A lot of people try to pursue their personal injury case on their own. Technically, there is nothing to prevent you from attempting to negotiate with the insurance company. In fact, it may be a worthwhile thing to do for people who have smaller; when to hire a personal injury lawyer whiplash-type injuries; and who have enough time to research the issues and do the legwork without an attorney.
However, we have had many people call our office because they became too frustrated after dealing with the insurance company. They have realized that the automobile insurance companies have a team of claims adjuster and; lawyers whose job is to prevent them from paying out too much on claims. They will leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding reasons to minimize; or even deny, legitimate car accident claims.
People Who Should Hire an Attorney
An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to take on the insurance company for you. A good attorney gives you the advantage of having someone in your corner who understands the procedural rules and the evidence necessary to prove your claim as per Schrieverlaw. They will also have a team of people who will do the heavy lifting so you can relax and focus on recovering from your injuries.
An attorney who has experience in personal injury law will be able to get you more compensation than you would get on your own. You should hire an attorney if:
- You have suffered severe injuries;
- incurred a significant amount of medical bills that will be difficult to pay; or
- lost wages and income because you have been unable to work.
It is not uncommon for car accidents to cause injuries that keep people out of work due to significant pain, hospitalization and/or surgeries. A disabling injury can keep someone out of work for a year, sometimes longer. Other people sustain permanent injuries that leave them totally and permanently disabled.
It can be difficult to prove that you have a severe injury or that you are permanently disabled as a result of a car accident. Most people grow up believing that, when to hire a personal injury lawyer when you are injured, you should “rub some dirt on it” and move on with your life. Unfortunately, that is not always possible to do.
Proving a severe injury requires the opinions of medical professionals and vocational experts who are trained to determine whether a person is capable of returning to work or being retrained to perform different work. Your personal injury lawyer will consult with your own doctors and will also have a network of professionals to rely on for such opinion evidence. This is critical for your case, and it will benefit you immensely to hire an experienced car accident attorney.
Reasons to Ask for a Free Consultation
Even if you are on the fence about hiring an attorney, when to hire a personal injury lawyer, it is sometimes worth your while to get a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney. If you have experienced any of the following, call us today for a free consultation:
- Insurance company has denied your claim;
- Insurance company has denied liability; or
- Insurance company has not offered you a fair settlement amount.
There are many reasons that insurance companies refuse to pay claims. The insurance company might claim that you were at fault for the accident. Many times, a car accident attorney can review your case and immediately tell you if there are good reasons to dispute the insurance company’s decision.
A personal injury lawyer can also tell you if the insurance company’s offer is fair. We will give you a free consultation. That means we will sit down with you and review your case with you. It will cost you nothing to find out whether the insurance company has made you a good offer. If there are areas in which we can offer assistance, it is beneficial for the client and for our firm to take a close look at such cases.
What to Look For When Hiring an Accident Lawyer
It is important that you do not delay too long in deciding whether to consult with a lawyer about your case. Accident cases are governed by statutes of limitation that require you to take timely action or lose your opportunity to do anything about your injury case.
You should consider hiring an attorney whose practice focuses on personal injury case. Like doctors who specialize in certain areas of medicine, attorneys who focus their practices on personal injury become more competent. A personal injury attorney will give you the best shot at maximizing your insurance recovery.
Not all areas of injury law are the same. An attorney who has experience in car accident cases will know the ins and outs of the law, how to deal with insurance claims adjusters, and the litigation process.
Find a lawyer who will be dedicated to your case. You will want a lawyer who updates you on the status of your case, is willing to answer your questions, and will return your phone calls.
Finally, find a lawyer that you trust. If you find an attorney that makes you feel comfortable and at ease, that person will probably be some you can trust with your case.