If you have suffered an injury due to an accident, you may be curious as to when you should hire a personal injury attorney. Situations can vary, and circumstances change. Filing a personal injury claim requires know-how and focused skills, including a thorough understanding of the legal system. You don’t want to file without a lawyer. First, you must understand what constitutes personal injury, though.
Types of Personal Injury
Personal injury law allows you to receive compensation due to someone else’s negligent or intentional actions. Situations that warrant a personal injury case include:
- Car Accidents – Car accidents are one of the most common forms of personal injury in the country. Someone else typically failed to follow the rules of the road, leading to the accident.
- Slip and Fall – Slip and fall is also one of the most common forms of personal injury. Property owners have a legal obligation to ensure their premises are safe and free of hazards for visitors.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
First and foremost, seek medical attention. Then, contact a personal injury attorney. Operating from a position of strength based on knowledge
Most insurance companies will want to deny a claim or pay as little as possible, that’s their job. You’ll want someone on your side and in your corner with a firm understanding of the law – and that knows how to fight for rightful compensation.
It is not uncommon for an insurance company or defense lawyer to claim the victim played a role in the accident. Unfortunately, if you don’t have an experienced attorney representing you, you may mistakenly accept some culpability for the accident. In this instance, compensation could be reduced or denied entirely.
Similarly, some insurance companies will cause undue delays, request unnecessary documentation, or make the claims process overly complicated. However, a personal injury lawyer knows what is required by law and the appropriate timelines that are acceptable for investigation.
But what about instances where victims have dealt with insurance companies without a lawyer, and an offer of compensation has been made? While such examples may suggest that the process might possibly be nearing completion, there is still good reason to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Assessing fair levels of compensation is not an easy process, and individuals frequently undervalue the damages they are entitled to. For example, a personal injury claim can include some of the following factors:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Ongoing medical treatment and health costs
- Travel expenses
- Past and future physical pain and suffering
- Past and future mental anguish
- Physical disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Loss of consortium for a spouse
To understand what damages are acceptable, an attorney uses their experience and understanding of your case to make a calculation.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer as early as possible after an incident takes place will always be beneficial. Of course, after a traumatic event or an injury, finding a lawyer will not always take priority. But wherever you find yourself in the claims process, getting advice and representation from a lawyer at any stage can prevent mistakes and help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Us
If you were recently involved in any of the above forms of personal injury, contact Lucé Law, PC by calling (972) 632-1300. We’ll fight for your rights and proper compensation!