If you have been injured in an incident caused by another party, such as a car accident or premises liability case, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for the losses the injuries have caused you, depending on the circumstances of your case, against the party who was responsible for the accident or incident. Nothing says that victims are required to retain the services of a personal injury attorney in order to pursue a claim, however, many victims do just that. In many situations, having an attorney represent you can make all the difference in how much you receive in your claim or even if you receive any compensation at all.
So how do victims know whether or not to hire an attorney? The following factors may help in making that determination.
What are the details and circumstances of your case?
The first thing you should do is examine the details of the accident to determine if you should pursue a case. What were the extent of the injuries you suffered? Did you sustain some bumps and bruises or did your injury require medical attention?
If you did require medical attention, then you will likely choose to pursue a claim to pay for the medical bills that treatment cost. If the injuries caused you to miss any work, you can also be reimbursed for those lost wages. The more financial losses you have suffered, the more beneficial having an attorney advocating for you with the insurance company will be.
Preparing Your Case
Preparing a claim, including gathering evidence and proving fault, takes time and energy. If you have been injured, it is critical to focus on your recovery and getting better. Investigating an accident to determine and prove fault may not be possible if you have been seriously injured, yet that is exactly what is needed to, especially if the insurance company is balking at liability. It is also necessary to keep track of all medical expenses and other financial losses that the injuries have caused, as well as keep obtain updated medical reports about your condition. An accident attorney can do all of this for you so you can use your time for healing.
Experience
Regardless of how intelligent and organized a victim is, legal experience and being well versed in personal injury law is key to winning an accident case. Insurance companies have all kinds of underhanded tactics they use to pressure victims into settling for far less than what they may be entitled to under the law. They will even act as if they have your best interest at heart, but the truth is the only best interest they have in mind is the company’s profits.
A seasoned personal injury lawyer Harrisonburg VA residents respect will not only be protecting your rights, but they also have much experience in dealing with insurance companies and know exactly how to skillfully negotiate a fair and just settlement for their client.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from MartinWren, P.C., for their insight into personal injury law.