Maine Personal Injury Attorneys

Life is always a little dangerous. Every time you drive, for instance, you’re getting into a multi-ton mechanical object and moving at high speeds past similarly large objects, which carries the inherent risk of a car accident. Even walking down stairs could result in a serious injury if you’re unlucky.

Bad luck isn’t the only thing that can result in a serious injury, however. You could also get injured due to another party’s recklessness or carelessness.

For example, if someone is running through a shopping mall to avoid being late for a movie and accidentally collides with you, their negligence would make them responsible if you broke your ankle after being pushed.

In situations where the actions of another person or entity result in an avoidable injury, you might consider filing a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation to aid your recovery. Reach out to the skilled personal injury lawyers at Gideon Asen today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your rights and legal options.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A Maine personal injury attorney can represent you throughout the claims process when you’ve been injured by the negligence of another party. Typically, this means they’ll communicate with all relevant parties on your behalf, including insurance companies and the courts.

Most cases don’t start with personal injury litigation. Instead, they begin when you file an insurance claim.

Your lawyer for personal injury will gather compelling evidence to support your case before submitting your claim to the at-fault party’s insurer. Once they have sufficient evidence, they’ll guide you through the claims process, ensuring that you provide all required information and meet all applicable deadlines.

The dedicated personal injury lawyers at Gideon Asen have extensive experience dealing with the major insurers in Maine. We know what types of evidence clients need, how to obtain and preserve it, and how to present it to the insurance companies.

Once we’ve built a solid case, we’ll attempt to negotiate a fair settlement to make sure you get the compensation you need to make a full recovery.

If the insurance company won’t negotiate in good faith, the state’s personal injury laws permit you to file a lawsuit to seek compensation.

The skilled legal team at our personal injury law firm will file all of the required paperwork with the court and keep you informed throughout the pre-trial hearings and motions. If your case eventually goes to court, you’ll benefit from the extensive trial experience our lawyers possess.

A personal injury lawyer in Maine can help you from the first moments after you suffer an injury until the very end of your case. The best time to contact an attorney is right after you’re injured. Don’t wait to get the trustworthy legal assistance you need — contact Gideon Asen today to schedule a free consultation.

Types of Personal Injury Claims

Car accidents are among the most common types of personal injury claims. Following a car accident, the insurance company for the driver responsible for the crash typically pays for the injuries the other parties have suffered. This works because all drivers in Maine are required to purchase car insurance.

Other types of claims may not proceed in such a straightforward manner. For example, while most businesses have liability insurance, the average person probably doesn’t. Consequently, every personal injury claim shakes out a little differently.

The following are some of the most common types of personal injury claims:

Slip and Fall Accidents

Have you ever noticed the yellow placards that janitors place on the ground while they’re mopping? These are warning signs meant to inform the public that the ground is wet and therefore isn’t safe to walk on. Without such signage, the business would be liable if you slipped and hurt yourself.

Most slip and fall accidents occur in public places where the staff or management is negligent. This negligence might involve either a failure to warn visitors of hazardous conditions (like a broken step or loose carpeting) or a failure to maintain safe conditions (like not removing ice from a sidewalk).

Nursing Home Negligence

One of your loved ones may need help eating, bathing, and performing other daily activities as they get older. When you put them in a long-term care facility, you’re trusting the facility’s staff to protect their well-being. If the nursing home staff neglects your loved one, they could be at risk of becoming injured or ill.

Product Liability

Manufacturing laws in the U.S. require companies to produce safe products. For example, manufacturers can’t sell vehicles that aren’t equipped with functioning brakes — no one could safely drive such a vehicle on a public road without getting into an accident.

When a product is defective — usually due to a design or manufacturing error — the manufacturer is responsible for any injuries consumers suffer as a result of using the product as intended.

Suppose that you broke your leg after falling off a collapsible ladder with a defective locking mechanism. The manufacturer would likely be liable for your resulting medical bills and lost wages.

The Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims

Maine has some of the most complex statute of limitation laws in the country. In most cases, accident victims have six years from the date they become injured to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are a few notable exceptions to this rule.

Ski Area Operators

This rule is unique to Maine and its ski-friendly resorts. If the defendant is a ski area operator, you must file your lawsuit within two years rather than the six years normally allotted.

Legal Malpractice

Lawyers receive a similar reprieve under Maine law. As with ski area operators, you only have two years to file a lawsuit against an attorney for legal malpractice.

Since legal malpractice may take time to identify, you should contact a qualified attorney for personal injury as soon as possible if you suspect you’ve been a victim of legal malfeasance.

Minor Plaintiffs

When the plaintiff is a minor, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until they turn 18, at which point the normal six-year deadlined applies. This means that if you were injured as a child, you would have until your 24th birthday to file a lawsuit.

Lawsuits Against the Government

All lawsuits directed at the local or state government must also be filed within two years. However, a second restriction is also in place: You must give the government written notice that you intend to sue within one year. If you miss this deadline, the two-year statute of limitations becomes moot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact the Experienced Maine Personal Injury Attorneys at Gideon Asen Today

If you or a loved one have been injured by the negligent or intentional actions of another party in Maine, state law allows you to seek compensation for the various losses you’ve suffered.

It’s important to act quickly to take advantage of these laws and assert your rights. Contact us today to get a proven personal injury lawyer working on your case.