We all know that car accidents are an unfortunate reality of daily life. Yet no one ever plans to be one of the approximately 4.4 million Americans who are seriously injured in car accidents every year. Nor do most people think about the fact that car accidents are a leading cause of death for people under the age of 55.  So if you’ve been in a car accident, your life has probably been turned upside down. When that happens, you need a lawyer to help you get your life back on track. And not just any lawyer.  Here are 8 tips to keep in mind so you know when to hire an attorney after a car accident.  Tip #1: When to Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident Unless your car accident caused no injuries and little or no property damage, we strongly recommend that you consult an attorney. There are several reasons for this. For one, even minor fender-benders can result in expensive damage to your property, a pile of medical bills, and even lost wages. Second, an attorney has the legal expertise to serve as your advocate, help you understand your case, and work to maximize your compensation. They will also be familiar with how to persuade judges and juries in your favor.  Tip #2: Don’t Wait to Get an Attorney Sometimes people will wait to hire an attorney after a car accident because they’re worried about finances or want to try to figure things out on their own.  Do not make this mistake.  Getting a car accident attorney right away helps you preserve your legal options. Most states have a time limit called a statute of limitations that restricts your ability to file a claim after a certain period of time. So if you wait too long, your claim might be thrown out of court even if it is otherwise sound. Getting a lawyer immediately also helps protect you from being low-balled by insurance companies or hassled by any other third parties (like the other side’s attorneys).  Tip #3: Do Your Research First Not all attorneys are created equal.  Some are experienced, while others are just out of law school. Others may have a lot of experience in another area of law, but won’t be very familiar with car accident claims. And some attorneys just have a bad reputation.  For these reasons and more, it is important to research the attorneys in your area before contacting any of them. Look for attorneys that have outstanding reviews and years (or decades) of experience handling car accidents. Another good idea is to reach out to family and friends and learn about their experiences with local car accident attorneys. And while you can use online reviews, make sure that any reviews (positive or negative) are from verified customers, and not from anonymous sources.  Tip #4: Consider What Size Law Firm You Are Looking For Attorneys can either practice on their own or as part of a firm. Law firms range in size from having just a handful of attorneys to having hundreds of attorneys. There are advantages and disadvantages to both small law firms and large law firms.  Generally, small law firms are likely to give you more personal attention. However, they are sometimes limited in the kinds of cases that they offer and can vary in quality. Larger law firms tend to have legal specialists and the resources to prosecute more complex cases. At the same time, large law firms are more expensive and also more likely to charge an hourly rate as compared to working with you on a contingency basis.  Tip #5: Prepare for Your Consultations Make sure you are professional, courteous, and thorough when you consult with an attorney.  No matter what kind of attorney you speak with, they will have questions about your claim.  Be ready to discuss the critical facts of your case and show the attorney any evidence you have.  Tip #6: Speak with Several Attorneys Before Hiring One It’s essential to find an attorney that you can trust and be completely honest with. If you are able to get along with your attorney, it will make their representation smoother and more effective. Occasionally, an unsavory attorney might try to pressure you into hiring them before you consult with other potential firms. Avoid this kind of attorney at all costs. Also, make sure that you don’t sign any documents during a consultation unless you fully understand and agree to them.  Tip #7: Ask the Right Questions Before you hire any car accident lawyer, you need to ask several critical questions: What are the various potential outcomes for your case? Does the lawyer prefer to settle your kind of case or litigate in court? How long will it take to resolve your case? Does the attorney charge on an hourly basis, or on a contingency basis? How much does the attorney charge? How will the lawyer communicate the progress of your case with you? How long has the attorney been handling car accident claims? By asking these questions, you’ll quickly get a sense of whether the attorney is right for you.  Tip #8: Set Boundaries When you hire a car accident lawyer, it’s important to explain your expectations. Even the most skilled attorney won’t be able to guess how much you expect to receive from your case. Therefore, it’s best to discuss the following issues with your attorney: Your ideal outcome for the case; The minimum amount you are willing to settle your case for; The worst possible outcome of your case; and The potential disruptions to your life because of the lawsuit.  By having these conversations, you can hopefully get a realistic sense of how your case will unfold.  Why Should I Choose Gerling Law? Gerling Law is not just any law firm. Our experienced car accident lawyers know how difficult it is to put the pieces of your life together after a car accident. Unlike many other attorneys, we have decades of...

