Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Do I need a personal injury lawyer

Personal injuries leave victims in a lot of pain and confused about what step to take next. After being injured in a slip and fall or car accident, you may be unable to work. Worried about how you will pay your medical bills, you need compensation to support yourself and your family.

Most victims know they can make a claim for compensation when someone else is to blame for their injuries, but they don’t know whether they need a lawyer. In this article, we will discuss factors you should consider.

How Much Money Have You Lost?

Injured victims often need money to cover:

  • Medical care, such as doctor’s visits, surgeries, prescription drugs, and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage, such as damage to their vehicle

If your losses are only a few thousand dollars, then you can probably handle the claim on your own. Very few lawyers will agree to represent someone when they are seeking such as small amount of money. Instead, you can bring your own case in small claims court, which has been designed for people to represent themselves without an attorney.

But if the accident has caused more than $20,000 in damages, an attorney could be helpful. Personal injury attorneys usually work on contingency and take a percentage of your settlement or jury verdict instead of attorneys’ fees. Your lawyer will set the percentage with you, but it is usually 33-40%.

Are You Suffering Intense Emotional Distress or Pain?

Don’t forget your pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Personal injury victims can receive compensation for these losses as well. In some cases, these intangible losses might be worth many times more the costs of your medical care.

For example, a dog bite might only cost a few hundred dollars to treat. But if it leads to scarring or nerve damage in your face, then you could experience intense embarrassment, shame, and social withdrawal. The value of this emotional distress could be tens of thousands of dollars, so hiring an attorney could make sense in that case.

Can You Handle a Claim on Your Own?

We don’t want to exaggerate, but bringing a personal injury claim requires close attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines. You will probably need to negotiate with the insurance company of the person who is at fault for your injuries, which can be hard depending on your personality.

Many people think they can handle their own insurance claim but soon realize they are in over their heads. It is very hard for people who have jobs and other family responsibilities to stay on top of everything that needs to be done.

You also need to establish liability, i.e., who is at fault for the accident. Many people don’t know where to begin to find the evidence necessary or even what that really means. Building a case the proper way requires time and legal know-how.

Also consider your personality. You might not like being adversarial, but there is no guarantee that an insurance company really wants to settle your claim. They might make a very low initial offer which does not even remotely cover your losses. To protect your rights, you need to dig in and play hardball with the insurance company. If you don’t like the prospects of aggressively negotiating on your behalf, then you should hire a lawyer.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps

An experienced Casper personal injury lawyer can help your case in many ways:

  • A lawyer can find evidence that strengthens your case. We can interview witnesses, investigate the scene of the accident, and create a story that shows the defendant is responsible for your injuries.
  • A lawyer can find expert witnesses. Although not needed in every case, an expert is sometimes necessary to establish important facts.
  • A lawyer can negotiate effectively. At Platte River Injury Law, we have negotiated with some of the largest insurers in the state. We understand all the tricks of the trade and can maximize the money you receive.
  • A lawyer can prevent you from making a mistake. Sometimes, people make statements to insurance adjusters that compromise their cases.

When there is money on the line, why take the risk of representing yourself?

Speak to Platte River Injury Law Today

Our firm has helped clients injured in car accidents slip and falls, dog bite cases, and medical malpractice disputes. We know how to bring these cases the correct way. Let us do the heavy lifting so that you can focus on getting well.

Call us today at 307-215-9724. We offer a free initial consultation where you can ask any questions that you want.


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