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Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

At Teel & Gay, P.L.C., we handle all types of significant personal injury and wrongful death cases. When you suffer a serious personal injury, or when a loved one is seriously injured or killed, your life is filled with unsettling change. It is often difficult to focus on the next step. An understanding of your legal rights can help you deal effectively with the crisis. Significant personal injury can occur at any time without warning, leaving victims reeling. At those times, it is generally wise to consult an experienced personal injury law firm as soon as possible.

 

Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may forget important details. These various types of personal injury and death claims are governed by different legal standards. Attention to detail is critical in determining fault and ensuring that injured persons and their loved ones receive full and fair compensation.

Frequently Asked Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Questions

What is a personal injury claim?

Personal injuries not only cause physical pain, but often emotional and financial hardship through loss of work, medical bills, and stress placed upon families and loved ones. If you have suffered physical or emotional injuries due to another’s acts, you may be entitled to bring a personal injury claim to recover for your damages. The compensation you are entitled to receive often depends upon the type of accident that caused the injury. For instance, there are different rules of recovery when the injury results from an automobile crash than when it is an on-the-job injury.

What is a wrongful death claim?

When a loved one is killed due to the negligence of another, relatives may file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim allows the loved ones to make a claim for loss of emotional or financial support.

What damages may you be entitled to recover?

There are two types of damages in personal injury and wrongful death claims. The first is compensatory damages which are meant to put you in the same financial position you had been in had the event not occurred. These damages include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. The second type of damages is called punitive damages and is meant to punish the wrongdoer. For instance, the manufacturer of a defective product might be liable for punitive damages if they knew of the defect and continued to produce and sell the dangerous product. Specific damages include:

  • past and future medical and hospital expenses
  • physical pain and suffering
  • mental anguish
  • physical impairment
  • disfigurement
  • lost wages
  • loss of earning capacity
  • loss of love and companionship caused by the injury or death of a loved one
  • funeral expenses
  • damage or destruction of property
  • physical pain and suffering
  • loss of enjoyment of life

What types of personal and wrongful death claims are handled by Teel & Gay, P.L.C.?

  • Automobile and Motor Vehicle Crashes
  • Trucking Litigation and Eighteen Wheeler Crashes
  • Boating Crashes
  • Recreational Accidents
  • Fires and Explosions
  • Dog and Animal Attacks
  • Insurance Disputes and Claims
  • Airline Disasters
  • Defective Products/Products Liability
  • Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
  • Drug Related Injuries and Death
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Premises Liability
  • Unsafe Work Environments

How long do you have to file a claim?

There are certain time limitations for acting to protect your rights and the rights of your loved ones. If you do not act within certain time limits, you may lose your right to make a claim in the future, even if the injury gets worse as time goes by. The time you have to file and resolve a claim varies depending on the cause of the injury. Claims for defective products or a car crash may have different time limitations.

What should you do following accidental injury or death?

  • Obtain names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses.
  • Photograph the scene where the injury occurred and any visible injuries (cuts, bruises). Professional photographs are generally preferable, but not essential.
  • Talk to no one about the accident or injuries other than your personal physician or lawyer.
  • Consult a lawyer before answering questions from insurance company representatives.
  • Tell your personal physician or surgeon exactly how the injury occurred and describe all symptoms and complaints. Be sure to report memory problems, confusion or disorientation, however minor these things may seem at the time.
  • Begin keeping a diary of how the injury or death affects your life and your family. In particular, write down all medical related visits and everything that causes physical pain, frustration or worry. Obtain and keep receipts for all expenses relating to the incident.

How will Teel & Gay, P.L.C. work with you?

If you would like more information about Teel & Gay, P.L.C., we are happy to provide it. There is never a charge for an initial consultation, and you will pay no legal fees unless you receive a settlement or judgment. Our team of lawyers, paralegals, and investigators effectively works to level the playing field with the vast resources of insurance companies by putting our experience and proven techniques to work, including early investigation, careful review of medical records, and thoroughly evaluating economic and emotional losses. Our firm strives to satisfactorily meet client objectives and goals by focusing on the catastrophic personal toll caused by the negligence, carelessness, and recklessness of others so that judges, juries and insurance adjusters alike understand the need to fully and fairly compensate personal injury victims for all aspects of their losses.

Should you choose to have us represent you, we will do the following:

  • Meet with you in the hospital or your home if you are unable to come to our office.
  • Learn all the facts relating to your accident.
  • Have our private investigator conduct a thorough investigation, if necessary.
  • Hire engineers or other appropriate experts, as needed, to conduct a proper investigation of your claim.
  • Research and analyze the law and legal precedents that relate to your claim.
  • Explain to you all of your important legal rights.
  • Review medical records in order to obtain a full understanding of your injuries and medical condition.
  • Meet with your physicians and health care providers.
  • Keep you advised and informed about the progress of your claim.