but only you can decide whether to accept or reject a settlement offer.

At Bergeron, Paradis & Fitzpatrick we have been helping injured Vermonters obtain compensation for their personal injuries for over 30 years.

What If I Did Not Feel injured at the Time of the Accident in Vermont?

If you did not feel hurt at the scene, you may still develop pain symptoms in the hours and days following the accident. This can happen because you experience a rush of adrenaline at the time of the accident which can reduce your sensation of pain. It’s important to monitor how you feel after an accident and if you develop any symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention.

At Bergeron, Paradis & Fitzpatrick we have been helping injured Vermonters obtain compensation for their personal injuries for over 30 years.

How Long Do I have to File My Vermont Personal Injury Case?

In Vermont, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years. This means that a lawsuit must be filed or the case must be settled within three years of the date when the injury occurred.

However, every personal injury case is unique and it is strongly recommended that you contact a lawyer if you have specific questions about how the statute of limitations applies to your specific circumstances.

In addition, it can take months for a lawyer to prepare for filing a lawsuit. Part of a lawyer’s preparation will include obtaining evidence, ordering and reviewing medical records, and retaining expert witnesses. Accordingly, it is very important that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible if you have been injured.

At Bergeron, Paradis & Fitzpatrick we have been helping injured Vermonters obtain compensation for their personal injuries for over 30 years.

If someone else is at fault for your injuries, that person (or his or her insurance company) will be liable for paying your medical bills. But there’s a big caveat. Your medical bills will not be paid until you settle your claim, and typically you will not settle your claim until you are done with treatment. 

Does this mean you have to pay your medical bills out of your own pocket prior to settling your claim? Generally, no.

First, if this was a car accident, you may have Medical Payments coverage on your own vehicle policy. Often an automobile insurance policy will include $5,000 of Medical Payments coverage. This coverage can be used to pay your medical bills prior to settling your claim. 

Second, most health insurers – including Medicare and Medicaid (Green Mountain Care) – will pay for your treatment prior to a settlement. However, if you obtain a settlement, the health insurer will want to be reimbursed out of the settlement. Your lawyer should work to reduce the reimbursement amount going to the health insurer in order to maximize your settlement proceeds.

Finally, if you do not have health insurance, a lawyer can request that medical providers hold the bill until the time when you obtain a settlement.

At Bergeron, Paradis & Fitzpatrick we have been helping injured Vermonters obtain compensation for their personal injuries for over 30 years.