Mitch | August 14, 2024 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury
Are you wondering why you should read a post on the subject of whether to hire an injury attorney? If so, here are some facts worth considering:
(1) In Alabama, a motor vehicle accident occurs every 3.25 minutes.
(2) Every 11 minutes a person in Alabama is injured in a motor vehicle accident.
(3) Every 9.2 hours a person is killed in Alabama due to a motor vehicle accident.
(4) Let’s assume that you get your driver license at age 16 and keep driving until age 80. In that scenario, you will almost certainly experience multiple accidents throughout your driving lifetime. It is also highly likely that one or more of your accidents will involve injury to someone.
Every injured accident victim must decide for themselves how to best seek compensation for their injuries. The options come down to: (a) doing nothing; (b) handling it yourself; and (c) hiring an attorney. If your injuries are significant, you will almost always need an attorney to maximize your compensation. At some point in your life, you’re going to need the information contained in this post. That’s why you should read it now!
At The Very Least You Should Get A Free Attorney Consultation
Insurance companies are notorious for trying to convince victims that an attorney isn’t necessary. They promise to treat you “fairly” and to fully compensate you for your injuries. Just keep in mind that an insurance adjuster’s only job is to resolve your claim for as little money as possible. They don’t want you to hire a lawyer, because they know that it’s going to cost them more to settle your claim. An experienced injury lawyer can provide information and services that make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.
Most accident victims have little experience with the law, putting them at a disadvantage. They don’t understand the process, so they don’t know what they can recover. Even if you ultimately decide not to hire an attorney, you need to at least take advantage of their knowledge. Most experienced personal injury law firms will offer you a free consultation, allowing you to discuss your case with an expert. During the free consultation, the lawyer will fully explain your legal rights and provide you the tools to make informed decisions.
The Advantages Of Having A Lawyer
If you have sustained a significant injury in an accident, you need to spend your time focusing on getting well. You don’t need to be dealing with adjusters, filling out forms, gathering medical reports, interviewing witnesses, and investigating your case. Attempting to handle these matters alone, without proper guidance, can be detrimental to your health and peace of mind. An experienced personal injury attorney can take this burden off of you by handling the hard tasks for you:
- Investigating your case. An attorney has the resources and “know-how” to gather evidence and records in order to develop a full picture of what happened. This is critical for helping the injured victim build a strong case and holding all responsible parties accountable.
- Managing paperwork and meeting deadlines. The legal system is rife with strict deadlines and procedural pitfalls that aren’t readily apparent to non-lawyers. Even a simple error or missed deadline can hurt or destroy an injury claim. An experienced lawyer possesses the knowledge to make appropriate filings, identify necessary information, and meet all relevant deadlines.The lawyer handles everything from the initial demand for insurance payment all the way through the court proceedings and trial.
- Negotiating with insurance companies. Insurance companies notoriously push quick, unfair settlements onto inexperienced victims already dealing with the stress of injuries. An attorney knows these tactics and can advocate for the compensation victims deserve. Insurance companies know that these tricks won’t work if you have an experienced attorney in your corner.
- Settlement Advice. If you do receive a settlement offer from an insurance company, how will you know if the offer is a good one? An attorney can explain what a claim is worth and what factors go into the evaluation. If fault is contested, the attorney can provide guidance on how this factors into the equation. There’s no way a victim can make an informed decision without knowing the risks and ramifications of each choice.
- Present your case in court. While most claims are settled before trial, the best settlements often require filing the case and preparing for trial. You need an attorney who is ready to prepare your case and present it in court if necessary. This requires that the attorney make sure that your side is fully stated, complete with supporting documents, witnesses, experts, and references to applicable laws.
- Protect your compensation from others. If you have received medical insurance benefits, Medicare, worker’s compensation, or disability payments, you may have to pay these back. There are situations in which the law gives those who provide certain benefits with a lien against your settlement money. You need a lawyer who can determine which lien claims are valid. You need a lawyer who can also negotiate reductions in the payback amount. These are things that most people cannot handle by themselves and can make a big difference in what you put in your pocket.
The Non-Legal Benefits of an Injury Attorney
In addition to the legal aspects of your claim, there are personal elements, as well. The time after an accident can be very stressful and overwhelming for victims and their families. They often find themselves facing new physical and financial challenges, and accident recovery can be painful and time consuming. A skilled personal injury lawyer will lighten the load by bearing the burden of handling your legal claim. Victims and their families can focus on what really matters while an attorney meets filing deadlines, secures evidence and witnesses, makes and answers repeated phone calls with the insurance company, and much more. The peace of mind in having an experienced injury attorney on your side cannot be overstated. You focus on getting well while your attorney focuses on the legal matters.
Let An Experienced Attorney Help You Decide
Since 1952, attorneys with the Lattof & Lattof law firm have been helping victims of motor vehicle accidents, as well as all other types of injury and accident cases. It would be our pleasure to review your case with you and discuss your rights, remedies and options. Our goal is to equip you with the facts that you need to make an informed decision on whether or not to hire a lawyer. Get in touch with us now for a FREE consultation, either by calling our office at (251) 432-6691 or filling out an online request form [link]. We’d be delighted to represent you and your loved ones and help you to obtain the compensation you deserve.