Great Falls, Montana Personal Injury Lawyer Michael W. Cotter, P.C., Practice Areas
RAILROAD/FELA CLAIMS:
In 1908, Congress passed the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for the protection of thousands of railroad workers nationwide. FELA continues to provide a federal system of legal recovery for railroad workers and their families for injuries suffered while on the job. Almost any worker employed by a railroad company will be protected under FELA if they are injured on the job, including those whose primary duties are not performed in or around trains. Unlike no-fault workers' compensations laws, under which an injured worker does not need to establish any fault by the employer, a claim brought under FELA needs to show that the railroad was negligent and caused said injuries.
TOXIC EXPOSURE:
Due to the tremendous growth of corporate industry in the United States over the past fifty years, the number of dangerous, toxic substances in the environment has grown significantly. Some toxic substances are shown to cause substantial injury to people, such as lead-based paint: linked to brain damage, especially in children, asbestos: lung cancer, restrictive lung disease, dry cleaning and other solvents: brain damage, major organ damage, pesticides such as dioxin and DDT: birth injuries and toxic landfill waste: leukemia. For additional information related to toxic exposure, contact personal injury Attorney Michael W. Cotter, P.C.
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically governed by the law of negligence. Any individual who negligently operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an injured victim. A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings, or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed. Vehicle accidents can include car accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, semi tractor trailer accidents and truck accidents, to name a few. Anyone injured by a drunk driver, or surviving family members of a person killed by a drunk driver, may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the defendant.
PERSONAL INJURY:
Personal injury claims are legal disputes that arise when an individual suffers harm from an accident or injury caused by the negligence or intention of another individual or party. A personal injury case can become formalized through civil court proceedings, or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed.
WRONGFUL DEATH:
Wrongful death law is the area of law that seeks to provide financial compensation to the family of a person whose death was caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act of another. In addition to receiving compensation for wrongful death, the family of the deceased may be able to recover damages for personal injury to the decedent, anticipated earnings until the expected time of retirement, as well as medical bills, funeral costs and other related expenses.
CIVIL LAW:
Civil law is the area of law by which private individuals resolve their differences with the help of a civil court, unlike criminal law which involves a citizen, or a business and the state. The rules of the federal government and all individual state governments are codified into statutes. When an individual violates the rules, as listed in the statutes, the federal government or the state will prosecute the individual. The remedies available in civil court are generally limited to monetary damages. The remedies available in criminal court may involve monetary damages and/or a prison sentence.
INSURANCE CLAIMS:
Insurance claims are a notice for reimbursement from an insurance company when the insured has suffered a loss that is covered under the insurance policy. Under Montana law, insurance companies cannot refuse to pay a customer's claim without "reasonable justification". This means that an insurance company must engage in a reasonable investigation and pay legitimate claims in a timely manner. If an insurance company fails to handle its customer's claim properly, it may be held accountable for resulting economic losses, including lost wages, interest on money the insured borrowed to cover expenses while insurance benefits were wrongfully withheld, and loss due to damaged credit. For additional information related to Insurance Claims, contact personal injury lawyer Michael W. Cotter, P.C.
DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS:
Product liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer. A person injured by a defective or dangerous product may be eligible to file a lawsuit for product liability, and recover damages under one of the following categories: strict product liability, negligence, or breach of warranty.
If you have lost a loved one to wrongful death or suffered from serious personal injury in Great Falls, Montana, contact Personal Injury Lawyer Michael W. Cotter, P.C. today at 866-666-0601 or complete the contact form on this site to begin your consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
