Have you ever experienced an accident or suffered an injury of some kind? Were you overwhelmed in the aftermath dealing with everything from pain to medical expenses to missing days from work? Did you wonder if hiring a personal injury lawyer was the right thing to do?
“Personal injury lawyers are trial lawyers. That means we are willing to go to court if necessary and fight to protect our clients,” says Michael McLean, a lawyer at Wall, McLean & Gallagher LLC, a law firm with offices in Helena and Anaconda. They’ve helped hundreds of people through personal injury cases and have tried cases in state and federal court and have argued cases before the Montana Supreme Court.
Should you find yourself in that situation again, these key points can help. Here’s how to know if you need a personal injury lawyer.
You feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to start
People dealing with an injury are dealing with a lot and, understandably, may be unfamiliar with local laws and may not know what their rights are. “That’s where we step in,” McLean says. “We know the law and we are willing to use our knowledge and experience to our clients’ advantage to obtain the results they deserve.” It is important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney, McLean says, because knowledge is power.
“We’ve seen just about everything. We are knowledgeable about the insurance laws in Montana and know from experience what those laws require insurance companies to do in personal injury cases. The large insurance companies have experienced attorneys working for them and so should an injured person if they expect to be treated fairly.”
The injury was not your fault.
If you’ve suffered an injury after being in an accident that was not at all your fault, it’s a good idea to consult a lawyer.
“We offer a free consultation with people so we can try to answer their questions and address their concerns,” McLean says. He recommends keeping a journal documenting the entire process, the details of their injuries, and how those injuries have impacted their lives — because often, trials don’t happen until years after the accident, so a journal helps refresh their memory and tell a compelling story at the trial.
You lost wages or income.
If you’re missing work due to your injury, and therefore not earning your usual wages, it’s important to consult an attorney as early as possible. “We may be able to have an injured person’s wages paid while the case is ongoing,” McLean says. “In some situations, we may be able to have the insurance company pay the injured person’s medical expenses as they become due.”
Wall, McLean & Gallagher LLC handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis — which means if they are unsuccessful, you don’t pay for their time. “We understand that being involved in the legal process can be expensive and we want to ensure that everybody can afford a lawyer if need be,” McLean says.
With offices in Helena and Anaconda, the trial lawyers at Wall, McLean & Gallagher LLC have over 60 years of combined legal experience and are passionate about representing hometown Montanans. They specialize in personal injury, car accidents, employment cases, wage claims, real estate disputes, dissolution, estates, and estate planning. For more information, visit them online or call (406) 442-1054.
HELENA Location
40 West Lawrence, Suite B
Helena, Montana 59601
At Wall, McLean & Gallagher, PLLC, we are committed to our clients and our community. A Montana Law Firm with offices in Helena and Anaconda, WMG has represented and sued Fortune 500 companies, brought and defended class action lawsuits and handled complex healthcare disputes.
But our true passion is representing hometown Montanans like you—The people who work hard, care deeply about their families, volunteer for their communities and make lasting contributions to quality of life for those around them.
