Following a serious car accident, many people want to take the time to heal from their injuries before they think of the legal standpoint associated with these accidents. Unfortunately, some people might be completely pushed away from the idea of filing a personal injury claim following an accident due to the fact that they do not want to face settlement or the idea of court. Perhaps they have heard courtroom horror stories and are unsure of the repercussions associated with filing a claim.
If you have been seriously injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another party, you should never be swayed from filing a personal injury claim and should always have an attorney on your side. Why do you need a personal injury lawyer to help you through this difficult process?
Quick Facts: Reasons to Hire an Attorney
If you are in a tight spot between talking to friends and browsing the Internet to find more information on personal injury claims and what you could be facing, it might be time to take a closer look at the reasons why having an attorney can help you with your case. Of course, every legal case is different and you might need different things than somebody going through another type of case.
Experience Handling Many Claims: You wouldn’t choose an attorney who had no experience in the types of claims you are looking to file. Instead, you want to ensure that the attorney you choose has experience with similar claims. When you choose the right attorney, your attorney starts working with you to win your claim. This means that they will apply their knowledge of the law to your case to get you the best results so that you don’t have to stress out about it.
Typically, No Fees: You will find that many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you won’t have to pay a cent if they don’t win for you. If they do settle your case, you will find that the fees typically come out of your settlement.
Time-Saving: You work a job and have a family life at home and you shouldn’t have to worry about clogging up all of your extra time by researching legal jargon. It is important to have an attorney who can spend time requesting medical records, reviewing your police files, and communicating with the insurance adjuster on many levels.
Experienced Team: You will have an entire team fighting for you, which is another great reason to turn to an attorney instead of handling your case on your own. Your attorney knows a team of investigators who will be able to help you prove your case.
Alternative Resolution: If you are unable to reach a resolution in one way, another way might work – and only an experienced attorney will know and use this. There are many other options besides just settlement and trial alone – you might go through arbitration or mediation with your attorney’s help.
Experience with Attorneys: There are many types of attorneys who might try to have a say in your case aside from just personal injury lawyers trying to reach a compromise. You might find out that bankruptcy, divorce, and criminal lawyers also play a role depending on those circumstances dictate your case. An experienced attorney can work with these vast practice areas to find a solution that works in your best interest. If you end up going past negotiations to trial, an attorney can even step in and handle the insurance company’s lawyers.
High Settlements: If you hire an attorney, you might find that your settlement amount might be much higher than having not hired one at all. Even after all of the attorney’s fees have been paid, you might walk away with more.
The Ability for Trial: If negotiations are not working out for you and you believe it might be time to throw in the towel and go to trial, an attorney can certainly walk you through this difficult process. Going to a jury might be difficult on your own and leave you feeling as if you have few options, but having an attorney can help vastly.
Now you have seen some of the best reasons why it is important to have a personal injury attorney on your side through this process, and how having an attorney can actually increase your likelihood of reaching the best settlement!
Why Some People Don’t Choose an Attorney
There are very few reasons why many people handle their claims without the help of an experienced attorney. For one example, you might live in a no-fault state, which means that you will be unable to sue unless your injuries were so severe that they rose to a certain level depending on how much the injuries cost to treat. You might also feel reluctant to turn to an attorney for help with your claim if your injuries seem relatively minor. However, you should never be swayed from doing so if you are unable to afford your medical bills on your own or if you believe that your injuries might turn into major ones at some point.
Turning to an Attorney When You Are in Need
Though you might have found that not every claim needs the help of an experienced attorney, many do if there are damages in your case, such as property damage, extensive medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and more. From settlement to the possibility of litigation, you don’t want to have to handle your claim on your own but instead put it in the hands of an attorney who is able to handle the difficult parts for you so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities for compensation.
At Siegfried & Jensen, our experienced auto accident attorneys in Utah have handled a wide variety of accident cases for many clients in the past, helping them receive case results needed to move forward during one of the most difficult times in their life. If you are asking, “Should I get a car accident attorney for my case?” it might be time to speak with an attorney and find out what they can do for you. Let us handle your case from start to finish. We are waiting to hear from you at (801) 441-3635.
Content checked by personal injury attorney Todd Bradford. I worked for a small law firm in Utah County, where I handled various types of cases. My main focus was personal injury and I decided that is what I enjoyed doing the most. I rejoined Siegfried and Jensen in 2012 where my focus is solely on helping personal injury clients. I take pride in helping personal injury clients and enjoy serving them. If you need an attorney for auto accidents or injuries of any kind in Salt Lake City, UT, Ogden, UT, Spokane, WA, or Boise, ID, contact us.