It’s important to hire a personal injury attorney to help file a claim for you when you have an accident. Here’s everything you need to know about the process
Did you know that thirty-five million people go to the emergency room each year for injury-related visits? If you were injured recently, you’re may be facing a lot of medical debt.
Sometimes, insurance claims can help you recover the money you lost due tothis debt. Other times, you will need the assistance of a personal injury attorney to get the money you deserve.
So when is it worth hiring one of these professionals? If you want to learn the answer to this question, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a few scenarios to help you decide when it’s appropriate to contact a professional.
When Do You Not Need a Personal Injury Attorney?
There are some cases where it makes sense to simply proceed with an injury claim by yourself. The first situation is if you were involved in a car accident with little to no injuries.
That’s a situation that might require some automotive repairs and doctor visits, but little else. Most of the time, either your insurance or the other party’s will be sufficient to cover the costs.
The second situation is if you live in a no-fault insurance state. In a no-fault state, you aren’t allowed to press charges unless the cost of your injuries exceeds a certain amount.
So, for minor injuries, it doesn’t make sense to press charges. That being said, if your injuries are serious, you should get in touch with a personal injury attorney.
Lastly, if you’ve already received the maximum amount for an insurance claim, it might not be worth it to hire an attorney.
Remember, you would need to sue the defendant directly. And, unless they have a lot of assets, you likely won’t get a lot of money.
When Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
Remember that it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t feel comfortable negotiating with an insurance adjuster, you should call an attorney that specializes in personal injury law.
The same goes if you hit some roadblocks in the settlement process. That being said, there are some cases where you should hire a lawyer right away. . In this section, we’ll go over some of these scenarios.
You Have Serious Injuries
If you’ve suffered serious injuries, you’re likely facing potentially serious medical debt. One recent study found that there’s currently $88 billion worth of medical debt in this country.
If your serious injuries were caused by someone else, you deserve full compensation for any medical debt. In addition to this, you’re also entitled to extra damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, or lifestyle changes caused by your injuries.
This is especially true if the injury resulted in permanent or temporary disability. It’s also important to remember that sometimes minor injuries can evolve into serious ones.
This happens all the time with car accident injuries. What seems like a minor case of whiplash can develop into nerve damage that causes lasting pain.
That’s why it’s important to document your medical injuries, even if they don’t seem serious. Then, meet with a personal injury attorney to determine the best course of action.
It’s Unclear Who Is Liable
Unless there’s an obvious negligent party, insurance companies will often work hard to prove that you share liability for the accident. Unfortunately, the responsibility falls on youto prove that you’re innocent..
Meeting with a personal injury attorney can help you form a defense for your case. They’ll help you obtain relevant evidence like witness testimony, police reports, photos, videos, and medical reports.
This will help prove that the other party was at fault. If you share some fault for the accident, an attorney can help you formulate the best course of action for your needs.
You Need to Negotiate With Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies will use a variety of strategies to attempt to cheat you out of money that you’re entitled to. Sometimes they might offer you a low settlement early on in the settlement process in hopes that you won’t visit an attorney.
Other times, they’ll try to get you to say that you’re fine during a phone conversation. Then, they’ll use that as evidence that you aren’t actually hurt.
A personal injury attorney helps level the playing field between you and the insurance adjuster. They know which offers are fair and which ones represent shameless lowballs.
If the insurance company does give you an unfair deal, they can negotiate on your behalf to get the money you deserve.
Remember that you’re entitled to maximum compensation for your injuries. A personal injury attorney can ensure that you get it.
You Need to Go to Trial
Most of the time, personal injury cases are resolved in settlements outside of court. However, if the insurance company or defendant refuses to budge, it may be necessary to take the case to court.
This is something that you never want to do on your own. There are too many intricacies in court protocol. A personal injury attorney will ensure that you follow all these protocols and submit the necessary evidence and forms for your case.
Ideally, you will never need to go to trial. But, in the unfortunate case where you do, you want a good attorney on your side of the court.
Need Personal Injury Representation? Contact Husker Law
We hope this article helped you decide whether it’s worth hiring a personal injury attorney. As you can see, there are some situations when you might not need these professionals.
However, if you think you do and you live in Omaha, Nebraska, we encourage you to contact Husker Law.
We excel at negotiations, and our competitive pricing makes us an ideal candidate for personal injury cases. So schedule your consultation today to get the legal help that you deserve or give us a call at (402) 415-2525 to discuss your case. We can provide a consultation about your personal injury case.
