Accidents occur when you least expect them to happen. When this instance does come along, it’s expected that you may be confused about what to do next. Even as you try to recuperate, you may still be suffering the effects of your accident, then, suddenly, you’re whisked away with the challenge of complying with all the necessary legalities and paperwork regarding your personal injury. Because you’ve been wrongfully injured by another, you want to ensure that you have the best possible compensation that you deserve.
But, where and how do you begin? What precisely is a personal injury?
This article gives you answers to all those questions, including why a personal injury attorney is advantageous for you.
Contents
A Brief Background On Personal Injuries
Personal injury cases occur when someone is injured due to the negligence of another person. These cases can involve slip and fall accidents, car accidents, dog bites, and more. Anyone who is injured due to negligence will want to contact a personal injury attorney to learn more about their case and the compensation they could receive for their injuries.
Now that you’re more aware of personal injuries, it’s important to highlight the fact that there are many good reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer, including the following:
Have Someone Knowledgeable to Help
One of the main reasons to hire personal injury attorneys is because of the knowledge they have. A personal injury attorney is very familiar with these types of cases, so they can usually predict the chances of the injured person obtaining compensation for the accident as well as how much compensation they might be able to obtain. They are also familiar with requesting and negotiating settlements or going to court if necessary to help their client get a better settlement.
In-Depth Calculation of Damages
An attorney is going to do an in-depth calculation of the damages to determine the full compensation amount their client should receive. The compensation can, depending on the case, include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life, and much more. The compensation will also often include the attorney’s fees, so the injured person does not have to worry about paying these fees while they wait to get compensation to help them financially recover from their injuries.
Representation in Court if a Trial is Needed
Most cases are settled before a trial begins as trials can be very expensive for both sides. It’s estimated that around 4-5% of personal injury cases go to trial, with the rest settling before the court date. However, going to trial may be necessary in some cases if the settlement negotiations do not lead to a fair settlement or if the at-fault party denies they owe money to the injured person. The injured person can speak with their attorney about the chances that the case will go to trial and, if it does go to trial, what will happen during and after the trial so they have a good idea of what to expect.
Representation During Settlement Negotiations
Most cases do settle before trial, and this is one of the times where hiring an attorney can be crucial. The attorney has experience with these types of negotiations and knows how to get a much higher amount for their client during the negotiations. They also know when to concede on some of the expenses that should be covered, if necessary, and when to decide to go to trial if a settlement can’t be reached. The attorney will do all of the work for their client during the negotiations, so the injured person doesn’t have to worry about talking to the at-fault party or their insurance company.
No Charge Of Fees If You Don’t Recover
If you’ve been wrongfully injured due to the negligence of another, the last thing that you’ll want is to shell out the expenses that come along with the hiring of a lawyer. Thankfully, however, with a personal injury lawyer, you aren’t charged any fees if you don’t recover anything from the case. This makes it very favorable on your part, which should be another reason for you to hire one.
Personal injury lawyers charge on a contingency fee basis. This means that they’ll only charge you with a percentage of the settlement that you’ll recover from your case. Else, you won’t have to pay your lawyer anything at all.
Parting Words
If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of someone else, you may be able to get compensation for your injuries. It’s not always easy to obtain this compensation, though, or for you to make sure you receive the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to. Especially when your injuries hinder you from physically moving around, or if you’re not well versed with the law, it’s not advisable for you to do everything on your own. Instead, make sure you speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible about your case. They can help you get a much higher settlement or represent you in court if the case needs to go to trial.
