5 Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

No matter how well prepared you are to avoid injuries, accidents happen – and often due to the actions of others. When you suffer damage that is the result of another person’s negligence, you may need a personal injury attorney.

What Is a Personal Injury Attorney?

A personal injury attorney is a lawyer who specializes in personal injury, representing individuals who have, due to negligence, been harmed physically or mentally. Whether you were in a car accident, truck, or motorcycle accident they can help you. These cases are civil matters, and the personal injury attorneys’ primary concerns are negligence and deliberate tort, which is doing something or not doing something that ultimately leads to an injury. 

For example, creating a disturbance is both a tort and a crime. Therefore, if someone is disturbing the peace and it has a substantially negative effect on you, a personal injury attorney may help you recover damages incurred due to the injury.

There are countless scenarios to illustrate a personal injury attorney’s valuable role. But when do you need to consult a lawyer? 

Here are five reasons to hire a personal injury attorney without delay:

1. Experience with Similar Cases

There’s an old adage: “there is nothing entirely new under the sun.” In terms of personal injury, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Even if this is the first time that you are suing for damages, these specialized lawyers deal with these very incidents all the time and are professionals at handling them.

You may think your case is unique; however, it is unlikely. Over 400,000 personal injury claims are filed yearly. Therefore, the chances that your situation is new to the lawyer are exceedingly slim, which gives you a better chance for success and makes it for your lawyer to provide guidance.

2. Reach Appropriate Settlements

There are many aspects involved in determining an appropriate settlement. A personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case and establish an outline of the case and what would be considered a realistic settlement amount. 

They will incorporate past, current, and future damages into the final demand and are able to present these considerations backed by their extensive knowledge of the law. 

In addition, there are often overlooked issues which an attorney will not miss during his evaluation, such as concerns regarding pain and suffering. 

3. Expediting Your Claim

Many variables determine how long it takes to settle a civil case. Estimates are between three months and three years. However, there is no generally accepted “average” time to reach a settlement. 

Fortunately, a personal injury attorney will be able to get the ball rolling much faster than trying to pursue a case. There are many aspects that can influence the settlement period:

Complexity

Many personal injury cases are cut and dried. For example, if two cars are involved in a crash, you are hurt, and your vehicle is damaged. The police cite the other driver as being in the wrong, and there is a video of the accident. 

Other cases required more time to “discover.”

For example, consider three cars and a motorcycle on a county road in the snow. By the time the analysis is complete, the investigators may deem the county negligent for failing to maintain the road surface.

This example results in the identification of another defendant and another potential lawsuit. 

The discovery phase involves a lot of leg work to show clear fault and negligence. The best outcome depends on this information, and a personal injury lawyer has an entire host of investigators, paralegals, and researchers at their disposal.

Questions of Fact

A rear-end accident is much faster to litigate than a side impact. Insurance companies will delay proceedings hoping to reach the statute of limitations. They will try to prove you ran a red light or made an inappropriate lane change or other action making you partly responsible. 

Recovery Time

Reasonable compensation demands can not be assessed until there is a determination of the extent and impact of injuries both now and in the future. An evaluator needs to analyze the costs of medical bills, pain, suffering, and loss of income, as well as any additional variables before settlement occurs.

A general rule is that an injured party should reach 90% recovery before considering total damages. Consequently, an accident with multiple trauma and a head injury will take longer than a “simple” whiplash. 

4. Objectivity

The ability to rely on an individual with experience regarding the emotional and legal ramifications of an injury is invaluable. However, your perception, as a victim, may be skewed. Your personal injury attorney provides a balanced, reasonable, objective assessment of the case’s merits and value. 

Many law practices specializing in personal injury work on a contingency fee basis. That means the attorney only gets paid if you win. Therefore, when a personal injury lawyer takes your case, he is, in effect, saying to you that he believes in the strength of the case and that he believes you.

The contract you make with this legal representative will clearly state the fees upfront. There are legal limits as to the percentage amount an attorney can levy against your award.

Consequently, it is in his and your best interests to command an adequate and appropriate amount.  

5. Representing Your Best Interests in Court

In reality, few personal injury cases go to trial. A recent Bureau of Justice Statistics cites that only 3% to 4% progress far enough to require a trial verdict. Most cases are mediated out of court.

If your case goes to court, you will want to be qualified, experienced representation in front of a judge or jury. It is lawful to represent yourself, but consider whether that is a good idea based upon all the required data analysis and presentation involved.
Plus, the party you are suing will most likely retain counsel, pitting you against an expert in the field. 

It is not a defense to not know or understand the law in court. However, without the resources, knowledge, and experience of a seasoned personal injury lawyer, the chances of your getting the best outcome are minimized. You may not get anything at all.

Also, with rare exceptions, there are no “do-overs.” What’s done is done.

Why Take Chances?

Even a simple personal injury claim is complex enough to require help from an experienced professional. While you may be concerned about giving up a portion of your well-deserved settlement to a lawyer’s fee, the work of a personal injury attorney generally results in a much higher payout than you could have gleaned on your own, even after the lawyer’s cut.

Furthermore, they can grant valuable peace of mind and emotional support throughout the process. Knowing that your case rests in the hands of a professional will ensure that you receive the greatest possible result.