If you have been injured in an accident, you have the option of trying to handle your own personal injury case or hiring an attorney. Theoretically, no one is required to have an attorney in order to file a personal injury case; however, the benefits of having an attorney often far outweigh the costs of hiring one. In many cases, victims are able to collect enough extra compensation by hiring a personal injury attorney to more than pay for the attorney’s fees.
What Is A Personal Injury Case?
A personal injury claim is one that covers any type of accident in which the victim is injured physically, mentally or emotionally or suffers economic damages as the result of someone else’s negligence. Personal injury cases include car accidents, slip-and-fall trauma, dog bites and product liability.
However, not all personal injuries cause the victim to have a claim against another party. If you injure yourself, for example, you may not be able to claim damages. In addition, a very minor injury that requires no medical or other treatment is not usually one that will yield enough compensation to make a personal injury lawsuit worthwhile.
Why Hire An Attorney?
One of the best reasons to hire a personal injury attorney is simply to determine the value of your case. While an attorney cannot and should not give you an exact dollar figure, he or she can often help you understand the various aspects of your claim that make it financially valuable. If you file the case yourself, you may not request all available compensation simply because you do not know that you can.
Another reason to hire an attorney for a personal injury case is because you will probably meet with strong resistance from the defendant and his or her insurer. Insurance companies will try almost anything to avoid paying a claim, so it is not unusual for them to try to “lowball” victims or frighten them into settling for a very small amount of money relative to what their claim is actually worth. Our article on the 5 tactics insurance adjusters use to reduce your claim amount has more information on this.
Finally, it is very difficult for the average person to manage all the evidence collection, interviews, depositions and other activities that may be required in a personal injury case. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, it may be worth your time to talk to a personal injury attorney and learn the truth about your claim. David & Philpot, P.L. has been helping victims get to the truth and obtain compensation for their injuries for over 25 years. We are committed to the rights of victims and would like the opportunity to fight for you. Fill out our free case evaluation form, or contact us today at 800.360.7015.
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