When you’ve experienced harm due to someone else’s negligence, the last thing you want to do is go through the claims process and deal with insurance adjusters. However, if you’re injured in a car accident and pursue a personal injury claim without an attorney, you’ll have to manage the accident’s aftermath yourself.
Choosing to hire a personal injury attorney after a car accident is a wise decision. Not only will your personal injury attorney communicate with the other driver’s insurance company on your behalf, but they will also work to get you fair compensation for your medical bills.
Keep reading to learn why hiring a personal injury attorney will benefit most accident victims.
1. A Personal Injury Attorney Will Talk to The Insurance Adjuster
When you file an insurance claim to seek compensation from the other party’s insurance company, you will have to interact with the adjuster if you do not have a personal injury lawyer representing you.
The insurance company approaches personal injury claims with the goal of compensating accident victims as minimally as possible. It isn’t personal; it’s how all insurance claims are handled. Since the adjuster wants you to receive a low settlement or no settlement at all, they may try to get you to admit you are the negligent party or say something that minimizes the injuries you received.
When you have an attorney managing your accident case, they will communicate with the insurance company for you. Not only does this prevent you from saying something that will lower your chance of a fair settlement, but it also allows you to avoid additional stress in your life during an already unpleasant time.
2. They Can Prove the Validity of Your Personal Injury Claim
A personal injury attorney can help you prove that the injuries and damages you received in the auto accident are legitimate. Your lawyer will gather medical records that prove you received medical care for your injury.
They will also compile your medical bills, itemize your financial losses, and detail the property damage you suffered to ensure your claim is solid.
You will need evidence supporting the damage you received to have a successful personal injury case. Experienced attorneys know how to put together a convincing claim that will increase the odds of you getting a lucrative settlement offer.
3. An Attorney Will Look Out for Your Best Interests
Even though you’re injured, the other party’s insurance adjuster isn’t evaluating your claim with your best interest in mind. Unfortunately, that means the initial settlement they offer will likely be subpar and insufficient to compensate you for your medical expenses or property damage.
It is challenging enough to advocate for what you deserve under ideal circumstances. However, trying to fight for what you need while injured and overwhelmed can leave you susceptible to being manipulated or outmaneuvered.
An attorney will complete your claim with your needs as their focus and protect your rights from being compromised.
4. They Have Experience Filing Personal Injury Claims
The personal injury claims process can be complicated, especially if you’re trying to navigate it while recovering from serious injuries.
By hiring a personal injury lawyer with a track record of successful personal injury cases, you can have confidence that your insurance claims will be filed correctly, all paperwork will be submitted on time, and that you aren’t missing any steps in the legal process that could hurt your chance of receiving a fair settlement.
5. A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Represent You in Court
You will have to file a personal injury lawsuit if you and the other party cannot reach a settlement agreement. Since the legal process of filing a lawsuit is more complex than filing a claim, it’s time to contact personal injury attorneys if you don’t already have legal help.
Hiring an attorney who is knowledgeable regarding personal injury law will benefit you when filing the lawsuit and if your case ends up in court. Personal injury laws aren’t something you can grasp a firm understanding of in a short time, so you won’t want to go toe to toe against the personal injury lawyers representing the other driver by yourself.
6. They Often Work on a Contingency Basis
Even if you’re hesitant to hire a personal injury attorney because you’re worried about legal fees, go ahead and schedule a free initial consultation at a reputable law firm.
Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they receive a portion of your settlement as payment for their legal services. Not all attorneys use this payment structure, but it makes sense for many individuals who practice personal injury law.
In addition, a contingency payment structure can create a solid attorney-client relationship since the client is sure their personal injury attorney is working on getting them maximum compensation for their injuries because the attorney also benefits from the client’s success.
7. Personal Injury Lawyers Allow You to Recover
When you’re injured in a car accident, your body needs time to rest and recover. However, if one party’s negligence caused the accident, you may not have the luxury of resting your injuries if you have to pursue compensation for your losses.
Hiring personal injury attorneys allows victims to recover from motor vehicle accidents without letting their claims fall by the wayside. While you recuperate from your injuries, your personal injury attorney will handle your car accident claim.
8. They Know How to Negotiate
An experienced personal injury attorney lets you level the playing field when negotiating with the insurance company.
For example, following the accident, the other party’s insurance provider may try to pressure you into taking a lower settlement offer than is fair if you don’t have an attorney representing you.
Adjusters often try to pressure victims into settling soon after the accident occurs so that they aren’t aware of the severity of their personal injuries and haven’t had time to get an attorney to negotiate on their behalf.
9. Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help Prove Liability
If there’s any doubt about who is to blame for the accident, you can count on the other driver’s attorney trying to pin it on you. By proving that you are wholly or partially at fault for the collision, they will have an easier time settling for a low amount or even denying your injury claim entirely.
An experienced attorney who is well-versed in personal injury law will know how to protect you from their accusations and prove what happened during the car accident.
In addition, they will protect your legal rights and work to keep you from being unfairly blamed for an accident you didn’t cause.
10. They Help You Recover Compensation
Working with a personal injury law firm increases your odds of achieving a positive outcome for your claim or lawsuit. Accident victims who pursue compensation on their own often struggle to receive fair compensation.
Individuals who work with an experienced attorney may secure larger settlements and typically experience less stress throughout the legal process.
If someone else’s poor decision injured you, don’t get left holding the bill. Instead, contact Holman Schiavone, LLC, today to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled personal injury attorneys. Specializing in the practice areas of personal injury, vehicle accidents, consumer protection, employment law, and harassment, our team is ready to pursue justice on your behalf.
