Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney
Not sure if you should contact an attorney after a vehicle accident? Let us clear that up. A personal injury claim covers a wide array of scenarios and different kinds of auto accidents. Now, in some cases, you may be able to handle a claim via insurance on your own. However, in some situations, you may want the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. It all boils down to the degree of the injuries as well as the legal aspects of the personal injury case.
Managing Your Own Case
If you were not hurt in an accident or the injuries are very minor, you perhaps do not need an attorney. Most qualified lawyers will tell you that if you contact them. If you need your vehicle fixed, you can work directly with the insurance firm directly. Also, if the injuries are extremely minor, you might have a claim, if it was somebody else’s fault. But you can also handle this yourself. An attorney’s experience and expertise is not going to assist you in these scenarios. Similarly, a lawyer’s fee plus other costs might make any additional value die out. Simply put, there no need of hiring a lawyer if you were not injured.
Examples of cases where you need a lawyer
The accident resulted in injuries
As mentioned earlier, slight injuries, do not always require legal assistance, because you can process the legal and insurance claims on your own. Serious injuries, on the other hand, need medical attention and a lawyer. The legal representative will evaluate the value of your legal and insurance claims.
The accident was as a result of negligence
If the accident was as a result of somebody else’s negligence, consult a personal injury attorney immediately. He or she will not only help you prove the claim but also collect and preserve evidence to solidify your claims.
The party at fault blames you
The person responsible or the insurance firm might engage in techniques to make it look like are responsible for the accident. A lawyer knows where to touch in such scenarios and will guide you accordingly. They will also go to court if it is necessary.
You don’t know the process works
A personal injury lawyer knows the lay of the land. They know the settlement process and know how to assess the scenario and negotiate. As such if you are not comfortable or knowledgeable, in handling the settlement process, look for a reliable lawyer to handle everything for you.
The insurance firm is offering you an absurd amount
While the company or individual is willing to pay, they are offering an extremely low offer. Some even go the extra mile to deploy adjusters to negotiate on their behalf. Most insurance firms will do almost everything possible to pay you a lesser amount for the damages and injuries. With a lawyer, however, the company knows the cannot underestimate your efforts to get justice.
The Cost
Most lawyers represent accident victims on contingency. This means you do not pay them per hour, instead, they charge a certain percentage of your jury award or settlement. If you don’t win the case, you do not owe the attorney any fees. This plan makes it affordable for an injured person to get experienced and qualified legal help.
The exact amount will depend on whether you settle the claim after or before filing a lawsuit. If the case is settled before, the lawyer will get 1/3 of the settlement figure. For instance, if you settle for $30,000, the attorney will get $10,000. If the case is settled after filing a lawsuit, the attorney will get 40 percent of the total amount. Although these percentages seem high, they give lawyers an incentive to maximize your financial award, as doing so also enhances the amount they receive.
Court Costs and other Expenses
You will also need to pay for court costs such as;
- Police reports
- Court reporters
- Trial exhibits
- Filing fees
- Trial exhibits
- Copying and postage expenses
The entire amount of these costs is hard to estimate. But generally, expenses will increase as the lawsuit drags on. If you are concerned about the costs talk to your lawyer ahead of time. They might have insights on how to minimize costs as much as possible.
Bottom line
For many, having an accident is a very unpleasant experience. An injury lawyer can guide you through the entire process, tackle complexities, and protect your interests. If you are not sure of whether you should hire one or not, give a personal injury lawyer a call and discuss your case.