When you’re injured, it’s essential that you hire the best car accident lawyer to represent your interests. It is because not all attorneys can do an investigation or fight for the compensation that belongs to their client. When hiring an injury attorney, there are several things you should pay attention to before deciding on which one will be best for your injury litigation.
First, you should consider the reputation of the attorney you’re considering for hire. A good indication of how reasonable an attorney is at what they do is by their past clientele. Look up the number of clients they have helped in the past and their overall satisfaction with the job. You can also look at online reviews on various sites.
Next, you should consider how much the attorney charges for their services. You can get a feel for how much your attorney will cost by reading the actual contract and what it entails. If not written in writing, lawyers are not required to disclose such facts to the personal injury victims.
When hiring an attorney, it’s essential that you meet with them in person a couple of times to discuss your case and understand the personal injury protection coverage meaning. It will allow you to understand their demeanor, how they treat both sides in the case, what they intend to do, and how certain things might impact your case.
When hiring an attorney, you should also consider the past results they have gotten for clients. If they have a history of winning personal compensation cases and providing exemplary representation to their customer base, they are more likely to be a good fit for your case.
If you’ve been badly injured in a car accident or other physically traumatic event, hiring a lawyer may seem like an expense you can’ afford. But in truth, hiring a personal injury lawyer in this scenario is something you probably can’t afford not to do if you need help paying your medical bills and keeping up with other associated costs. Here’s why you should hire an attorney for catastrophic injuries.
Most Companies Won’t Do the Right Thing
People who have been in an accident tend to think that they’ll be negotiating with another private party (the driver at fault for a car accident, in many cases). But in reality, you’ll be dealing with that person’s insurance company, either through a third-party claim or a lawsuit, and they’re sadly unlikely to be motivated by “doing the right thing.” Those companies want to pay out as little money as they can, and they have law firms on retainer to help them do that. By not getting some legal advice, you’re placing yourself at a huge disadvantage.
Calculating Damages and Negotiating Is Tricky
Calculating damages for an accident can always be difficult, since it requires more than just totaling up your medical bills (especially if you’re seeking compensation for emotional trauma, too). But that process gets even more difficult when you’re dealing with catastrophic injuries, because then you may also be looking at long-term medical care, loss of income if you can no longer perform your current work, and potential vocational rehabilitation. You’ll want an experienced lawyer on your side to come up with a fair dollar amount for a settlement and then justify it.
Most Attorneys Work on a Contingency Basis
It’s normal to be worried about the cost of working with an attorney. But most personal injury lawyers such as car accident lawyers work on what’s called a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you get a settlement. You should know that you’re usually expected to pay some fees that cover the lawyer’s working expenses, but those are generally much more modest. Personal injury attorneys are used to working with clients with financial concerns, so you should never feel embarrassed or intimidated about asking how the financial arrangement will work.
Can you think of any other reasons why you should hire a personal injury attorney for catastrophic injuries? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
