Every year, nearly 40 million Americans seek medical care for accidental injuries.
If your injuries were caused by someone else, you might wonder if you should hire a personal injury lawyer. But how do you know when to contact a personal injury lawyer or whether you should handle matters yourself?
It’s true that not every injury is automatically a personal injury case. In some instances, though, you’ll definitely want legal aid on your side.
Do any of these reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer apply to you?
1. Your Injuries Are Severe
You might not need a lawyer for a few bumps and bruises or a minor case of whiplash. If you received only minor injuries that healed up with no adverse effects, chances are you can settle your case on your own.
But what if your injury resulted in a hospital stay? Did you suffer broken bones or damage to your brain or spinal cord? Are you left with a partial or permanent disability?
If you’ll be dealing with long-term recovery, therapy, or disability, you’ll definitely want a lawyer on your side. It’s the only way to ensure you get the financial assistance you need to cover your medical costs.
2. Bad Faith Insurance Practices
In a perfect world, insurance companies would do everything in their power to help you out. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true.
It’s not uncommon for insurance companies (your own or the other party’s) to minimize your injuries and pay out as little as possible. They might fail to investigate a claim, come back with a lowball offer, or change the policy terms without notice. Even worse, they might delay or deny your claim altogether.
If you’re dealing with any of these shady insurance tactics, you need legal help. A personal injury team like Lungin Law knows how to negotiate with insurers to expedite your claim and maximize your settlement amount.
3. It’s Not Clear Who’s at Fault
If someone rear-ended your car or you slipped on an unmarked wet floor at the supermarket, it’s pretty clear who’s at fault. But not every personal injury case is that cut-and-dry.
For example, if there was a multi-car collision during a heavy rainstorm, it may not be obvious who caused the accident. The same is true of a distracted driver who hits a pedestrian that was also looking down at their phone while crossing the street. In the event of a slip-and-fall accident, there may have been “Wet Floor” signs that you simply didn’t see.
In any of these cases, the other party’s insurer may unfairly place the burden of blame on you. Even if they don’t, it’s in your best interest to hire a personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of the legal system.
Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Just because you’re injured doesn’t automatically mean you need to hire a personal injury lawyer. However, if any of the circumstances above apply to you, you’ll do well to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney near you.
Now that you know more about personal injury cases, what’s next? Our site is full of helpful information, so keep browsing for more great reads!
