Suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence can be overwhelming. Between medical bills, lost wages, and the uncertainty of dealing with insurance companies, the legal process can feel like an uphill battle. Knowing when to seek legal representation is crucial to protecting your rights and maximizing your compensation.
Here are four key signs that indicate it’s time to contact a personal injury lawyer.
1. The Insurance Company Is Offering a Low Settlement (or Denying Your Claim)
Dealing with insurance companies after an accident can be one of the most frustrating and difficult parts of the personal injury claims process. While insurance providers advertise themselves as being there to help in times of crisis, their primary goal is to protect their bottom line — not to pay out the full amount you deserve.
Here’s what you need to watch out for.
Warning Signs of Bad-Faith Insurance Tactics
- Quick Settlement Offers — If the insurance company offers a fast payout, it may be an attempt to settle before you understand the full extent of your injuries or damages. Once you accept a settlement, you typically can’t ask for more money later — even if new medical issues arise.
- Lowball Offers That Don’t Cover Expenses — If the settlement doesn’t fully cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or ongoing treatment, you’re being undercut.
- Claim Denial Without Clear Justification — If the insurance company denies your claim outright or delays payment without explanation, they may be acting in bad faith.
- Blaming You for the Accident — Adjusters may try to claim that you were partially or fully at fault for the accident to reduce or deny your compensation.
- Asking for Unnecessary or Excessive Documentation — This is a delay tactic that makes the process harder for you, hoping you’ll give up on your claim.
How a Lawyer Helps You Fight Back
A personal injury lawyer understands how insurance companies operate and will protect you from these deceptive tactics. Here’s how:
- Negotiating for a higher settlement — Attorneys know how to accurately calculate all damages, including future medical expenses and pain & suffering.
- Handling communication — Insurance companies often use statements against claimants. A lawyer ensures you don’t accidentally say something that could hurt your case.
- Filing a lawsuit if necessary — If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, an attorney will take them to court and fight for your rights.
Pro Tip: Never accept the first settlement offer. Consult with a personal injury attorney before signing anything to ensure you get what you’re truly owed.
2. Your Injuries Are Severe or Long-Term
Not all injuries heal quickly. In fact, many serious injuries require months, years, or even a lifetime of medical care. If your injuries are severe, permanent, or impact your ability to work, you need an attorney to calculate the true cost of your damages and ensure you aren’t left financially struggling.
When to Seek Legal Help for Serious Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Brain injuries can lead to memory loss, cognitive issues, emotional changes, and permanent disability. Even mild TBIs, like concussions, can have lasting effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis: Injuries to the spinal cord often result in partial or full paralysis, chronic pain, and loss of function. These cases require long-term care and adaptive equipment, which can cost hundreds of thousands over a lifetime.
- Multiple Broken Bones or Complex Fractures: These injuries often require surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy — expenses that can quickly add up.
- Permanent Disabilities or Disfigurement: Any injury that causes permanent impairment can affect your ability to work, perform daily tasks, and enjoy life as you once did. Compensation should reflect not just current medical expenses but also future care costs, lost wages, and diminished quality of life.
- Long-Term Medical Treatment Needs: Some injuries require ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy, follow-up surgeries, or specialist care. If you accept a settlement too soon, you could end up paying out-of-pocket for future medical expenses.
How a Lawyer Protects Your Future
- Ensuring full compensation for future medical — Your lawyer will work with medical experts to calculate the total cost of ongoing treatments, surgeries, medications, and therapy.
- Fighting for lost wages and reduced earning capacity — If your injury prevents you from returning to work or lowers your earning potential, your lawyer will demand compensation to cover those losses.
- Negotiating with insurance companies to reflect the true cost of your injury — Many insurance companies lowball offers for long-term injuries, assuming victims will not fight back. An experienced attorney won’t let them take advantage of you.
- Filing a lawsuit if necessary — If the insurance company refuses to cover your long-term expenses, your attorney will take your case to trial to fight for the compensation you need.
Pro Tip: If your injuries impact your daily life, ability to work, or require ongoing medical treatment, don’t settle without consulting an attorney. The compensation you receive should reflect the full extent of your suffering and future costs.
3. Liability Is Disputed or Unclear
Proving who was at fault is one of the most critical aspects of a personal injury claim. If the other party denies responsibility or there are multiple parties involved, the legal process becomes much more complicated.
Situations where liability is disputed:
- The other driver blames you for a car accident, even when they were clearly negligent.
- A business or property owner denies responsibility for your slip and fall injury.
- A truck accident involves multiple liable parties, such as the driver, trucking company, and manufacturer.
How a Lawyer Helps
A personal injury lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation, gather surveillance footage, accident reports, and witness statements, and bring in expert testimony if needed to prove liability. They will build a strong case to ensure the responsible party is held accountable.
Pro Tip: If you’re being blamed for an accident you didn’t cause, hiring an attorney immediately can help protect your rights and prevent unfair liability claims.
4. You’re Facing Complex Legal Procedures and Deadlines
Personal injury claims involve strict deadlines, paperwork, and legal procedures that must be followed correctly. Any misstep — like missing the Texas statute of limitations (2 years for most personal injury cases) — could result in losing your right to compensation.
Challenges you may face:
- You need to file a lawsuit before the deadline expires.
- The at-fault party is represented by aggressive defense attorneys.
- There are complex state laws or regulations involved (e.g., commercial vehicle accidents or medical malpractice cases).
How a Lawyer Helps
A personal injury attorney ensures that your case is filed correctly and within the legal timeframe. They will handle all negotiations, legal filings, and trial preparations so you can focus on your recovery.
Pro Tip: The sooner you involve an attorney, the stronger your case will be. Don’t wait until the last minute — early legal intervention can make all the difference.
4. You’re Facing Complex Legal Procedures and Deadlines
At Lee, Gober & Reyna, we’ve helped countless Texas injury victims recover millions in settlements and verdicts. Our firm is dedicated to:
- Fighting insurance companies that try to minimize your payout.
- Maximizing compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering.
- Handling complex cases where liability is unclear or multiple parties are involved.
- Providing free consultations and working on a contingency fee basis — you don’t pay unless we win.
Need Legal Help? Contact Us Today
Austin Office: 11940 Jollyville Rd Suite 220-S, Austin, TX 78759
Terrell Office: 313 W Moore Ave, Terrell, TX 75160 Suite 200
Schedule a FREE Consultation and let us help you fight for what you deserve.
Final Thoughts
Knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer can make the difference between a fair settlement and an undervalued claim. If any of these four signs apply to you, don’t wait — speak with an attorney today and protect your rights.
Whether you’ve been in a car accident, slip and fall, or workplace injury, Lee, Gober & Reyna is here to fight for you. Let us take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on what truly matters — your recovery.