There were around 2.6 million non-fatal workplace injuries in 2023, plus 5.1 million medically consulted motor vehicle accident injuries the previous year, so your chances of needing a personal injury lawyer are higher than you think.
After being involved in any kind of accident where you suffered injuries, you may be wondering if you need to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you. There are a few key factors to consider when making this decision.
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Your Injuries
Scott Mansfield, an experienced Baton Rouge injury lawyer, explains that how injured you are is a key factor when considering making a personal injury claim. You may not need a lawyer if your injuries are relatively minor, like cuts and bruises. But if you have serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, or back/neck injuries that require ongoing medical treatment, a lawyer can likely get you a larger settlement. Around 869k people suffer cervical injuries in car crashes each year, and whiplash is estimated to affect 3 million people annually.
Was it Someone Else’s Fault?
If the other party was clearly at fault, especially if they face criminal charges, hiring a lawyer may not be necessary. But if fault is unclear or shared, a lawyer can build a strong case for why the other party is liable for your damages.
Dealing with Insurers
Do you want to directly negotiate a settlement with insurance companies yourself or do you want an experienced lawyer to handle it for you? Most people are not experts at claim negotiations.
Some of the most common tactics insurance companies use when negotiating injury claims include:
Delaying Settlement Offers
Insurance companies often initially delay making any settlement offers or make very low offers in hopes that injured victims will take quick, low settlements just to be done with the process. Experienced lawyers know how to persistently negotiate until fair offers are made.
Disputing Injuries & Downplaying Their Severity
Insurance adjusters will often claim injuries are exaggerated or pre-existing instead of accident-related to dispute liability and lower settlement offers. Lawyers use medical evidence and expert testimony to verify accident-caused injuries.
Claiming Contributing Negligence
Insurance companies look for any argument they can make about an injured party being partially at-fault, like not wearing a seat belt or speeding. They can then reduce settlement offers by the share of perceived fault. Lawyers fight these arguments where legally baseless.
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
There are several advantages to hiring a personal injury lawyer after an accident, including:
Personal injury lawyers have experience negotiating high settlement amounts and take fees as a percentage of what they obtain for you. So, they are motivated to maximize your payout.
By gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, consulting medical experts, and researching legal issues, a lawyer can construct a well-supported case to prove negligence and attain full compensation under the law. Doing this yourself can be extremely difficult.
Although 96% of accident cases settle out of court, having an experienced trial lawyer gives you more leverage in negotiations since the defense knows your lawyer is willing and able try the case in court if necessary. Juries also tend to award more to plaintiffs represented by lawyers.
As you can see, there are many benefits to hiring a personal injury lawyer after an accident. But there may be situations, like minor accidents with minimal injuries, where compensation negotiations are straightforward enough to carry out on your own if you want to save money on legal fees. Evaluate your specific accident circumstances mindfully and decide if a lawyer is right for you.
