People are injured every day due to the negligence of others. They get hurt at work, injured in car accidents and slip and fall in stores. Some of these accidents cause minor scrapes and bruises while others involve life-altering consequences. Below, are some key indicators that it is time to call a personal injury lawyer for help with your claim.
The Injury Caused You to Become Disabled
Some accidents are more likely to result in disabling conditions. Motorcycle accidents may result in traumatic brain injuries. Collisions with commercial trucks may result in paralysis or other disabling conditions. Some motor vehicle accidents might also result in disabling conditions. If you suffered a serious injury that resulted in a disability or will require long-term care, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
The insurance company is unlikely to offer you a fair settlement that fully compensates you for all the damages you sustained. A personal injury attorney will be sure to fully account for all damages you sustained and seek compensation for them. This may include factoring in the following losses for any potential settlement:
- The cost of all previous medical expenses incurred because of the accident
- The reasonable cost of future medical care
- Your lost earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Damage to your relationships with those close to you
- Mental effect of the accident and injury on your life
- Renovations you have to make to your home or vehicle to accommodate your disability
You Suffered Serious Injuries
In smaller cases, you may be able to complete the legal and insurance claims without the assistance of a lawyer and settle your own claim. However, in cases involving serious injuries, you should seriously consider hiring a lawyer.
Even if your condition is not technically considered disabling, you should contact a personal injury attorney if your injuries are severe. The amount of compensation you receive in a personal injury case is largely associated with the severity of your injuries. This is often calculated by considering the following factors:
- The type of injury
- The severity of your injuries
- The amount of your medical bills
- Your recovery time
If you incurred significant medical expenses, you may reach the policy limits of the at-fault party’s insurance policy. To receive compensation for the full extent of your damages, you may need a personal injury lawyer who can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries or find other defendants who share the liability.
Multiple Parties Are Involved
Some personal injury incidents may involve multiple parties. A pileup accident may involve many different drivers. A product liability case may have claims filed against multiple parties, such as the manufacturer, designer and store. When multiple parties are involved, the case can easily become complicated. Insurance companies for various parties may deny liability and blame the accident on other parties, including injured victims, which can potentially reduce the settlement the victim receives.
You Get a Fast Offer from the Insurance Company
In some situations, you may quickly an offer from an insurance company. However, it might be for an amount that you believe is way too low. When this happens, it is likely that the insurance company is not contesting liability. Otherwise, it likely would not have offered any type of settlement. However, it is often an attempt to get you to quickly accept the lowest offer possible before you hire a personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies make money by minimizing the value of as many valid claims as they can, so an insurance adjuster is not going to try to get you a higher settlement. However, a personal injury lawyer will attempt to get you the settlement that you deserve. Personal injury lawyers often have years of experience in dealing with the applicable law and more experience in negotiating with insurance adjusters. They may be able to estimate a fair amount of settlement and advise clients on whether an offer is fair or objectionable.
The Insurance Company Refuses to Pay a Fair Settlement
Sometimes the insurance company will refuse to pay a fair settlement. In some cases, the insurance company offers less than the value of the medical bills you have incurred for the accident. The adjuster may claim that this low amount is all that your case is worth. An experienced personal injury lawyer can fight for a fair amount of compensation.
Liability Is Contested
If the insurance company has denied the claim on the basis that liability is contested, it is important to hire a personal injury lawyer who can fight for you. If the insurance company disputes liability, having a personal injury lawyer on your side may be able to convince it that you are serious about the claim. If the insurance company continues to deny liability after your personal injury lawyer makes a reasonable demand, you may need to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries. Filing a valid lawsuit requires preparing legal arguments, stating specific facts and following strict guidelines, tasks that are best completed by an experienced personal injury attorney.
Additionally, a personal injury law firm will have additional resources to help advance your claim, such as paralegals, private investigators and investigative capabilities.
The Insurance Company Engages in Bad Faith Tactics
Sometimes insurance companies will engage in bad faith tactics in order to prevent any payout to the victim. They may cause unnecessary delays to avoid paying an injured person’s claim. They may refuse to pay reasonable expenses even though liability is not in dispute. They may make unreasonably low offers that do not correspond with the severity of the injuries you have sustained. When insurance companies engage in bad faith tactics, they may be liable for a separate bad faith claim. If this situation arises, you will likely need assistance from a lawyer who has experience litigating bad faith insurance claims.
Importance of an Initial Consultation
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis and offer a free initial consultation. This consultation can be a great way for you to candidly discuss your case with a lawyer and learn if you have the type of case that requires the help of a personal injury attorney. Because a personal injury lawyer is not guaranteed payment since they only collect if you receive compensation for the accident, they will typically be candid about the viability of your claim. They will not want to waste their own time and money on a case that is unlikely to result in a successful outcome. An initial consultation allows you to learn more about your case before making a full commitment to pursue your claim.
