If you have been in an accident and sustained injuries, you may have noticed a drastic disruption in your daily life. You may find yourself spending time going to doctor’s appointments, therapists, rehabilitation, or any other treatment that might help you recover. You may also have started noticing how quickly medical expenses seem to add up.
If this is your case, you may be considering whether hiring a team of personal injury lawyers is what you need to do to get the compensation you deserve or if you could do this on your own. Read on to find out more.
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
When you work with a personal injury lawyer, you will have someone familiar with the stress that can come with an injury. Your lawyer will have experience dealing with all sorts of personal injury claims and may offer you the following advantages.
A Great Deal of Experience
Working with someone who has experience with cases similar to yours, you know your attorney is familiar with the personal injury claim process. This can be daunting and confusing to someone who has never dealt with it before. If you attempt to do this on your own, you risk a delayed or greatly reduced payout due to a single misstep you did not even realize you took.
Your lawyer can gather information, deal with law enforcement, use their experience working with local court officials, and help expedite your claim.
Negotiate a Settlement
Most personal injury cases do not end up in court but reach a settlement agreement through negotiations. It is unlikely that you will have the needed negotiating skills to deal with the other party’s lawyer or their insurance company. There is a greater chance that you will end up receiving a lower payout, or you may even find that your claim has been denied.
Representing You in Court
When a settlement is not possible, your claim will go to court. Although you always have the option of representing yourself, you do not want to navigate the court system without any legal knowledge to defend yourself. Moreover, the other party or their insurance will certainly have a team of lawyers on their side. You need someone with a high level of expertise by your side as well.
Getting the Best Care for Your Injuries
After being in an accident, you should always seek medical care. This is even more critical when your injuries are severe and long-lasting. You may already be under medical care when you reach out to a personal injury attorney. If you are not, your attorney can point you in the right direction, since their experience with personal injury claims has likely resulted in a large network of medical specialists. They can help you find the most appropriate doctor for your injuries to ensure you have quality care and a fast recovery.
When Liability Is Unclear
Some cases are clear-cut. In others, it may not be immediately obvious who the negligent party was. When it is not clear who is liable for the accident, you may have to prove that you are innocent. This can be achieved by collecting evidence that shows your injuries occured due to someone else’s negligence.
In these cases, having legal representation is a great asset. Your lawyer can collect and analyze evidence, such as police reports, medical records, testimony from eyewitnesses, photos or videos from the accident, and anything else that may explain what happened.
Even if you are only partly at fault for the accident, you will want an experienced attorney working on your defense to minimize your liability.
There Is No Cost to You
One of the reasons why you may be hesitant about hiring an attorney might be the cost. With so medical bills piling up and any income you may be losing out on from missing work, the last thing you need is a lawyer who will cost you more money.
You should know that the vast majority of personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means no out-of-pocket costs to you, and you will only have to pay when you win your case.
With nothing to lose and a great deal to gain, it makes sense to seek legal representation at a time when your injuries demand so much of your attention and time. Focus on your health and let your lawyer handle the legal aspects.
