Cranston & Edwards PLLC Answers Your Personal Injury Legal Questions

Q.: Do I have a personal injury case?

A.: You may have a personal injury case if you or your child have suffered serious physical and/or emotional harm due to the act(s) and/or negligence of another individual or entity (business, school, law enforcement, government, etc.). You may also have a valid claim if a loved one lost his or her life under the conditions described. Negligence includes being partially at-fault for the injury or death.

Q.: What is a civil statute of limitations?

A.: Unlike criminal statutes of limitations, which apply to criminal charges, civil statutes of limitations are state-imposed restrictions indicating the time limit during which a specific type of lawsuit relating to an injury must be filed. These time limits can vary widely, and are subject to be revised. You are unlikely to be fully healed before the statute of limitations for your case expires, but it is important to contact us about your case as soon as you are able to speak about it. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you. No matter how solid your case is, you will not collect one cent if it is not filed on time.

Q.: Will my case go to trial?

A.: In many cases, we are able to secure a full, fair settlement through mediation outside of court. If the at-fault party refuses to provide the compensation you are entitled to receive, we are not afraid to pursue your case through the court system. In this situation, we will let you know that we will be preparing for a trial. Cranston & Edwards PLLC offers over 60 years of combined legal expertise. Our experienced trial lawyers have secured numerous settlements, verdicts, and judgements in excess of one million dollars, so you can rest assured that you are in competent hands.

Q.: What is the difference between a settlement, judgement, and verdict?

A.: A settlement is an out-of-court payment agreement for damages that is agreed upon by both the defendant and the plaintiff to settle the case. In some cases, insurance companies assist with this process. A judgement is a ruling by a judge following a court hearing. A verdict is issued by a jury after listening to arguments from both sides. Judgments and verdicts may order the defendant to pay the plaintiff a specified amount of damages.

Q.: How much is my case worth?

A.: There is no way to know exactly what your case is worth until we have fully examined all the facts surrounding your individual case. Generally, the most serious injury and wrongful death cases will warrant a payout in range of hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Keep in mind that there are many factors involved, including your actual lost wages, out-of-pocket medical bills and expenses during treatment and recovery, the extent of your injuries, and anticipated duration of recovery.