6 Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
November 30, 2015
When people are injured, they may think they can handle matters on their own. But it’s not as simple as filing an insurance claim and waiting for a check to arrive.
To get the best outcome, you’re going to need legal help. Here are 6 reasons to hire a personal injury attorney:
- You need flawless medical documentation.
Insurers will ask for proof of medical costs and treatments, and if they deem those costs to be unnecessary or excessive, they may offer a settlement inadequate to cover your expenses.A personal injury attorney understands how to provide medical documentation that satisfies insurer guidelines and can even arrange for medical experts to testify, should a case end up going to trial. - Procedural requirements can make or break a case.
Any legal case involves deadlines, the filing of appropriate and accurate forms, as well as possible court appearances. People who represent themselves instead of hiring an attorney could easily make a procedural mistake that jeopardizes their ability to be compensated for damages. - Policies can be confusing.
When an accident occurs, you may be entitled to compensation from your own insurance policy and the policies of other parties involved in the accident. Those insurers, however, may raise questions about their own responsibility to pay.A personal injury attorney understands the interplay of insurance policies and how to maximize all available benefits. - Corporations may be intimidating.
A person injured on the premises of a large company, either as a visitor or as an employee, could be subject to intense scrutiny as investigators for the company look for any personal details that could indicate a person is lying about the accident or was in some way responsible for what happened.It’s not uncommon for corporations and their insurers to keep tabs on an injured party, employing private investigators to follow them and look for signs that a person’s injuries are not as severe as claimed. They may also dig into a person’s past, looking for any information that could call into question the injured party’s character.Being subject to scrutiny can be incredibly stressful, and people may be pressured into accepting a settlement simply to end the process. An attorney can help injured people understand their rights in these cases, as well as advise them about whether a settlement seems reasonable. - Proving pain and suffering takes legal expertise.Some injuries are so severe that they result in long-term mental suffering. This is particularly true in wrongful death cases, where surviving family members may experience grief, sadness, and lingering psychological effects that interfere with quality of life.Plaintiffs unfamiliar with the law would have difficulty proving that they are entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney, however, understands how to make such arguments.
- Legal representation can result in higher and timely payouts.
It’s rare for an insurer to fast-track an injury claim and provide a generous settlement. The process can drag on for a long time, but a lawyer can pressure insurers to offer a settlement in a timely manner.
An attorney can also make a counter-offer, when the insurer’s offer is unacceptable, and insurers may be inclined to accept that offer if it means they can avoid litigation.
Having a lawyer on your side protects your interests and prevents insurers from taking advantage of your situation.
If you have any questions about hiring a personal injury attorney to handle your claim, the attorneys at Wapner Newman can help. For almost 40 years, we have been the trusted advocates for countless personal injury victims and their families throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We offer risk-free consultations and work on a contingency basis, which means that we do not require you to pay any fees until we have secured a recovery on your behalf. We encourage you to contact us today by calling 1-800-529-6600 or filling out a free case evaluation form.