July 14, 2020 – Three new lawsuits alleging that Paragard is defective and causes severe complications and injuries were filed against Teva Pharmaceuticals.   The first lawsuit, a ten-count complaint, was filed on May 11, 2020 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California.  As of July 14, 2020, the case was before Magistrate Judge William B. Shubb.   Notable claims were negligence, strict liability design defect, strict liability manufacturing defect, and strict liability failure to warn.  In her lawsuit, the plaintiff reported that she had the Paragard IUD for approximately two years after its implantation before she requested for its removal.  Her doctor removed the IUD following the manufacturer’s instructions to find one arm of the device gone, which then required the doctor to search and recover the part via a hysteroscope.   The second lawsuit was filed on May 26, 2020, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. As of July 14, 2020, the case was before Judge Gregory H. Woods.  Notable claims were negligence, design defect, and manufacturing defect.  The second plaintiff had the Paragard IUD for approximately five years after its implantation before she experienced uterine pain.  Similar to the first plaintiff, the second plaintiff requested for the IUD to be removed only for the doctor to find that it was missing an arm when they removed it.  The plaintiff claimed that Teva Pharmaceuticals “knew or should have known that Paragard can and does cause serious harm to individuals who use it, due to the risk of the Paragard’s arm breaking upon removal.” The third lawsuit, an eleven-count complaint, was filed on May 28, 2020, in the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois in the East St. Louis Division. As of July 14, 2020, the case was before Judge J. Phil Gilbert after being reassigned to him on June 24, 2020. Notable claims were negligence, failure to warn, violation of consumer protection laws, and gross negligence. The plaintiff was implanted with the Paragard IUD in 2008. In 2018, when her doctor attempted to remove the device according to Teva’s instructions, the device was missing an arm. The plaintiff underwent two procedures before the device was successfully removed. The plaintiff claims that “Paragard is inherently dangerous and defective, unfit and unsafe for its intended use.” All three plaintiffs claim that they were in good health when the Paragard IUD was implanted. When the IUD broke off while inside each plaintiff, they all required invasive procedures to remove the fragments. The plaintiffs allege that Teva Pharmaceuticals was aware of the dangers of the Paragard device and failed to warn the public about its risks. No trial date has been set in any of the three cases, yet they clearly depict the need for justice in the lives of those consumers who were burdened with serious injuries from their Paragard IUDs. Reference: “Paragard IUD Alleged to Cause Serious Injuries.” The National Law Review, www.natlawreview.com/article/paragard-iud-alleged-to-cause-serious-injuries.

June 28, 2021 — The federal judge coordinating the proceedings for claims that Syngenta AG’s paraquat weedkillers cause Parkinson’s disease, US Judge Nancy Rosenstengel of the Southern District of Illinois, announced that she was setting a jury trial date for November 15, 2022.  The order was issued in an initial hearing with lawyers representing the people filing such lawsuits.  There are 157 cases pending in state and federal courts around the country according to a June 22 court filing. The central claim is that Syngenta knew of its products’ risks, but failed to warn users.  The company has denied the allegations and any liability along with the other defendants, which include Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, and Chevron USA, Inc. The case number for the multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is 3:21-md-03004-NJR. More than 100 cases move forward, but several are in the process of settling. A “notice of settlement” was filed on June 18 in California, stating that the parties in 16 cases pending in that state had reached an agreement on settlement terms. Reference: Gillam, Carey. “Jury Trial Date Set for Lawsuits Against Syngenta Alleging Weedkiller Causes Parkinson’s Disease • Children’s Health Defense.” Children’s Health Defense, childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/trial-date-syngenta-roundup-paraquat-parkinson-disease/.