When Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer?

Suffering injuries caused by someone else’s wrongful actions can leave you feeling overwhelmed, devastated, and stressed. You may not have the slightest idea of what actions you are supposed to take next.
While there are no fixed rules for when or why you need to hire a personal injury lawyer, there are some circumstances in which hiring a lawyer almost always represents your safest and most reliable option to protect your legal rights or financial interests. Let’s look at some of them.

You Suffered a Debilitating Injury or Devastating Illness

Accidents happen every day. However, if you suffered a serious injury or acquired a devastating illness because of someone else’s fault, then contacting a skilled personal injury lawyer is a smart move. These injuries and accidents do not only leave you with significant pain and a debilitating prognosis. They can also saddle you with skyrocketing medical bills and an uncertain future for you and your family. Talking to a personal injury lawyer can inform you about the possible legal options you can pursue to help.

You Were in a Crash, But Are Not Sure Who is at Fault For the Accident

Many times following an accident, it may not be clear what happened or who is at fault for your injuries. The scene of the crash, and the days and weeks that follow, can be chaotic. You do not have the time, energy, or (often) ability to figure out exactly what happened. That is why you should retain a personal injury attorney who can handle the investigation for you. While you recuperate, a lawyer can start gathering relevant and vital evidence to figure out exactly what happened and who was at fault for the harm you suffered.

The Insurance Company Tries to Delay or Deny Your Claim

One of the most significant errors people make following an accident is thinking that the other party’s insurance company wants to help them. That is rarely, if ever, the case. Insurance companies are businesses that want to make money. They often accomplish this objective by denying valid claims or paying less than what a claimant deserves. Insurance adjusters may also try to get you to admit fault or to say something else that undermines the value of your claim.
To avoid the potential risks of dealing with someone else’s insurance company directly, call a personal injury attorney who has experience negotiating insurance claims and holding parties with legal liability to account for their actions.

Multiple People Were Involved in Your Accident

Not all accidents involve one party at-fault and one victim. For instance, an accident involving a large truck often involves multiple victims and multiple parties who have legal and financial interests in the truck that crashed. As a result, truck accident claims can get extremely complicated. Consulting with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in these situations can provide you with the best chance of obtaining maximum compensation. Lawyers have the experience and skills to handle multiple parties and to build a case against all those at-fault.

You Are Unsure About Specific Time Limitations Regarding Your Case

The statute of limitations is the maximum amount of time you have to initiate legal proceedings after an accident. These time limits depend not only on the state where the accident occurred and the type of accident, but many times, exceptions to the rule can change your filing deadline.
One critical aspect to remember about the statute of limitations is that you can be barred from collecting any compensation for your injuries if you fail to file your claim within this allotted deadline. For these reasons, speaking with a personal injury lawyer is critical to your claim. Not only can attorneys figure out exactly how much time you have in which to take legal action, but they can start investigating the accident promptly to ensure that critical evidence does not get lost.

You Receive a Low Settlement Offer

Following an accident, the other party’s insurance company may offer you a settlement, but it may amount to far less than you need and deserve. The problem is, you might not realize how far short it comes up. Many accident victims do realize just how large their future expenses relating to an injury may turn out to be, for example. That is why, following an accident, you need to retain a skilled personal injury attorney who can help you determine if any settlement offer you receive is fair to you. If it is not, then the lawyer can proceed with the negotiation process, making sure to fight for a top-dollar settlement amount, and to take legal action if necessary to protect your rights.

You Need Legal Help From Someone You Can Trust Following an Accident

If you have been involved in an accident, you are going through a lot. Handling tedious and complicated legal proceedings and complicated insurance claims is the last thing you need to occupy your time. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you do not have to go through this stressful ordeal on your own.
Your personal injury lawyer can:

• Listen to you and answer any questions you may have.
• Discuss all your legal options and help you to pursue the legal action that you choose.
• Do a thorough investigation into the accident, gathering critical evidence and documents, and talking to relevant witnesses to prove liability and damages.
• Prepare and file court documents.
• Represent your interests in negotiations and courtrooms.

If you were injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today for a free consultation about how a lawyer can help you during this difficult time.