There are many reasons why someone will hire an injury lawyer. In the end, people make the choice to retain an attorney because they release the benefits. Below, we will identify five of the most common reasons.
1. An attorney knows how much your claim is worth
Most people don’t know how to accurately calculate how much compensation they can get from their personal injury claim. While there are tools, such as websites that help you calculate the amount of personal injury expenses, they only give you a general idea of the value of your claim. These tools will not give you an accurate estimate of the final value of the deal. Getting a high insurance settlement involves a lot more than just typing numbers into a program. It requires understanding the subtleties of your case. This includes analyzing your injuries, placing a value on your pain and suffering, understanding how insurance companies work, and negotiating your settlement. If you file your insurance claim on your own, you are only guessing at the value of your injuries and this could cost you thousands of dollars. Since most attorneys take personal injury cases with conditional fees, you will have no upfront costs, so there is little reason not to hire an experienced attorney to represent you. Hiring a personal injury attorney will allow you to leverage their tools and experiences to achieve a fairer insurance settlement.
2. An attorney understands the legal process
Even if you have an accurate understanding of the possible value of your personal injury settlement, you may not be aware of the legal procedures involved in litigation or mediation of your claim. This includes not knowing what legal documents to submit, how to fill out the forms correctly, and the applicable statute of limitations. Lack of legal knowledge can allow insurance companies to win on a legal technicality. There’s no worse feeling than knowing that you’ve lost thousands of dollars simply because you didn’t know about a particular legal process.
3. A lawyer improves your odds
Facing the insurance company is like preparing for a battle and taking on such a battle on your own without backup. No matter how much you prepare, you simply won’t be able to put up a close battle or get any kind of advantage. The insurance company knows they will have a lot more knowledge and bargaining power and will use it to make sure you get the lowest settlement possible. Insurers will use each claimant’s ignorance of the claim process to protect their own interests. The best weapon you can carry with you is a personal injury attorney who can improve your chances of obtaining a more favorable insurance settlement.
4. An attorney is motivated to help you
According to attorney Walter Benenati, most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means their fees are conditional and they will only get paid if you get an insurance settlement. The attorney’s fee is usually taken out of the settlement. This is an incredible advantage to you, as you have someone experienced in working against insurance companies and motivated to help you get the most favorable settlement possible. Also, since a personal injury attorney does not charge unless you collect, too, they will be more inclined to resolve the claim quickly. It is for these reasons that personal injury attorneys often choose the cases they think they can win.
5. An attorney can take your case to trial
Most accidental injury cases never go to trial. Statistics show that almost all personal injury cases settle. For the cases that do end up in trial, statistics also show that there is a good chance that a jury will decide against the insurance companies. Therefore, having an attorney represent you shows insurers that you are prepared to go to trial. This will most likely motivate them to make a faster and more equitable settlement offer.
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