You’ve been injured at the expense of another individual or a company. Your medical bills are expensive.
You feel like you shouldn’t have to pay them. Especially since you think that the injury wasn’t your fault!
It’s only fair that justice should be brought to this situation. You want to hire an accident lawyer, but maybe you’re just not sure what the process is like.
There are over 40,000 personal injury lawyers in the U.S., but how will you know who to choose? How will you know who to trust?
Here’s everything you need to know about when to hire a personal injury lawyer.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer handles any legal cases of someone who claims to have been injured physically or psychologically due to the negligence of another person, company, or entity. The injury is almost always an accident but still is due to a lack of attention from the entity.
So, you may be wondering if this applies to you and if you need a personal injury attorney. Here are some things to keep in mind.
If you suffered a serious injury permanent disability, or need long-term medical care because of the accident, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer. This can help you cut the costs of finances and release stress from your already stressful situation.
If you don’t know who is at fault for your accident, hiring a lawyer can help you understand how to protect your rights if the other party is threatening to press charges. This will protect you from any counterclaims that may arise from this accident.
A lot of the time, insurance companies don’t have your best interest in mind. Being denied or delayed an insurance claim can create a stressful situation on top of trying to take care of your injury. Hiring a lawyer can help you combat this difficult situation.
One additional benefit to hiring a personal injury lawyer is that they’re able to speak with the insurance company and handle the process of asking for a claim.
A personal injury lawyer will know how to work with the insurance company, which means the insurance company is less likely to take advantage of you.
How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer
After you’ve decided that you need to hire a personal injury lawyer, you must book a consultation where you’ll discuss the important pieces of your claim.
Your lawyer needs to know how the accident occurred, who else was involved, and who may be liable for causing the accident. This will provide the lawyer with vital background information for your case. Telling them this information also helps them discern the right steps moving forward.
After the lawyer becomes aware of this information, you can tell them more about the injury itself. Telling them the injury you sustained and the treatments you have or will need to receive as a result of the accident.
Once you’ve told the lawyer about your accident, they should be able to give you information on the process, as well as advice on how to move forward with your case.
Questions to Ask Your Lawyer
Before hiring a lawyer to handle your case, it’s important to ask them a few questions to ensure this is the best course of action for you. Asking these questions keeps your best interests in mind and helps you find the right lawyer.
Asking the lawyer about their experience, especially when it comes to cases similar to yours, can help you understand if the lawyer has enough experience to help you. Knowing their experience can help you feel at ease about the case being handled professionally and ethically.
Ask your lawyer to give you a ballpark about the money involved. Knowing a rough estimate of how much money you’ll receive if you win, as well as how much the lawyer is requesting to be paid will help you better decide.
If your lawyer is giving you exact numbers or exaggerating the amount of money, it’s best to get a second or third opinion. Research how much a case similar to yours will cost and if they line up, then your lawyer is being honest with you.
Trust your gut when speaking with a lawyer. If it seems like they’re exaggerating or aren’t giving you the information you need, find a second or third opinion. Your lawyer should have your best interests in mind.
Things You Should Know About the Process
The process of filing a claim can be long and difficult to understand. Personal injury can sometimes be difficult to prove, so having sufficient evidence can sometimes be difficult to prove in court.
An investigation is a big part of the process. Your lawyer should initiate an investigation of the case at the beginning of the process. This will help them find sufficient evidence to prove your case.
Negotiating a settlement on your case can mean months or years of fighting for your case. Your lawyer should prepare you with information on the entire process, including roughly how long it will take.
An insurance company may try to drag it on as long as possible, but your lawyer should be able to speed up the process with their experience.
Sometimes a lawyer can get you a fair settlement without having to file a lawsuit. If a settlement can’t be reached, it’s important to understand the next steps to filing a lawsuit.
The lawyer will be able to handle the stress that comes with filing a personal injury claim. Knowing that a lawyer is handling your case can help you focus on getting treatment for your injury.
You Deserve Justice
Knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer can help you understand the steps needing to be taken to file your claim. A personal injury lawyer will be able to handle the complicated parts of the process that you may not know about.
Book a consultation with a personal injury lawyer today or contact us for any questions or concerns you may have.
Cook & Tolley, LLP
304 E Washington St
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 549-6111
https://www.cooktolley.com/
