When Should I Get A Personal Injury Lawyer?
“When should I hire a personal injury lawyer?” It’s a question many injury victims ask. After you have been injured in an accident, such as car accident, bike or motorcycle accident, slip and fall, or any other type of accident-related injury, you may find yourself in question over whether or not you should hire a lawyer. Unfortunately, sometimes that answer is not always straightforward. In this article, we’ve composed a list of questions to ask yourself prior to making the decision to hire one:
How serious is your accident injury?
Not all injuries are serious enough to retain legal counsel. If your injury is minor and you have the resources and time to handle the legal paperwork and insurance claims yourself, it is possible that you can settle your claim on your own. However, if your pain and suffering last more than a few days, we highly recommend you seek guidance from an attorney immediately to provide you with a plan of action to take in recovering damages. That said, if your injury escalated to the point of hospitalization, surgery, or to seek the help of a chiropractor, it is imperative that you consider hiring legal counsel. This is especially true if you foresee substantial medical or physical future damages. You do not want to be held responsible for those medical bills!
Was your injury caused by the negligence of another person or entity?
If you think that your injury was caused by another party’s negligence, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney to properly prove fault. You will want to do this immediately following your injury to strengthen your legal claim.
Have you been contacted by the insurance company?
To decrease their losses, insurance companies employ insurance adjusters. It is the adjuster’s job to minimize the amount that the company pays out to injury victims/claims. If you are contacted by the insurance company for a recorded medical statement, medical records, or any other potentially incriminating information, it is in your best interest to advise them that you are in the process of retaining an attorney. Insurance adjusters will likely attempt to gather information from you that can damage your claim, which is why it is best that you seek legal counsel before providing any information at all.
It is also good to know that if the insurance company is contacting you they believe you have a valid claim. It is their objective to speak with you to gather as much information they can to achieve their goal of either reducing your payout or denying it altogether. Don’t fall for their sneaky tactics. Call an injury lawyer instead!
Is the company offering an unreasonably low payout?
Insurance companies often employ deceitful tactics to get you to agree to a lesser payout. These tactics include prolonging your payout or making unreasonably low settlement offers despite your extensive injuries. They will even try to make it sound like it is the best offer you’ll get! An attorney understands how the insurance companies work and will be able to turn their bad-faith negotiations into a higher settlement payout.
Are you comfortable with the law and the settlement process?
If you opt to handle your own claim, you will need to have a thorough understanding of torts law and the settlement process. You’ll also need to be confident in your negotiation skills as it is paramount in attaining the highest settlement possible. Most injury cases are very complex. For example, if you were injured at work, you may need the help of qualified experts to uncover the evidence that you will need to prove your claim. If that is the case, you should contact a Nevada Workers compensation attorney. Car accidents can require auto accident reconstruction, witness testimonies, and a concrete understanding of the physics involved with a crash.
Is the insurance company disputing the liability of its insured?
Even when an accident clearly demonstrates negligence on another person or entity, an insurance company will still try to decline liability by making you believe that you do not have a claim, or that your claim is worth far less than it actually is. If liability is being challenged, it is imperative that you seek legal counsel.
For more information on your claim, or whether or not you should accept the settlement offer being presented to you, contact my law office for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Do not wait! Your time is limited to successfully file a claim. (702) 800-0988
