Do You Need A Personal Injury Attorney?

It is only normal that after experiencing a serious accident that you have questions about how long it will take for you to fully recover, when you will be well enough to go back to work, and what happens next. 

 

Another question that is likely to come up is do I need to hire a personal injury lawyer to look after my case. This is probably the single most important question that anyone who has experienced a severe accident can ask themselves. In most instances the answer to this question will be yes. In fact, the sooner that you appoint a lawyer to start representing you, the easier and quicker it will be for them to resolve the case for you. The following questions and answers will help you to understand why this is the case.

 

Are your injuries serious?

 

It may be the case that you only fell or slipped over in a gas station or grocery store and so your injuries are actually very minor, or was involved in a small prang in your car that left you with bruises or scrapes. These types of things occur regularly and most people out there are able to handle them directly themselves without having to get anyone else involved. However, these types of innocuous accidents do actually have the potential to result in serious injuries, such as broken bones or concussion. 

 

If it is the case that you have experienced serious harm as the direct result of an accident that you were involved in, then it is advisable to get in contact with a Bridgeport Personal Injury Lawyer as soon as possible after it happened. This is because more serious injuries can leave you with very expensive medical bills that you have to pay but have no way in doing so – either because you do not have the funds to do so or because your earnings have been reduced as you have been unable to work due to the injuries you sustained.

 

Where you have experienced severe injuries, such as amputation, spinal cord damage, or brain damage, as the result of an accident, working with a personal injury lawyer is the only real way of being awarded the level of compensation that you truly deserve. Serious and complex injuries like these do typically involve serious sums of money and so the insurance companies do everything that they possibly can to not pay out on the claim. A good lawyer will be able to use their knowledge and expertise to look after your interests and ensure that you get the financial compensation that you rightfully deserve.

 

How was the accident caused?

 

In order for a personal injury claim to be upheld, it must be established that it was another party and not yourself that caused any of the injuries that you sustained. Where a third party was responsible for your injuries, then you should hire a lawyer who will begin to start collecting evidence on your behalf pursuing your case. 

 

It is usually the case with most accidents that there are actually a number of different parties that are responsible and thus share the liability for it. A good lawyer can work to identify each of these parties and assist you in getting the full amount of compensation for the injuries that you have sustained from each and everyone of them. 

 

For instance, in a case of medical malpractice, you could probably file a claim not only against the medical professional that committed the act but also the hospital or medical practice where it was done in. Equally if you have experienced a traffic collision with a truck, you may be able to file a claim for compensation against not only the driver themselves but also against the company that they were working for at the time. 

 

Have you communicated with the liable party or the insurance company?

 

If you have been involved in some sort of accident then it is unlikely to be your first thought to get in contact with a personal injury lawyer to represent you. Most victims do this after they have already spoken with not only the third party but also their insurance company too. However, you are actually better off leaving all communication about your case to a lawyer. This is because they know how to handle them, having dealt with them before over the years, and it stops you from saying anything to them that might impact on the validity and thus success of the case.

 

It may have been through your communication with the liable third party or their insurance company that made you aware that you do actually need a lawyer. This is especially true in the following situations:

 

• Where the insurance company has denied your claim – having your personal injury claim can be pretty upsetting for anyone, especially if the injuries sustained were particularly serious. This leaves you not only worrying about your recovery but also about how you are going to pay for the medical bills that are quickly racking up as a result of your accident. 

 

A good personal injury lawyer will do everything that they possibly can to dispute the denial made by the insurance company, achieving an outcome that is more satisfactory for you. They can also provide you with some insight into what information is required by the insurance company in order for your claim to be accepted. Where further evidence is required, a lawyer can use their knowledge and expertise to gather this up for you so that you get your compensation.

 

• There is a delay in responding to your claim by the insurance company – it has been quite some time since your accident happened and you have still not yet received any sort of communication from either the third party that was responsible or from the insurance company representing them. As a result you have no idea of what is happening or what you could be doing to speed things up.

 

Delaying communication is a widely used tactic amongst insurance companies of all sizes. This is because they want to hold onto any money that they owe you for as long as is possible. This is despite of the fact that you may be desperate for the money in order to pay for expensive medical bills, which have come about as a result of your accident – caused by their client. With a personal injury lawyer on your side, they will be able to get a quick response from the insurance company and it will send a message to them that you are serious about getting all of the compensation that you are owed by them. 

 

• A low settlement amount is offered by the insurance company – the vast majority of insurance companies out there will do what ever they can to pay claimants as little financial payment as they can get away with. A common tactic is for them to contact you shortly after it happened in order to offer you a low settlement amount. 

 

By accepting this offer you are probably doing yourself out of money as this is the very minimum that they think that they can get away with paying you. It is likely to not fully take into account the true extent of all of your injuries – both physical and mental. It will also stop you from pursuing any more compensation further down the line should something else crop up with your case. Before accepting any offer, it is beneficial to first contact Bridgeport Personal Injury Lawyer, as they will be able to advise you on what amount of compensation you should be receiving given the injuries that you have experienced. 

 

• Where the insurance company refuses to negotiate – it may be the case that you did not approach a personal injury lawyer straight after being offered a settlement amount. This is because you could quite clearly see for yourself that it was not fair and did not correctly represent the injuries and pain that you have had to endure as a result of the accident. For this reason, you immediately declined the offer and went back with a counter offer of your own. 

 

However, the insurance company is stubborn and refuses to move from the amount that they initially offered you. This is where a lawyer can come in useful as they are able to fight for you in order to ensure that you get the right amount of compensation that you deserve. If the claim has to go to court, then they will represent you there. During this time they will have your best interests at heart and not those of the insurance company. A claimant who is legally represented by a lawyer is much more difficult to take advantage of than one who is not. By appointing a good lawyer it sends a message to the insurance company that you are serious about your claim and that you are willing to fight them for what you are rightfully owed.

Sharing is caring!