After an injury, life can get complicated. On top of your typical workload, familial and community commitments, and any other involvements that take up time and space in your life, you have to manage additional doctor’s visits, possible car repairs, and mounting medical bills or other expenses, not to mention the pain and suffering that follows injuries.
For some, hiring a personal injury attorney seems like just another stressor to add to the pile. They might believe that a lawyer will increase their financial strain or require time and effort that they simply don’t have. It’s not unusual for an injured person to wonder, “Can I just handle the legal side of this myself? Do I really need help?”
The short answer: Yes, you may be able to handle it yourself.
Our answer: Taking on a personal injury claim alone is likely to cost you money, time, and peace of mind. The truth is that you don’t have to handle it alone, and a personal injury attorney will almost certainly save you money and time, as well as ease your troubles.
They understand insurance companies and the law, so you don’t have to.
Without a lawyer, you’re left vulnerable and unprotected when the insurance company comes calling. They may act like they want to help you, offering a small settlement amount to help pay for car repairs or an initial doctor’s visit, but they don’t have your best interest at heart; instead, they just want to make your claim go away for the least amount of money possible.
Most people don’t realize this, so when the insurance adjuster calls, they don’t recognize that their words can and likely will be twisted against them. Adjusters want to convince you to give up your right to pursue further compensation in the future, and if you’re not aware of their methods, you might fall victim to them.
Hiring a personal injury attorney completely removes the burden of communicating with the insurance company from your shoulders. They’ll field the calls and protect your rights and interests.
But handling the insurance company is just one part of the personal injury process. Your attorney will also help you navigate every aspect of the legal process so that you don’t have to walk through it alone. They will be able to provide you with solid, experience-based advice to secure the best possible outcome in your case, and they will be able to answer any questions that you have throughout the entire process.
A personal injury attorney will also handle all of the paperwork, records, and other case details during your case so that you can focus your attention on healing, not dealing with documents full of confusing legal and medical jargon.
It’s a low financial risk.
Most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency-fee basis. This means that they don’t bill you hourly or charge you up front; instead, they’ll take a percentage of your settlement or verdict at the end of the case, usually around 33% of the total.
Though a personal injury attorney still receives a slice of your total case value, it’s usually worth hiring one. Oftentimes, people who don’t have an attorney looking out for their interests fall victim to insurance companies’ initial low-ball offers.
A client may agree to sign away their right to pursue further compensation and settle with the insurance company without knowing that the settlement offered is only a fraction of what their case is worth. With an attorney, their case may lead to a $30,000 settlement, but without one, they might walk away with just $3,000 and not know about other, stronger claims in the future, such as the underinsured motorist claim. When ongoing medical bills start to pile up, the client may realize that they’ve been duped by the insurance company. If they had chosen to work with an attorney, they would likely be walking away with around $20,000 to pay off their bills, $17,000 more than they’d have by handling it alone.
So, even though it may seem too expensive, hiring a personal injury attorney is often a wise financial investment for your future.
If your case goes to trial, you’ll want a professional on your side.
It’s not common, but if your personal injury case heads to trial, it’s critical to have a lawyer leading the charge. Attempting to do your case pro se is not a recipe for success. Preparing for trial is a massive undertaking, and success in the courtroom requires extensive legal knowledge and experience.
If you walk into trial alone, you’ll find yourself at a serious disadvantage.
So, what should you do if you’re injured and considering legal help?
If you’ve been injured and think you may have a claim, it’s best to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney, just in case. Most personal injury firms offer free consultations that allow their attorneys to talk with you and point you in the right direction, whatever that may look like.
Contributed to by Abby Chalmers.