When you’ve been injured due to the actions, inactions, or behavior of a negligent person or establishment, you might wonder if you should hire a personal injury attorney. The answer is yes because you’ll need an attorney to work on your behalf to get the compensation that you deserve.
It is always in your best interest to reach out to a qualified personal injury attorney and it’s important to do this without delay, as there are various statutes of limitations depending on the state you reside in, or where the injury occurred. You may have a very limited time to take legal action.
If you’re not sure what to do after suffering an injury, check out these four signs that you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer.
Severe Injury
If your injury is severe, you should definitely speak with a personal injury lawyer. You’ll need to have an initial consultation which will help you understand your rights, your options, and help you make an informed decision about whether you have cause for a lawsuit.
If the accident you were in resulted in a life-altering injury, like paralysis, you’ll want to be sure your attorney is experienced and has a good record of performance in the courtroom. This will increase the probability that you’ll not only receive compensation for your medical costs but also for the damage suffered to you and your lifestyle.
Ultimately, compensation depends on your injuries. Insurance companies will determine the severity of your injuries by the type you sustained, the cost of your medical bills, the length of your recovery time, and whether or not you’ll be permanently impaired. Unfortunately, insurance policies have limits, and it’s not uncommon for people to only receive a fraction of the compensation they truly deserve.
An experienced injury lawyer can help you calculate damages and help determine how your injuries may impact your ability to earn money in the future. To get the most out of your personal injury claim, you’ll need a lawyer who knows and understands how to look at all available forms of compensation.
Liability is in Question
Fault is sometimes difficult to prove. If you believe multiple parties may be liable for your injuries, it’s a good idea to contact a lawyer.
Insurance companies can be very complicated to deal with, especially when multiple parties are held liable. This also means that several people may have also been injured, which leads to less settlement money to go around. You may also be the subject of insurance claims, and your settlement offer may be decreased or reduced because of your fault for the accident.
An experienced injury lawyer can help you understand the circumstances that led to your injury and help you see whether or not you are liable. Even if you are liable, there may be other parties who are also held liable. In such a circumstance, it may be worth considering pressing charges so that you can avoid being the sole party responsible.
Uncooperative Insurance
Insurance companies of all kinds are known for being uncooperative when it comes to paying out money – even when that money is rightly deserved. If you’re experiencing similar problems, it’s time for you to contact an injury lawyer. Insurance companies often stall, make excuses, and try to force you to accept the blame when it comes to injury cases. They make less profit when they have to pay large sums for damages and settlements, so they’ll do anything they can to limit the amount they payout. Sometimes they’ll try to ensure they pay nothing at all.
When you are injured in an accident, you may experience that you are unable to get a fair settlement, or insurance negotiations may break down. However, having an experienced lawyer involved will make them much more cooperative, which means you’ll have fewer problems overall.
Since most personal injury claims settle before they reach court, you may be sent a settlement offer from the insurance company. However, it may be an amount that you simply don’t agree with. You may also not know what is fair and what isn’t. Sometimes seeing the money offered will make a person agree to whatever they are offered, however, you should always make sure that you are receiving a fair settlement offer.
A personal injury attorney will know if you are being offered a fair settlement based on your injuries, and will provide advice on whether or not to accept it. This advice is most beneficial for those who don’t know what fair is. They may not consider the added costs of physical therapy or the way the injury affects the way they earn a living.
Considerable Bills
Medical bills, automotive repairs, and rides in an ambulance can all become very costly, especially if your injury is severe. Oftentimes, many people are forced to pay for these costs before reaching a settlement. This means digging into their savings or being unable to pay bills at all. A lawyer can help offset these costs by helping you reach a fair settlement much quicker than you could on your own.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been involved in any of the scenarios described, you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. Your lawyer represents your interests in settlement negotiations and in court, if you and your attorney decide filing a personal injury lawsuit is necessary.
Remember, there are time limits in which you must file a personal injury case. You shouldn’t deal with the stress of handling your case on your own, especially if you are still recovering from injuries. Don’t delay discussing your options with an experienced personal injury attorney in Austin, TX, and getting the compensation as quickly as possible.