If you have been injured in a car or at work, you may be able to claim compensation.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, and you have experienced injuries that have impacted your life, then there may be a claim to be made against someone else.
In some cases, you may be able to make a claim either through the courts or directly to the other party. However, many insurance companies will have legal teams who will do everything that they can to fight the claim or reduce any potential payouts.
To get the compensation that you deserve following your accident, you may need the assistance of a personal injury attorney.
The circumstances of every accident may vary, and there are no set guidelines on when you should seek legal counsel. However, with 62% of people who experience injuries such as whiplash feeling the effects for 10-15 years, having the support of a serious injury attorney will help you get the compensation that covers the full extent of your injuries.
Let’s discuss when you should hire a personal injury attorney.
Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
You may be inclined to skip hiring a personal accident lawyer and attempt to handle the claim yourself. However, making claims for injuries caused due to accidents on the road or in work may require specific skills and expertise.
Before you embark on an attempt to make a claim yourself, you will need to understand everything that is involved in the process and recognize your own capabilities.
If you were to start making a claim, and then decide later that you need the help of a personal injury lawyer, this could complicate matters.
There are some types of accidents for which you may be able to make a claim without the assistance of an attorney.
Accidents With Only Minor Injuries
If you only suffered minor injuries as a result of your accident, then the majority of your claim will seek the cost of repairs to your vehicle.
It may be possible to deal directly with the other party’s insurer, and the level of compensation that you are offered may be sufficient.
You’re Offered the Maximum Amount Available
Insurance companies all have maximum policy limits. If you are offered the maximum settlement from the other party’s insurer, then seeking further damages may not benefit you.
In the event that a court did rule that you should be awarded more, then anything above the insurer’s settlement amount will come directly from the defendant. This may come from their money or assets.
However, where a defendant has very little in the way of assets, it may be better to accept the settlement.
You’re Confident in Your Ability to Handle the Claim
If you have a good working knowledge of the laws surrounding accidents and are able to thoroughly research the processes and issues such as the state laws, fault, and legal liability, then you may be able to handle your claim yourself.
You will need to be a strong communicator with a high degree of confidence. You will be negotiating with insurance agents as well as the courts and you will need to be able to put your claim across in a clear, concise, and effective manner.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help You?
Following an accident, you may need ongoing medical treatment. Your injuries may have affected your ability to work, and your life could have been seriously impacted.
There will be medical bills that need paying, loss of earnings, and damage to your vehicle or property that needs to be accounted for.
All of these expenses will need to be paid in a timely manner. A personal injury lawyer will be able to push to get this paid so that you do not end up in debt.
Your Injuries May Be Worse Than You Thought
Following a car accident, you may not believe that your injuries warrant making a claim. You may have only experienced minor bruising or had a few scratches. For this reason, you may not have considered that you could need the assistance of a personal injury attorney.
However, many injuries may be slow to appear after an accident. The endorphins and adrenaline that your body produces immediately following an accident can mask any pain from internal injuries. It can take several days for symptoms to emerge.
Slight pains in areas such as the back, shoulder, or head may be signs of more serious injuries.
Engaging a personal injury attorney straight after your accident will mean that as symptoms emerge, you will have the support needed to make an appropriate claim.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Will Work on a Contingency Basis
One of the reasons that many people will opt not to get a personal injury lawyer is that they worry about the legal fees.
There may be a concern that upfront fees will be prohibitive and that you won’t be able to pursue your claim through an attorney.
This is not the case, as many attorneys will use contingency fee arrangements. This means that your attorney will not be paid until you receive your settlement.
The contingency fee arrangement may have a varying rate of payments for your attorney based on the outcome of your claim. For instance, the percentage received in the event of an out of court settlement may differ to the amount you will need if you win your case in court.
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been in an accident in the car or at work, then you should seek out the assistance of a personal injury attorney as early as possible.
Even if you believe that you only have a minor claim, a lawyer for injury will help you to assess the situation and advise you accordingly. There may be additional damages that you may able to claim.
To get a personal injury attorney that you can trust, contact the Law Offices of Arturo Martinez PC, and we’ll give you a free over-the-phone case evaluation.
