Erie Personal Injury Attorney

What Is a Personal Injury—and What Are the Most Common Causes of Personal Injury?

If you’ve been involved in an accident that was caused by the negligence or carelessness of another person or entity, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim. Another’s wrongful actions may have left you feeling anxious and stressed about your future. You may not know who to talk to or where to turn. Your injuries may be severe enough that you are unable to return to work—perhaps for days, weeks, months, or forever.

Without your normal income, you may be wondering how you will pay your regular monthly expenses, as well as your medical expenses. This can be a difficult time for you and your family. Your Erie personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya can ensure you receive a fair settlement, helping you get your future back on track.

A personal injury claim can address your physical injuries, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering. Your compensation will address not only your current damages, but future lost wages, and medical expenses. Personal injury claims are most often caused by automobile accidents, but may also be caused by:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Dog bites or attacks
• Swimming pool accidents
• Theme-park or water park accidents

If you have suffered injuries resulting from an accident caused by another’s negligence, you could benefit from speaking to an Erie personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya.

Where Do You Turn When You’ve Suffered an Injury?

Should you find yourself in such a situation—injured, unable to work, and overwhelmed—attorney Dianne Sawaya and her legal team are ready to help you right now. There is no waiting, no wondering whether our law firm can help. You will speak to us quickly, and we will give you an assessment of your accident just as quickly. At the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we understand that you may be facing severe financial hardship as a result of your personal injury.

The Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya will help you through this tough time in your life, working hard for the best possible outcome. Our firm has more than 200 positive Google reviews, and hundreds of satisfied clients. Attorney Dianne Sawaya has practiced law for more than three decades. Two of those decades have been devoted to achieving fair personal injury settlements for accident victims from Denver and the surrounding areas. Our law offices offer you the following:

• We will charge you no fee unless you receive a settlement
• In addition to helping you get the settlement you deserve, we will help you get the medical treatments you need to get better
• Our consultations are always 100 percent free
• We will work hard to maximize the settlement you receive
• Our attorneys are smart, aggressive, and compassionate, always working for your best interests

You do not need to face these challenging times on your own. Dianne Sawaya and her highly-skilled legal team are ready to help you face the future and get your life back on track.

About Erie, Colorado

Erie, Colorado is a town in Weld and Boulder counties, with a population of about 19,000. Erie is located north of Denver, and east of the Boulder, CO. Erie has largely clung to its Old West roots, rather than succumbing to development and national chain stores. Erie was named after Erie, Pennsylvania and settled in 1867, but was not officially incorporated until 1874.

Erie was unique among the many coal mining towns because rather than setting up temporary camps, the miners owned land and homes in the town. In 1871, the Denver & Boulder Valley Railroad was built through the area, connecting Brighton and Boulder. This made it much easier to transport coal to the surrounding communities—and to Denver. As one of the only “wet” towns in the area, Erie had eleven saloons on Briggs Street.

These many saloons necessitated the need for a jail and a constable.  Today, Erie is a bustling city. Both residents and visitors will enjoy such things as September’s annual Biscuit Day celebration, the Dougherty Museum, and 24 Carrot Bistro. Erie residents—like every individual in the United States—are also at risk for an accident caused by the negligence or carelessness of another.

What Should I Do if an Insurance Adjuster Contacts Me Following My Accident?

Almost without exception, you should never agree to speak to the defendant’s insurance company before speaking to an Erie personal injury attorney. You could inadvertently say something that might be misconstrued, or taken out of context, damaging your claim. The defendant’s insurance company may call you soon after the accident, asking you to agree to a recorded statement—or offering you an extremely low settlement. The best thing you can do is tell them to speak to your attorney.

What Damages Are Available in a Personal Injury Case?

Damages that are easily quantified—that is, the cost can easily be determined—are known as economic damages or special damages. Medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, property damage, and the costs of future medical treatments are all included in this category. Non-economic damages—also known as “general” damages—are less tangible and more subjective.

Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life all fall under this category. Pain and suffering can refer to actual physical pain resulting from your injuries, as well as emotional pain and trauma. The third category of damages is known as punitive damages. Punitive damages are not common in a personal injury claim but can be warranted if the defendant acted maliciously or willfully. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant as well as to deter similar conduct among others.

What If I Had a Pre-Existing Condition at the Time of My Accident?

Having a pre-existing condition at the time of your accident does not prevent you from recovering damages following an accident that was caused by the negligence of another. It is, however, essential that you discuss any conditions or injuries you were dealing with at the time of the accident. If you attempt to hide a pre-existing condition or injury, it could significantly compromise your ability to receive a fair settlement.

Insurance claims adjusters are trained to look for prior injuries—and blame current medical conditions on those prior injuries. A pre-existing condition can be significantly worsened or aggravated by a subsequent accident. The defendant should be responsible for aggravating a prior condition or injury. This may require assigning a percentage of your injuries that were pre-existing as opposed to those that were aggravated by the accident.  Your personal injury attorney—with input from your physicians and other experts—can help determine whether there is aggravation in your case and how it will impact your recovery.

There is also a legal theory known as the “eggshell plaintiff” theory that requires plaintiffs to be taken “as they are.” This means defendants may be responsible for paying for damages arising from negligence, regardless of whether a pre-existing condition exacerbated the injuries. The at-fault party may still argue that you are taking advantage of the incident to receive treatment costs to cover prior injuries. If you’ve sustained a personal injury on top of a prior medical issue, the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya will use our experience and skills to achieve the desired resolution.

How Do I Pay for a Personal Injury Attorney?

Of all the many things you have to worry about right now, paying your attorney should not be one of them. When you hire an Erie personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we will take your case at no charge, collecting only when we secure a settlement on your behalf. This means if we do not receive money for your damages, we do not get paid. Personal injury plaintiffs that are legally represented typically receive a substantially higher settlement.

How an Erie Personal Injury Attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya Can Help

Having an experienced Erie personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya can make a significant difference in the outcome of your accident. You may be unable to return to work for weeks, months, or even forever, thus unable to pay your regular monthly expenses. Your medical costs make be mounting alarmingly, and you could be dealing with an insurance company that is being anything but helpful.

Attorney Dianne Sawaya and her experienced legal team can help you through this challenging time in your life. Dianne will zealously fight for your rights—and for a full, fair settlement. As a skilled negotiator and experienced litigator, Dianne will make sure all your bases are fully covered. If you are looking for an Erie personal injury attorney you can trust, contact the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya.