Do You
need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
While it is always wise to hire an experienced personal
injury lawyer after a vehicle accident, with minor accidents and equally minor
injuries, you may not need the expertise of an attorney. When you have a minor
“fender bender,” and suffer only a sprained wrist, you’ll only qualify for an
equally minor settlement, it makes little sense to pay a personal injury lawyer
1/3 of your settlement amount.
What Injuries Did You
Suffer?
A rule of thumb:
The more serious the injuries you suffer from the vehicle accident, the more
you need a car accident lawyer focusing on personal injury with a proven track record, handling cases and
winning large settlements. You will be best served having a veteran personal
injury lawyer negotiating hard with insurance companies, who are hoping to pay
the least, not the most.
Your lawyer also can threaten to sue the insurance company
involved, there is little more important to insurers than losing a case or
getting a reputation for fighting a case with personal injuries. It can hurt
their advertising and marketing campaigns for years if these cases are
publicized. Insurance companies would rather make fair settlements than
damaging their brands.
The Benefits from
Having a Good Lawyer Handling Your Case
The Insurance Research Council states that their studies
show that those people that represented by a good personal injury
lawyer receive 3.5 times the settlement amounts as those without legal
representation. This is the most significant
benefit you’ll receive from having a proven personal injury attorney after
a car accident. But, there are other benefits you will enjoy by having a good
lawyer represent your best interests, such as the following items.
- Proven attorneys are effective negotiators with insurance companies, who often “play hardball” with personal injury settlement cases.
- Should your case proceed to trial, you benefit from having a proven trial lawyer who may get you a larger monetary award from the court.
- Experienced personal injury lawyers are not susceptible to the intimidation large insurance companies often try to impose on individuals. They (attorneys) know that insurance companies exist to make, not spend, money.
- Since most personal injury lawyers work for contingency fees, you’re not responsible for paying them until you receive an agreeable settlement amount.
- Experienced personal injury lawyers can advise you what your case is worth monetarily, when you may not have any idea how much is a fair settlement.
Conclusion
Your experienced attorney will also instill confidence in
you, while removing the apprehension you feel that could hinder your sleep
quality and other daily activities. You will enjoy numerous benefits by having
a personal injury lawyer after a car accident when you are injured. The
settlement you receive will be over 3 times what you may get if you do not
retain an experienced attorney.
While you don’t need a lawyer technically, you will benefit
mightily by having one represent you. Negotiating with insurance companies who
try to pay you the least (you, of course, want the most) is not a “fun” task
and can cost you. Sure you avoid paying a contingency fee, but the lawyer fee
is only due after the much larger settlement you receive by having legal
representation.
Post Co-authored by Moynahan Law Firm
