Accidents can happen at any time. You may need legal assistance if you are injured. Two terms you may hear often are accident lawyer and personal injuries lawyer. Both terms sound similar, but do they mean the same thing? Not exactly.
Let’s look at the differences in a straightforward way.
What is an accident lawyer?
Accident lawyers help people injured in accidents. Accidents usually involve cars, motorcycles or trucks.
The focus is on:
- Accidents involving cars
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
The job of an accident lawyer is to prove that someone else was at fault. The lawyer also works to recover money from the injured party for medical expenses, lost wages and pain.
They know the rules of traffic, insurance, and accident reports. They can help you deal with insurance companies who try to pay the least amount possible.
Accident lawyers spend considerable time collecting evidence. To build their case, they might use photos, police reports, witness statements and expert opinions.
What is a personal injury lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers help those who have been injured by someone else. They do more than cover vehicle accidents.
The following are some of the cases that they handle:
- Slip and fall
- Medical errors
- Dog bites
- Workplace injuries
- Dangerous products
- Nursing home neglect
Personal injury attorneys are familiar with many different types of injuries, including car accidents. They are fighting to recover compensation for emotional distress, injuries and other losses.
They also work with other lawyers, insurance companies and hospitals. They often deal with a wider variety of legal issues, depending on the particular case.
What are the similarities?
Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers:
- Represent those who have been injured
- You can’t prove that someone else is at fault
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- If necessary, go to court
- Get clients money back for their losses
They all want to ensure that their clients receive fair treatment after an accident.
What Are the Differences?
The most important difference is in the type of cases that they handle.
Accident lawyers focus mainly on accidents involving vehicles. They are familiar with traffic laws and accident cases.
Personal injury attorneys work on a wide range of injury cases and not just accidents. They need to be familiar with many different areas of law such as medical malpractice laws or property safety rules.
All accident lawyers are also personal injury attorneys, but not all personal injuries lawyers are accident lawyers.
Consider this:
- An accident lawyer is a good choice if you have been injured in a car accident.
- You would need a personal injury attorney if you fell on a slippery floor or if a surgical procedure went wrong.
Which one should you call?
How you were injured will determine the answer.
An accident lawyer can be a wise choice if you have been injured in an automobile, motorcycle or truck crash. They are familiar with insurance companies, drivers and road laws.
Call a personal injury attorney if you have been injured in any other way. For example, if you fell at a shop or were bitten by a pet. They know how to deal with your type of case.
Many law firms deal with both types of cases. Many lawyers have experience in both personal injury and traffic accident claims.
Final Thoughts
Both accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys are important. After being injured, they help people to get back on their legs.
They may share some skills but their focus is on different types of injuries.
Knowing how you have been injured is the first step in choosing the right lawyer. Choose a lawyer with experience in cases similar to yours. This can have a huge impact on the outcome of your case.
Nobody plans to be injured, but the right support can help ease your stress and move you forward.
This post was written by a professional at Bonardi & Uzdavinis, LLP. Bonardi & Uzdavinis, LLP is a boutique, full service law firm providing its clients with a wide range of representation. Our primary areas of practice include real estate, probate, personal injury, construction, and commercial litigation. If you are looking for a real estate attorney or brandon personal injury lawyer contact us today for a case evaluation today!
