By Life is unfair and, sometimes, unpredictably cruel, and one of the worst things that could ever happen to anyone is an accident. Not just any accident that occurred due to negligence, but something that happened by no fault of your own, leading to physical injuries, pain, suffering, and trauma. Not to forget the enormous burden of medical expenses that follow such an unfortunate event. In such times, hiring a personal injury lawyer could be one of the wisest decisions you ever make, as they can help you get the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Can’t I file a lawsuit myself and get what I’m owed?
If you’re an individual with no background in law or don’t know how personal injury compensation works, it’s very unlikely that you’d be able to handle everything yourself. Recovering from the physical and mental trauma that follows an accident is a challenge enough already! While technically, you can file a lawsuit yourself, especially if you have insurance, the reality isn’t as straightforward as one might imagine.
Insurance companies are known to often deliberately delay investigations and settlements to get the “better of the deal.” In other words, you could get a lot less than what you’re owed or, in some really unfortunate cases, nothing at all. By then, it’s too late for lawyers to intervene and hold the guilty parties accountable. Without a capable and experienced lawyer by your side, the settlement process could drag on for months, leaving you feeling exhausted and disgruntled.
Reasons personal injury lawyers earn more money in Lawsuits
While you may think you’re capable enough to represent yourself in a court of law, without a proper background in laws and with no experience, you wouldn’t stand a chance against the adjusters. Going up against a big insurance company is no easy task, and without an accident lawyer by your side, they may convince you that the accident was your fault. The insurance firm may even say that your doctor’s report is insufficient or the extent of your mental trauma cannot be verified in court.
They will pull every trick in the book to weasel out of paying their dues, or even worse, take advantage of your ignorance and make you believe you owe damages to the other party. Having a qualified lawyer by your side at this time is crucial because the insurance company would know that such “BS tactics” won’t work.
Personal injury lawyers are ALWAYS able to get more compensation in lawsuits when compared to an individual due to the following reasons:
- Experience: there’s no replacement for experience, and the best personal injury lawyers know that. When you hire someone to take up your case, you can rest assured that they have a track record of winning. An experienced lawyer also knows how to determine the case value and appropriate settlement amount. No reason for their client to settle for anything less than what they’re owed.
- Expertise: personal injury can happen for many reasons– from getting rear-ended in a car to a slip and fall at a local convenience store to medical malpractice or workplace injuries. Your choice of personal injury lawyer should be someone who has experience working for clients with such specific injuries. Once you find such a lawyer, you can be sure that they’ll fight your case and try to get full compensation based on the extent of your injury, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
- Reputation: insurance companies, adjusters, and all the other parties involved are more likely to take you seriously when you have a reputed lawyer by your side. Reputed lawyers are known for their tenacity and unrelenting attitude when it comes to getting their client’s justice. Insurance companies have a lineup of lawyers ready to look after their own interests, so it only makes sense to have an equally competent attorney fighting on your behalf.
How much money can a personal injury lawyer get me?
Definitely more than what you’d be able to get yourself, that’s for sure! The amount of compensation owed can only be assessed on a case-by-case basis because no two incidents are the same. To get the most amount from the litigation, you’d need a lawyer who has a team of medical experts and legal advisors at their disposal.
The lawyer would also need to spend time building up your case–from preparing documents, gathering medical reports, assisting in the investigation, gathering statements from witnesses to dealing with negligent defendants. Many people don’t consider the long-term effects of their injury. What if you had to get physiotherapy for the next few years or what if you couldn’t work properly again, leading to you not ever getting promotions or bonuses?
Most people are hesitant or afraid to hire a lawyer because of the fees they have to pay. As a result, they trust their insurance company blindly, not knowing they might be getting far less than what they would get with a lawyer’s support. Seemingly “expensive” lawyers are almost always worth it because they know how to win cases for their clients. Besides, most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee agreement, so you need not pay anything up front.
Did you know that according to Insurance Research Council 1999, Insurance companies, on average, pay out approximately 85% of bodily injury claims, yet parties who are lawyered up get 3.5x more money per settled claim?
How do I hire a personal injury lawyer for the best outcome?
Well, hiring the best personal injury lawyer is not an easy task. You can, however, begin by asking for references from friends and family members. Car accidents, slip and falls, medical negligence or malpractice, defective product litigation, and others all have attorneys who specialize in those niches. When interviewing lawyers, don’t forget to ask how many similar cases they’ve handled before, the verdict they got, etc.
Going up against insurance companies is the job of a qualified lawyer, not civilians. So hire someone and focus on getting your health back on track.
