Represented Victims Tend to Receive Larger Settlements – Hire a Lawyer?
The average person receives a settlement 3 ½ times larger with legal assistance than without a lawyer
Should You Handle Your Own Car Accident Injury Claim or Hire a Lawyer? Based on a 1999 study by the Insurance Research Council, the average person receives a settlement 3 ½ times larger with legal assistance than without it. In a personal injury settlement this can make a huge difference. The particulars of the law depending on your situation can become complicated.
Auto accident injury claims cover a wide variety of situations,as do other forms of injury claims. You may have been injured in a car accident, by slipping and falling on someone’s property, or bitten by a neighbor’s dog. All these things are considered personal injury and the level of your injury can make big a difference in processing your claim.
Attempting to handle a claim on your own only to hire a lawyer later may complicate the claim process, so it’s important to understand what you’re capable of and what’s at stake if you mishandle your case. It is similar to trying to treat a medical condition on your own before you go to the doctor – actions you think might help the injury or illness could actually make things worse, and it may be a more difficult recovery once you finally seek medical treatment.
Car Accidents With No (Or Very Minor) Injuries
One of the most common types of case involves injuries caused in auto accidents. Someone might rear-end you at a low speed and cause minor damage to your vehicle. The injuries to yourself or your passengers might result in a few visits to the doctor’s office. Filing a claim with your insurance, or the other person’s, will often be efficient and enough compensation to cover the costs of the repair to your car and the medical expenses incurred because of the accident. If this is the case, and you are satisfied with the coverage and service you receive from the insurance claim, there could be no need to call an attorney or seek further legal advice.
Negotiate Effectively With an Adjuster
You wouldn’t necessarily need to seek a lawyer’s advice if you are confident and comfortable enough to negotiate with the insurance agent on your own to reach a settlement amount which you consider fair. In the case that your situation is something where you decide to take the other party to Small Claims Court, you can represent yourself if you feel confident in the evidence you have gathered and your knowledge of the legal process.
When You Might Consider Hiring A Lawyer
The insurance company you are making the claim against will have attorneys representing and fighting for them. Lawyers are professionals who spend years and countless hours studying the particulars of the law and gathering knowledge to represent their clients to the best of their abilities. If the insurance company or the party you are taking to Small Claims Court has legal representation, it may be something for you to consider as well.
In these few quick examples and questions you can see how easily it might be that a personal injury claim gets complicated. Any time you are injured and are dealing with an insurance company or another private party directly for your claim, you have the right to consult an attorney and have one represent you if you choose.
You might consider seeking legal representation if your knowledge of the law is not detailed enough for your circumstances, or if the situation becomes more complicated than you expected. You might consider contacting a lawyer if you feel intimidated by the legal representatives of the insurance company or other party. If you feel the claim for your injury is more than you can handle, contact an attorney. They may be able to help you understand your rights and the claims process.
