Are Personal Injury Lawyers Worth Your Time and Money?

Insurance adjusters, your friends, and other parties might tell you that hiring a personal injury lawyer is not worth the time and money. They may argue you can do the same thing an injury lawyer can do and save money. However, that is not always the case.

Straightforward, minor personal injury cases that do not involve severe injuries or disputes about liability might not require hiring a personal injury lawyer. However, talking with an attorney before deciding to handle your injury case alone is worth your time.

You will waive your right to file a lawsuit or seek other compensation if you accept a settlement. Therefore, it is in your best interest to have legal counsel to ensure the settlement amount represents the full value of your injury claim.

Reasons Why Personal Injury Lawyers Are Worth Your Time and Money

Before you decide whether to handle your personal injury claim without an attorney, consider these five reasons why personal injury attorneys are worth the time and money:

Maximize Personal Injury Settlements

Damages in a personal injury case represent the financial losses, injuries, and other harm caused by another party. You must prove that you incurred the damages and how much the damages are worth.

The insurance company will not tell you the full value of your damages or if you ask for a settlement amount less than the damages are worth. The company will undervalue damages to avoid paying large claims.

Studies have shown that victims receive more money when they hire personal injury lawyers. Experienced attorneys understand how to value economic and non-economic damages. They know what damages you are entitled to and how to prove them in your case.

Proving Elements of a Personal Injury Claim

You have the burden of proving the legal elements required to establish liability. Liability is the legal responsibility for damages. Most personal injury claims are based on negligence, but your case could involve vicarious liability, intentional torts, product liability, or other grounds for an injury case.

A personal injury attorney understands the law. They know what you must prove and the evidence necessary to establish liability.

Even the Playing Field With the Insurance Company

The insurance company has unlimited resources to fight your claim. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers, investigators, experts, and other professionals. Hiring a personal injury lawyer evens the playing field.

Your attorney has the skills and resources to investigate your claim. They can gather and preserve evidence. When necessary, lawyers hire experts to strengthen the evidence in a case. Without an attorney, you may not have the time or money to obtain evidence proving your case. You also may not understand the law that applies to your case.

Defend Against Allegations of Comparative Fault

Comparative fault is the legal theory that a victim should not receive damages if they are partially to blame for causing their injuries. State laws vary, but most states do not bar damages unless a victim is 50 or 51% to blame for their accident.

For example, Illinois’s modified comparative negligence law bars damages if you are 51% or more at fault for causing your injuries. If you are less than 51% to blame, the court will reduce your damages by your level of fault. Juries decide matters related to comparative negligence.

The insurance company may accuse you of contributory fault to avoid liability for the claim or reduce how much your claim is worth. Insurance adjusters are skillful and trained to talk to victims. If they can get you to say anything that could be construed as admitting fault, the company uses that against you.

Your attorney can handle all communication with the insurance company and defend you against allegations of fault.

Filing Litigation to Pursue Your Claim

When an insurance company denies your claim or refuses to negotiate a fair settlement, your only option may be to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations restricts the time to file a lawsuit.

Most attorneys treat cases as if they are preparing for trial, even though most claims are settled. If settlement negotiations fail, you are ready to proceed with a lawsuit.

Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

You can learn about your legal options and determine your case’s best course of action during a free consultation with a lawyer. Get help with a personal injury case to protect your right to a fair and just settlement.