If you have suffered an injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may wonder if you can handle your personal injury claim alone.
You have the legal right to compensation after you have suffered an injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault.
However, getting paid for your injuries is not necessarily the win that you think it is. In fact, it is a loss if you should have received more money than you actually did, which is a result you risk if you try to file a personal injury claim yourself. If you receive nothing, you certainly lose.
Without a personal injury attorney working for you, you probably will not obtain the best possible outcome for your case.
You must do many things during the legal process to put yourself in a position to receive money, but you should not do them on your own.
Your job is to recover physically. Most people do not have the experience and legal knowledge to maximize compensation.
Personal injury attorneys know how to handle cases like yours and understand the laws and regulations that govern personal injury claims. They can provide valuable guidance and protect your rights throughout the process.
The best thing to do is schedule an appointment to speak with a personal injury attorney during a free initial consultation. Then, you will learn how the legal process works and what a personal injury attorney can do for you.
You have a better chance to obtain more substantial financial results with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.
The Insurance Company Will Take Advantage of You Without Legal Representation
While there is no legal requirement to hire a personal injury lawyer, there is undoubtedly a practical necessity for one.
Insurance companies will always get the better of you without legal representation in a personal injury case. They may even try to tell you that you do not need a personal injury attorney because they want to deal directly with you.
Insurance companies know they will win by getting away without paying or compensating you far less than you deserve.
Thus, you are in a far worse financial position if you do not hire a personal injury attorney.
To know why this is the case, you must understand what a personal injury attorney does and how they can help your case. Then, you need to learn what insurance companies can do if they see that a personal injury attorney is not representing you.
A personal injury attorney’s role begins when you speak with them for the first time during a free initial consultation. Then, they will learn more about your case and explain how it may proceed. They will provide you with their initial assessment of whether you have a potential lawsuit against a defendant.
Your personal injury lawyer will also answer any questions that you may have about the legal process, including the timing of your case and what you may need to do to seek compensation for your injuries.
Your Personal Injury Attorney Helps You Prepare for a Claim by Investigating
Your personal injury lawyer may also perform tasks you cannot accomplish alone. Before discussing the compensation you can receive, you must prove that the defendant was responsible for your injuries.
The way that someone takes on the legal obligation to pay you is when you can show that they were negligent in the events surrounding your accident.
You do not qualify for compensation merely by relaying the story of what happened to cause your accident. You must prove that the other party violated the duty of care they owed you.
Proof is synonymous with evidence because you need to show what happened for an insurance company or jury to believe it.
You may be unable to gather sufficient evidence to show negligence. First, the proof you need will not wait until you have recovered from your injuries to obtain it. Time still proceeds even when you are dealing with physical injuries.
If a witness can testify on your behalf, they may become more challenging to locate, or they may even lose their sharp recollection of what happened.
Then, other sources of evidence may be even harder to obtain. For example, the responsible party may have the proof you need, but you do not know how to get it.
Your lack of physical capacity and experience as an investigator can doom your efforts to prove your case. You may not qualify for a settlement offer when you cannot demonstrate negligence.
Personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and resources to thoroughly investigate your case and gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.
They can work with medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and other professionals to build a strong case on your behalf. This investigation can significantly improve your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome and maximizing the compensation you deserve.
You Will Not Know How Much Your Personal Injury Case Is Worth Without a Lawyer
If you try to file a claim independently, you are doing yourself a disservice on many levels. Without a lawyer representing you, the insurance company may deny your claim or try to blame you for the accident.
Even if the insurance company does offer you a settlement check, it will likely pay much less than you deserve.
The key piece of information that you should have at the beginning of the legal process is knowing the value of your personal injury case. You can get paid for the economic and non-economic damages associated with your injuries.
Looking into the future and predicting the exact amount of money that you need for your injuries is challenging enough. It is even harder to understand more esoteric concepts, such as how much money you can get for your pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Not only must you know how much your case is worth in this regard, but you should also prepare to beat back efforts from the insurance company to undervalue and underpay your case. You do not know how to determine the value of your personal injury case before you file it.
