If you have been injured in an accident, it is imperative that you contact a personal injury attorney right away. Yet, the question is often one of the first ones many individuals will ask after an accident. Why is it so important to hire an attorney right away? The answer, again, is quite simple: the sooner you hire one, usually the better and more efficiently your personal injury attorney can resolve your case quickly.
After any type of accident, you and your family must first deal with the physical injuries. The second thing you need to do is deal with any related psychological issues or losses. Often, injuries resulting from vehicle accidents result in post-traumatic stress disorder, which makes it very difficult for the individual to work normally or to function in society in general. In such cases, hiring a personal injury attorney can be particularly beneficial. By representing you in your lawsuit against the other driver, the insurance company, and/or the insurance company’s underwriter, your personal injury attorney can help ensure a favorable settlement offer on your behalf.
If you were to talk to any insurance company representative about the accident, chances are they would suggest that the individual operating the vehicle was at fault. However, as mentioned above, that is not always the case, and there may be conflicting evidence as well. If a personal injury attorney is able to uncover such evidence, your claim may be able to proceed to trial rather than settling for a guilty verdict from the insurance company. (It is important to note that there may be a limit on the amount of compensation you can recover in a personal injury claim.)
Once the case has been brought to trial, either by you or the insurance company, you will need to make a claim for compensation. In many personal injury attorney cases, this step involves gathering the required evidence to support your claim. Additionally, you will have to be prepared to present that evidence in court. Your personal injury attorney will work with you to prepare your case and present it in a way that effectively convinces the jury to award you the compensation you deserve.
When you are able to stand your ground against the other party, you may be able to reduce your settlement amount. You may be able to get the amount of compensation you were seeking to cover your medical bills, repair costs, and any lost wages due to your inability to work. A personal injury attorney can also help you obtain additional compensation in the form of temporary disability benefits and permanent medical coverage. (Although you may not be eligible for all of these benefits, many personal injury attorneys can make a case for you based on the circumstances of your accident.) In addition, a good personal injury attorney can also negotiate for an additional payment, if necessary, to cover out-of-pocket expenses. (Again, it is critical to remember that many personal injury attorneys can only make a case for you if their client is able to demonstrate that he or she suffered an injury as a result of another person’s negligence.)
After you have received the settlement and are in a position to pay your expenses and repair your vehicle, you may still need additional money to make a return trip to work or take your family on a vacation. In this situation, you will again want to consult with a personal injury lawyer. The personal injury lawyer will evaluate your case and help to secure any additional recovery you may be entitled to. (While your accident lawyer does most of the work in arranging for your recovery, it is important to understand that most personal injury lawyers charge a percentage of your final settlement; so consult with your personal injury attorney whether they plan to charge you a flat fee or a per hour rate.)
One of the biggest problems with insurance companies is that they often refuse to pay out if there is even the slightest chance that you sustained injuries as a result of their product. For this reason, it is critical that you work closely with a qualified personal injury attorney who has experience negotiating compensation with insurance companies. (Keep in mind, there is a difference between seeking monetary compensation for pain and suffering and seeking damages for your medical bills and loss of income caused by the injury. Also, keep in mind that a personal injury attorney can only advise you on the best course of action in negotiating your claim and obtaining the most financially viable settlement for you. Only a qualified personal injury attorney will be able to guide you through the process of obtaining the most favorable settlement for your claim.)
There are many websites on the Internet where personal injury attorneys post their websites. If you are not a member of an insurance company’s website, you will probably need to find a site that offers a list of accident attorneys who are willing to accept “no win no fee” settlement agreements. This type of arrangement allows you to settle your claim without having to pay attorney fees if you lose. (This type of settlement is sometimes referred to as a “no win no fee” settlement, and is becoming more popular with victims of automobile accidents.) If you do not wish to sign such a settlement agreement, you may be able to get a similar amount of compensation in a civil court proceeding, but it is important to note that victims who elect to represent themselves may have their claims rejected by the defendant’s insurance company.