Do Lawyers Make Hospital Visits?

It’s not particularly surprising that people in need of lawyers end up in hospitals. Whether someone was injured in a car accident, violent crime, or suffered from medical malpractice, injured people often seek care in a hospital environment. There is an unusual idea floating around regarding seeking legal representation while in a medical facility, that injured people should wait until they are home to talk to an attorney, but this presumption is false. Lawyers make hospital visits all the time, and they are happy to do so if it helps in your case and recovery. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to another party’s negligence or intentional conduct, reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to schedule a meeting, regardless of where you are.

Attorneys play many roles.

From the initial situation where the injury was sustained all the way through the patient’s recovery, a good attorney will play many roles. For example, in a car accident, an attorney will investigate the scene of the accident to determine what factors were at play that may have contributed to the injury. This investigation will likely include pictures of any damaged property, vehicles, and even environmental factors like adverse weather.

Attorneys will also contact potential witnesses to the scene to determine if any testimonies can be gathered. A good attorney is also a confidant of the injured person, and a source of support. It is not uncommon for attorneys to visit clients in the hospital to check on their recovery as well as to discuss the ongoing proceedings of their case.

There is no rule preventing an attorney from visiting their client in a hospital.

Due to the nature of personal injury law, personal injury clients often spend a good deal of time in the hospital. Attorneys go where their clients are, which means hospitals, home-visits, coffee shops, and more. If an injured person is too injured to contact an attorney, a loved one can do so on their behalf. This is often the case when traumatic injuries occur, but is no reason to wait to seek legal aid.

The sooner an attorney is contacted, the better.

Every state has its own statute of limitations or window of time in which the injured party is eligible to file a lawsuit for recovery. For personal injury cases, this window of time usually spans 2-4 years from the date of the injury. However, collecting necessary evidence and filing the actual claim can take time, so it’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible; even if this means the injured party is still in the hospital when the call is made. If one more bill on top of all the existing medical bills is a concern, it may help to note that most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis; this means that a client will not have to pay for their services unless they win their case. Attorney meetings can also take place via video conferencing like Zoom or Facetime for those who prefer remote communication or find themselves in the hospital.

To learn more about your options for physical and financial recovery after sustaining an injury due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to a personal injury attorney.