A skilled attorney has the knowledge and experience to assess the full extent of your damages and accurately determine their value. This includes considering factors such as future medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of earning capacity.
Without an attorney advocating for you, you may not accurately quantify these losses and recover fair compensation.
Furthermore, insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing personal injury claims. They may attempt to downplay the severity of your injuries or argue that certain damages are not compensable.
When you have an attorney, they will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring that it does not take advantage of you. They will fight for your rights and push for a settlement that reflects the true value of your case.
A lawyer understands the legal process inside and out. They know what evidence to gather, what documents to file, and what deadlines to meet. They will ensure you correctly complete and submit all paperwork on time, avoiding potential delays or complications that may harm your case.
Additionally, an attorney can anticipate any legal challenges or defenses that the other party may raise, and strategize accordingly to strengthen your position.
The Insurance Company Always Beats Individual Claimants Representing Themselves
Once you file a personal injury claim with the insurance company, you are especially vulnerable if you try to do it independently.
Insurance companies will closely examine your claim to determine the weaknesses because they aim to pay you as little as possible. They may even try to avoid paying you entirely if they find an opening that allows them to do it.
You should never trust that the insurance company will do the right thing when you file your claim.
You may not understand that the insurance claims process is a significant negotiation. Insurance companies may act like they have the power to dictate whether you can receive compensation and how much you can get.
However, the insurance claims process allows you to exercise your legal rights to compensation when you have suffered an injury by the wrongful actions of another person.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer gives you security because insurance companies cannot dictate terms. Instead, you are negotiating with them as a co-equal in the process because you have the legal right to compensation, which they must pay.
However, without legal representation, the insurance company will not respect you or your rights.
The same thing goes for you when you are trying to negotiate compensation after receiving an initial settlement offer.
If you file a claim on your own, you may think that the first settlement offer is the final determination of the money you can receive for your injuries.
In reality, the settlement offer is only the insurance company’s first attempt to settle your case, which is almost always something that you should reject because it does not even come close to paying you what you deserve.
A personal injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company. They understand the tactics insurance companies use and can effectively counter them. They will gather all the necessary evidence to support your claim, including medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and other relevant documentation.
This evidence strengthens your position and increases the likelihood of a fair settlement.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Fight the Insurance Company When Necessary
When you file a personal injury claim without a lawyer, you will likely get the runaround from the insurance company. However, it is essential to remember that insurance companies are just a representative of the real party in interest – their policyholder whose careless actions harmed you.
Insurance companies must pay for the damages their policyholder caused and defend against your lawsuit in court.
Thus, insurance companies may fear you will file a lawsuit in court. The first consequence is that they must pay for the defense costs after hiring an attorney to defend their policyholder from your lawsuit. Then, insurance companies will surrender any control over your case after it is in the hands of the jury.
One never quite knows what a jury may do in a lawsuit. Juries are notoriously unpredictable and may hand down a substantial verdict, meaning that the insurance company may pay more damages than it would have in a settlement agreement.
If your case goes to trial, a personal injury lawyer can represent you in court. They will prepare a strong legal strategy, gather expert witnesses if necessary, and present your case effectively to the judge and jury.
A personal injury attorney with a track record of success in the courtroom can force the insurance company to pay you all the money you deserve.
It Costs You Nothing Out of Pocket to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
If you are worried about the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer, the good news is that you will pay nothing out of pocket.
A personal injury lawyer works on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case and receive a settlement or judgment.
The lawyer will take an agreed-on percentage of the compensation as their fee. This arrangement gives you the peace of mind that your lawyer will fight for your rights and get you the best possible outcome while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
A Personal Injury Attorney is Your Best Ally
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, hiring a trusted lawyer is always in your best interest. A personal injury lawyer’s experience, knowledge, and negotiation skills can significantly increase your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
Contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case and explore your legal options. Let a professional handle your claim while you focus on your recovery.
