If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you probably already know that you can seek compensation from the responsible parties. If you’ve never been through the process before, though, you may not know how to go about recovering compensation or payment for your damages.
Hiring a personal injury attorney after an accident can help you get compensation for your injuries. But do you really need one?
There’s no law that says you must hire an attorney, but in the vast majority of cases, hiring a personal injury lawyer is a wise choice. Here are a few reasons why:
A Lawyer Can Help Figure Out Who’s Responsible
Before you seek compensation, you must know who is responsible for your injuries. Sometimes this seems very simple. The driver who ran through a red light and caused the crash is responsible and he–or his insurance–should pay.
But, what if the driver claims his brakes malfunctioned? The car manufacturer could be responsible, or perhaps the last mechanic to inspect the vehicle should pay for the damages.
If you don’t know who to pursue or which insurance company to file a claim with, you’ll be a long way from receiving fair compensation for your injuries. Personal injury lawyers deal with cases like this all the time, and an experienced attorney can identify all the responsible parties and pursue them accordingly.
You Need a Negotiator Equal to the Insurance Companies
In most cases, after you are hurt in an accident you will be contacted by the responsible party’s insurance company. They may even offer a cash settlement. If you take the offer, though, you’ll be giving up all your rights to pursue them for more money.
Insurance companies typically don’t want to pay you what you deserve. Their business model is based on minimizing payments, and they employ an army of professionals to accomplish that goal. If you want to be compensated fairly, you will usually need someone in your corner with the same expertise and resources: a reputable personal injury attorney.
Having a lawyer on your side who can evaluate your case and assess its true value will keep the insurance company honest. It also lets the other side know that you can’t be taken advantage of.
You Need a Legal Expert in Court
If your injury claim is not settled early on, you will likely need to proceed in court. This means filing a complaint, conducting discovery, and eventually going to trial if necessary.
Once you reach the litigation stage, an attorney is essential.
Before representing anyone in court, lawyers must endure three years of law school and pass the bar examination, and for good reason. The legal system is complex and often difficult to navigate. One misstep can mean dismissal of your case, leaving you with no compensation and a lot of time wasted.
An experienced personal injury lawyer has been through the system with countless other cases and knows how to survive the defense attorney’s attacks.
To put it simply, if you wouldn’t go into surgery without a doctor, you shouldn’t go to court without an attorney.
How Much Will a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
If you’re reluctant to hire an attorney for your personal injury claim, it’s probably because you’re worried it will cost a lot.
Of course, if you’re worried about the upfront cost, don’t be. The majority of personal injury lawyers take cases on contingency, which means they only get paid when and if you receive a settlement or judgment.
In a contingency fee arrangement, the lawyer gets a portion (usually one third) of what their client receives. So, in the worst-case scenario where your case flops and you get nothing, you won’t be left with a legal bill.
In this type of setup, your attorney is incentivized to get the most money for your injuries–the bigger your settlement, the bigger their fee.
Doehrman Buba – Personal Injury Experts in Indiana
Don’t go it alone. The attorneys at Doehrman Buba have guided Indiana personal injury victims through the legal process for years, and we can do the same for you. Give us a call or contact us online to set up a free consultation with one of our attorneys.