If you are just involved in an accident, you are probably asking yourself:
- Do I even need a San Diego personal injury lawyer for my case?
- When should a lawyer be used?
- Should I get a personal injury attorney to help?
Many people can handle smaller cases on their own and avoid paying an attorney. But more serious cases involving significant and severe injuries can significantly benefit from having a lawyer involved in the case.
Why do I need a personal injury lawyer for a claim?
This question gets asked a lot. The more complex the case, the more benefit you get from hiring an attorney. But in general, the sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner your lawsuit is handled more efficiently and effectively. The insurance industry’s own research determined that the value of claims increases significantly when personal injury lawyer is involved.
One of the main reasons claimants don’t hire a lawyer right away is that they think they can handle it themselves. The insurance companies know this and try to exploit it every chance they get. When they call injured claimants up, they say nice things such as “we just want to help you” or “let’s see if we can’t just take care of this for you.”
Insurance companies are out to make a profit. They are opportunists with billions of dollars in resources. The longer you wait, the more time they have to prepare their defense. The insurance company’s goal is to make sure you don’t hire an attorney. The insurance company is interested in keeping you from having a lawyer because they know the value of your case will increase, thereby reducing their profits.
When Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
You should hire a personal injury lawyer if another person’s negligence or wrongdoing hurts you. A lawyer helps you get money for your injuries. A personal injury lawyer also protects your best interest against aggressive insurance companies and big corporations who want to avoid giving you fair compensation for your injuries.
Some personal injury cases don’t require an attorney’s assistance. However, it may be helpful to have someone experienced in handling injury claims review your claim. The following are examples where it is strongly suggested you at least consult with an attorney:
You suffered serious injuries
As previously stated, serious injuries are common in car accidents. Severe injuries are frequent in high-speed collisions.
If you’ve been injured, a personal injury attorney can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
A personal injury lawyer can assist you in maximizing the value of your injury claim or lawsuit. If you have any of the following symptoms as a result of your injury, you should get legal advice immediately.
- Disability
- Extreme pain and suffering
- Serious Injuries
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
The insurance company denies your claim
There are many reasons insurance companies deny your claim. Some are valid reasons, but quite often they’ll fabricate a reason just to deny your claim. They suffer no harm when denying a claim, as they can reverse that position later.
They have an interest in denying your claim: profits. Each dollar not paid to you is an extra dollar in their bank account. They will find the flimsiest reason to deny your claim and will then stubbornly refuse to change their evaluation.
Liability is unclear
If it’s unclear who the negligent party was—who is to blame for the accident—you should contact a lawyer.
If there is uncertainty about who is responsible for a particular incident, the burden of proof lies with you. It’s your responsibility to prove you were not at fault.
To prove someone caused your injury, you’ll need an abundance of evidence that shows your injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence. When a car accident occurs, for example, police records, photos of the accident, the official accident report, medical records, and eyewitness testimony are all pieces of evidence you must collect, organize, and use to make your case. The liable party will probably be on the scene, and you might need to identify him or her in order to hold the person legally responsible. For a slip and fall, other types of evidence must be collected.
How can a personal injury lawyer help?
There are many benefits from hiring a personal injury lawyer. First, you can rest easier, knowing there is a professional on your side, working tirelessly to fight the insurance company. There are other benefits as well.
- Explain your rights
- Handle all communications between parties, insurance companies, etc.
- Provides invaluable advice
- Investigate your case and gather evidence
- Help you receive prompt medical care for your injuries
- Evaluate your case
- Protect you from predatory insurance company practices
So, is it worth hiring a personal injury attorney?
If any of the above scenarios apply to you, it’s important to contact an attorney. It’s a good idea to have a lawyer working for you since the insurance company will try to make your claim as inconvenient as possible to induce a settlement. If you hire an attorney, you will have someone working for you who will fight on your behalf. But when is the best time to hire a personal injury lawyer? That is entirely dependent on you, but it doesn’t cost anything to have your free case review. Give us a call to set that up.
The insurance company will want to pay you as little as possible. Your attorney will fight on your behalf and help you get the maximum amount of money possible. It’s your right to receive fair compensation for your injuries.