There were 224,935 preventable deaths during 2021. That’s a lot of people who died because of negligence. In addition to all those deaths, a further 62 million people sustained an injury, costing the US $1,225.4 billion.
Deciding whether or not to hire a personal injury lawyer after being injured in an accident is an important decision. And with motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of preventable deaths in 20 states, you may need a lawyer sooner than you think!
Personal injury lawyers can help accident victims receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, some accident claims can potentially be settled without needing to hire a lawyer. This article will discuss key factors to consider when determining if you need a personal injury attorney after an accident.
Assess Your Injuries and Losses
The severity of your injuries and overall losses should guide your decision on hiring a personal injury lawyer. Minor scrapes or soreness may not require legal representation. However, extensive injuries like broken bones, head trauma, back injuries, loss of limbs, and disabilities often warrant the expertise of a personal injury attorney.
The more severe your injuries and higher your damages, the more beneficial it often is to have experienced injury lawyers on your side to pursue maximum compensation.
Bear in mind there are 2.1 million people living with limb loss in the US. If you’re now one of them, it will have a massive impact on your life.
Determine Liability and Insurance Coverage
You’ll also want to examine liability and insurance coverage when deciding whether to hire an attorney. If liability is clear in the accident and the at-fault driver has sufficient insurance, you may not need a lawyer.
However, if liability is disputed and insurance is limited, having a seasoned personal injury lawyer can be key for establishing fault and pursuing all avenues for compensation when insurance payouts fall short.
Assess the Claims Process
Filing an insurance claim and negotiating a fair settlement offer involves detailed paperwork, communications, and procedural steps. An experienced personal injury lawyer will know how to successfully navigate the claims process in your best interest.
If you find the claims paperwork and process overly burdensome or complex, hiring legal representation can be hugely helpful for managing your claim properly.
Compare the Value of Your Claim to Attorney Fees
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, taking a percentage (typically 30-40%) of your final accident settlement. So, if your damages from an accident are relatively minor, the attorney fees may consume much or all of any potential settlement you receive.
For more serious injuries with higher damages, attorney fees pale in comparison to potential settlement amounts, making legal representation far more valuable.
As you can see, there are many important factors to weigh when deciding if to hire a personal injury lawyer after getting injured in an accident. Assessing the unique circumstances around your injuries, losses, liability, insurance coverage and claim value will help you determine if legal representation makes sense.
If you remain torn on whether to retain an attorney, most provide free initial consultations to help you make an informed choice that is right for your situation.