If your injuries are minor – bumps, bruises and minor cuts and abrasions – they should be manageable on their own. When an insurance settlement offers falls short of covering out-of-pocket expenses however, consulting an attorney might be wiser.
Personal injury lawyers can help you understand your rights and negotiate with the insurer of those at fault for an injury, but how can you know when it’s time to call in outside help?
1. You’ve been involved in an accident
An accident can be stressful and overwhelming, particularly when injuries and complications are involved. Figuring out what steps to take next may be challenging enough without worrying about insurance policy fine print or legal technicalities – hiring a personal injury lawyer could help ensure you receive compensation that you deserve.
Experienced attorneys know how to negotiate with insurance companies and will fight hard for the maximum compensation possible for your case. In addition, they have access to expert witnesses that can testify on your behalf to prove liability and severity of injuries sustained in accidents. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses focused on maintaining profitability; thus they have expert teams dedicated to deflecting blame away from themselves while decreasing payouts to victims of injuries.
Personal injury attorneys are there to make sure all of your losses are compensated, such as current and future medical bills, loss of income, property damage and physical or emotional suffering. Furthermore, they will help determine if the other party was at fault by reviewing medical records, documents, interviewing witnesses and compiling evidence that can build your strongest case possible.
After being involved in an accident, one of the most essential steps is seeking medical attention immediately. Since leaving the scene of an accident is illegal, it’s wise to wait for police arrival before leaving. Also remember not to provide any oral or written statements after your accident that could later be used against you in court; save all receipts and documentation related to it immediately as well.
Once you’ve been seen by a physician and were cleared for medical treatment, it may be beneficial to hire a personal injury lawyer. Even if your injuries seem minor at this point, it’s better to err on the side of caution; persistent neck or headache pain could be an indicator of more serious damage; never risk taking that chance!
2. You’ve been injured
If your injuries have disrupted your life and left you with medical bills and lost income, now is the time to speak to a personal injury attorney. A legal representative can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and ensure you get a fair settlement – they’ll even handle all communications and paperwork so you can focus on getting better! In fact, studies show that claimants represented by attorneys receive three times more money (net) than claimants without one!
Personal injury attorneys conduct a meticulous investigation of your case in order to ascertain liability and identify all parties who could possibly be at fault for your injuries. They review applicable statutes, legal precedents, and common law in order to formulate an effective legal strategy; as well as analyze your medical records and consult with expert witnesses in order to demonstrate the full extent of injuries and losses sustained in court proceedings.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses and will do whatever they can to deny your claim or offer as little compensation as possible. An experienced attorney knows how best to negotiate fair settlements for their clients against these aggressive tactics from insurers.
Accidents involving multiple parties can make it more complex to ascertain who was to blame, making a personal injury attorney of expert experience invaluable in finding any signs of shared liability and helping ensure you receive every dollar due to you.
If your injuries are minor and don’t impede on daily activities, they may be settled directly with an insurer. However, if they persist and cause discomfort that doesn’t subside quickly enough or you experience headaches that don’t go away quickly enough (which could indicate concussion or other forms of brain trauma), seeking professional assistance might be more prudent.
For those suffering traumatic injuries or long-term disabilities, an experienced personal injury attorney should also be hired. Their skills and experience will allow them to properly prepare these cases to their maximum value, helping you understand any possible lifetime damages and help maximize them as effectively as possible. When selecting your attorney, look for those who specialize exclusively in personal injury law with a track record of million-dollar settlements or verdicts.
3. You’ve been offered a settlement
If you have been injured and offered an insurance settlement from an insurer, and require substantial compensation to cover medical bills and allow you to continue living your life. When dealing with high-dollar claims such as TBI or spinal cord injuries, litigation is required in order to receive maximum damages; having a good personal injury lawyer represent your cause is well worth their fees.
An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to calculate the total value of your claim, taking into account past and future medical expenses, lost wages, quality-of-life impacts and pain and suffering compensation. Furthermore, they know how to negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you’re receiving fair offers from them.
Personal injury lawyers also ensure you’re safe from bad faith insurance practices, communicating directly with insurance agents on your behalf and documenting every interaction to avoid you making statements that could later be used against you and reduce the amount of settlement payout.
Many insurance companies will rush you into accepting an offer as they look to save money and limit liability. They may attempt to convince you it will soon expire; in this case, it is important to inform them you are working with an attorney and will respond quickly.
Once you hire a personal injury lawyer, they will inform the insurance agent that you will only settle once an adequate offer covers all of your losses. They will work with their legal counsel to draft a settlement agreement which you must sign before initiating further litigation – even if the defendant has assets and you believe you deserve more compensation than is being offered; usually any amount exceeding insurance policy limits must be collected directly from them.
4. You’re unsure of your rights
After what seems to be a minor accident, life-altering consequences can arise days, weeks or even months later. Pain, medical bills and financial losses may become increasingly burdensome when injuries become permanent or life-changing; having legal assistance ensure that fair compensation for these damages can be provided.
Skilled New York personal injury lawyers can guide you through every stage of the process, from determining liability to filing a claim and ensuring all damages are properly compensated. They know how to deal with insurance companies that attempt to deny or lowball your claims; in fact, many studies have revealed that those represented by lawyers generally receive much higher settlements than those representing themselves.
Personal injury attorneys may also be necessary if your claim involves a government entity. Although sovereign immunity provides some protection for state and local governments from being sued, exceptions exist for injuries caused by their negligence or wrongdoing that resulted in injuries to citizens. Navigating these complex cases require special knowledge and experience – such as unique laws regarding notice requirements or specific rules regarding how to sue a governmental body – among many other issues that might arise in such a lawsuit.
When your case involves multiple parties, having an experienced personal injury attorney by your side is even more critical. They’ll help identify all those responsible and build a compelling case to hold them to account. Cases involving medical malpractice claims, construction accidents or interstate car crashes often include multiple defendants that must be brought to account.
When faced with a defective product, it’s essential that victims immediately consult a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can help assess if it poses a danger, how to preserve it for testing purposes, and any steps you should take should the manufacturer attempt to destroy or modify the item before testing can take place – making all of the difference in terms of successful lawsuit outcomes.