Some people may think they can handle themselves with an insurance claims adjuster, or in court even, when it comes to car accidents or personal injury. That is not always the case. There are aspects of a personal injury case that will be difficult to navigate for a person not well-versed in the law and claims process. The worst-case scenario is that you are not prepared in the event that your case needs to go to trial. Hiring a personal injury attorney, whatever the details of the case, is always the best idea.
Here are some things that may cause you trouble if you decided not to hire a personal injury lawyer and go it alone:
Claims Adjusters: An insurance claims adjuster does not have your best interest in mind after you have suffered from a car accident. Their goal is not to get you the most compensation out of your personal injury case, it is to get away from the claim by paying out as little as possible! A personal injury attorney will know what angles to negotiate from when it comes to insurance companies and claims adjusters who will prey on those who have not hired a car accident attorney. Once you settle, your case is done. Forever. And you only generally have 2 years from the date of your wreck to file a lawsuit; after that, your case is done…even if you did not settle it.
Deadlines: When it comes to filing a lawsuit for personal injury or a car accident, hiring a personal injury attorney is your best bet. You may not be familiar with deadlines, statutes of limitations, and so forth the way an accident lawyer will be. For example, a victim of personal injury probably would not know that there are different statutes of limitations, or simply put a limited timeframe for filing a personal injury claim against a negligent party. In the state of Georgia, the statute is generally two years starting from the date of the accident or incident in question to file an action, but sometimes you have to give notice even sooner, in a certain way, based on who the defendant is in your case.
Organization: A personal injury attorney is familiar with the process of collecting, organizing, and presenting documents and evidence for your case. A person handling their own personal injury or car accident case might not have the time to dedicate as an accident lawyer does, to keep up with important documents or find the correct legal documentation needed. A personal injury lawyer will be able to give you a timeline and hit all the necessary points when it comes to presenting evidence for your case.
Fees: Since personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases on contingency, there is typically no up-front cost when hiring a personal injury lawyer. Contingent attorneys' fees refer only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client in the end, by recouping them from settlement or judgment funds when the case is resolved. Therefore, it may cost you money NOT to hire a lawyer!
No matter what, it is always good to get a free initial consultation if you were injured by someone else’s negligence.
Contact us today to find out how we can support you Dyal Jenkins.
