subject: How You Can Benefit From A Personal Injury Attorney [print this page] Injury victims are often uncertain whether or not they should hire a personal injury attorney to handle their case. Whether or not you will need to hire an attorney will depend on the unique circumstances surrounding your accident and injuries. If you require medical care or are unable to work after the accident, the person who caused the accident should compensate you for all of your financial losses. When the responsible party or his or her insurance company fails to fully compensate you, consulting with an accident attorney may be the best decision. Below are just some of the many ways hiring a personal injury attorney can benefit your case:
Assessing Damages: One of the biggest benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney is that he or she can help to calculate the full amount of your damages. Often, personal injury damages are difficult for the victim to quantify and some financial losses that will be experienced well into the future. Some of the types of damages compensable in personal injury cases are emergency room bills, doctor's bills, cost of medication, lost wages, reduced earning potential in the future, diminished capacity to enjoy life, and much, much more.
Knowledge of the Law: Another benefit of hiring a lawyer is that he or she has sound knowledge of the law and experience handling personal injury cases. An attorney can objectively determine whether or not you have a case, and advise you about all of the legal options available to protect your rights and secure financial compensation for your injury.
Settlement Negotiations: Third, most personal injury cases are settled out of court, and only a good negotiator can ensure the settlement offered is adequate to cover all of your losses. Attempting to negotiate a settlement yourself may result in you settling for far less than what your case is worth.
Experience with the Legal System: Because lawyers have been litigating personal injury cases for years, they know the ins and outs of legal proceedings and are familiar with the tactics, including surprise tactics, that will be employed by the defense. An experienced attorney knows how to handle each expected and unexpected event with confidence to ensure your rights are protected at trial.
Payment is Contingent on the Outcome of your Case: Many people are hesitant to hire an attorney because they think they cannot afford to do so. Fortunately, most personal injury attorneys handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that they won't charge an attorney's fee unless they receive compensation for your injuries.
Hiring a personal injury attorney to handle your case can be beneficial in many ways. At the very least, you should discuss your case with an experienced attorney before accepting settlement from the at-fault party's insurance company.
