Many people handle simple injury claims on their own and try and save on legal fees, but it is often easier and more beneficial to you to hire reliable lawyers, like Lamber Goodnow, for more serious cases. This is because their experience and expertise can help you navigate the legal trickery of court.
Personal injury claims cover a wide variety of situations and different types of accidents. You may have been injured in a car accident, tripping and falling on someone else’s property, or bitten by a neighbors’ dog. All of these things are considered by the law as personal injury and the amount of injury that you have sustained can make a difference in the processes of your claim.
In some situations, you may feel confident enough to tackle your own claim through insurance or small claims court. This can work and many people feel like this is an easier route to take. However, it comes with a risk that the opposition has a fully trained lawyer who will know a little more than you. It is always recommended that for serious cases you consult a trained and professional lawyer.
Managing your own case
One thing you need to be sure of is that you can process your own claim. Hiring a lawyer midway through proceedings will complicate things and will perhaps affect your claim. It is thus important to understand and know whether you are capable of handling your own case. You should also weigh up the risks of losing the case. If you cannot afford to lose then you may judge that a lawyer is worth the cost.
There are several cases that people tend to handle on their own:
Car Accidents: These are only very minor car accidents with no injuries or only very minor injuries to either yourself or somebody else. For example, if someone has rear-ended you at a low speed and only caused cosmetic damage to your vehicle. This can often be resolved through your own negotiation and can sometimes be done without the hassle of courts and claims.
However, if you or others are injured then this will complicate matters. You may need to pay for medical bills for both physical and emotional trauma or have to take time off work. Only take on a car accident case if it is very minor.
No-fault States: The no-fault rules do not allow you to start a claim unless you are injured to The no-fault rules do not allow you to start a claim unless you are injured to a certain level. This is determined by the nature of your injuries and the cost of treating them as well as where you live. You are limited to recovering damages from your own injury protection coverage and so hiring a lawyer may not make sense here. However, you should bear in mind that if your injuries are severe enough to qualify for your claim then hiring a lawyer is the best way to ensure the claim goes through smoothly.
Maximum Amounts: Sadly, there is a maximum amount that insurance companies will payout to. It often depends on the limit of the policy you have signed up for. This may mean that if you have been injured up to a claim of $100,000 and that is the maximum of the defendant then getting a larger verdict will not be useful to you. This is because anything more will have to come from the defendant themselves and they may not have the funds. Your better move would be to accept the settlement
Negotiation skills: You don’t always need to seek a lawyer’s advice if you are confident in your ability and are comfortable enough to negotiate with the insurance agent on your own. This gives you a front seat in the settlement amount and you can decide if the amount offered is fair. You don’t need to be an expert but being comfortable researching law and the settlement process will no doubt help you.
When should you contact a lawyer?
The insurance company you are claiming against will have attorneys and legal professionals working for them. They will have spent years studying particulars of the law and so it is worthwhile to have someone in your corner with legal experience.
Major injuries: When injuries go past the minor, you should always contact a lawyer. You may not feel that your injuries are major until a couple of weeks later. If the other side of lawyers offers to pay for your medical bills and a few extra dollars, it may be worth taking. Though you should contact a lawyer to double-check.
You are entitled to pain and suffering damages as well. This can include emotional distress damages. Costs of seeing a therapist or being unable to operate normally in your daily life can be hard to put a cost on but a lawyer will be able to give you some idea of how much your case is worth.
Can you afford a lawyer?
This is one of the primary reasons why people avoid hiring lawyers for their personal injury cases. However, almost all of the personal lawyers out their work on a contingency basis. That means they will not be paid any money until the case is settled and you have won your case.
These fees work by allowing your lawyer to take direct payment from your compensation. This is usually structured as a percentage of the win. This means you know what you are paying. It also means that your lawyer has an incentive to try and get you as much money as possible.
Personal injury lawyers
Hiring a personal injury lawyer seems like a hassle and can be very intimidating. However, they are useful tools. They can make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve and make sure that you are not taken advantage of. Lawyers can advise you and what information you need and where you can look for advice. People never want to give money away and so it is worth getting someone on your side who is looking for you to profit. Don’t just struggle on in your pain.
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