- Personal Injury
When you get hurt in some kind of accident, there are two things you want. One, you want justice. Even if it was a mistake on the other person’s fault, you want someone to confirm that they were at fault. The second thing you want is compensation for your injuries. It would be naïve to assume that clients meet with Carrollton personal injury lawyers because they just want justice. And there’s nothing wrong with that. If you experience medical bills or other expenses as a result of your accident, you shouldn’t be left holding the bag. The good news is that your Carrollton personal injury lawyer will do their best to get you the money you deserve.
One question a lot of our clients ask is what to do if the defendant has nothing. For example, if your child is bitten by a homeless person’s dog, there isn’t a whole lot you can do. Even though Carrollton has dog leash rules and a dog bite law, it means nothing if the defendant has nothing to lose. The same is true if you get hurt in a business that is now closed. The owner of the business will likely not be personally liable for your injuries. The way most businesses are set up is to avoid this kind of liability. One thing your Carrollton personal injury lawyer can do is see if the defendant has assets first. Then the two of you can decide if it’s worth pursuing.
Some Personal Injury Cases Involve Insurance Companies
If the other party has insurance, then it will probably be worth pursuing. You can file your claim against their insurance company. If they pay, great. You’ll have your check within a few weeks or so. If, on the other hand, the claim is denied, you’ll be in the same boat that you would be if they have no assets. There are some accidents that just don’t involve insurance. A dog bite would be one of them. The same thing applies if you’re injured in an intentional assault. If the person who attacks you has nothing, then there will be nothing to get. Your Carrollton personal injury lawyer isn’t going to want to put a ton of time into a case where there are no assets involved.
Some Lawyers Won’t Want to Sue on a No-Asset Case
As mentioned above, a lot of Carrollton personal injury lawyers won’t want to pursue a no-asset case. Justice does not pay the bills. As much as they want to do right by you, they can’t afford to put out thousands of dollars in legal fees and expenses if they know they will not recover this money at the end of the case.
Call and Speak with a Skilled Carrollton Personal Injury Lawyer
The only way to really know if you have a valid legal claim is to meet with an experienced Carrollton personal injury lawyer. You may be absolutely sure that the other party is at fault. But you probably have no idea if they have assets. You may be able to check to see if they have any property in their name. However, this doesn’t mean all that much. Most of the time, you can’t force the sale of a person’s home to pay a civil judgment anyway. But your Carrollton personal injury lawyer may be able to find out more information,
If your attorney determines that the defendant has assets, they may want to proceed with your case. They will be honest with you. No matter how great your damages are, if the defendant has nothing, it may not make sense to sue. Sure, they can send a demand letter on your behalf. This may spark a conversation where the defendant agrees to make some kind of payment. However, this is unusual. As much as we would like to think that people like to do the right thing. When it comes to money, people are not as happy to pay as you would think. They know whether they have assets. If they are truly judgment proof, they may not even respond to your lawsuit. They may wait and let you get a judgment knowing you’ll never get a dime.
The best thing to do now is to call and talk to an experienced Carrollton personal injury lawyer. Call and set up your free, initial consultation today.
