You’ve been in an accident or suffered an injury. You likely feel overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, and uncertain, all of which are natural considering you’re likely facing loss of work and income, compounding medical expenses, and even mental and/or physical pain and suffering. The big question is whether or not you need to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you sort things out.
The first thing you should know is that personal injury lawyers are trail lawyers, meaning they can take your case to court if necessary to protect your best interest. While some personal injury cases can be settled before such an occasion occurs, personal injury lawyers can and will carry your case to state, federal, and even your state’s Supreme Court to argue on your behalf.
While the last thing you need is another question right now, you have a big one to answer. How do you know if you need a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and well-being? Luckily, this is a pretty easy question to answer. Consider the following three questions to know if you need a personal injury lawyer. If the answer is yes to any, call to schedule a consultation immediately.
1. Do You Feel Overwhelmed And Clueless?
Most people feel like they have no idea where to even start after an accident or injury and rightly so. Emotions are often high, and you may feel alone, depressed, and anxious about the financial and physical burdens resulting from the incident. Pain can also cause you to not be as mentally on par as you’d otherwise be, and there’s also the fact that local and state laws are often obtuse and complex. It’s very likely you don’t even know what your rights are, much less how to protect them.
This is where a personal injury lawyer steps in, and, if you feel the least bit unsure about your rights, then you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. Through knowledge, experience, and compassion for their client’s plight, your personal injury lawyer will work to ensure your rights are protected to the fullest extent of the law.
Hiring a personal injury attorney also evens the playing field when wealthy entities are responsible for your accident or injury and when insurance companies are involved. Both routinely have teams of lawyers working around the clock to protect their financial and legal obligations. This fact leaves you at an unfair disadvantage if you don’t have your own expert legal representation. Personal injury lawyers are familiar with insurance laws and all the tactics insurers use to skirt or lessen responsibility.
2. Did You Suffer An Injury Through No Fault Of Your Own?
If the accident or injury was someone else’s fault, it’s always wise to consult a personal injury attorney. Most offer a free initial consultation to discuss the merits of your case, how to proceed to serve your best interest, and answer all those looming legal questions.
Your personal injury lawyer can help you as you speak to insurers and legal teams for the at-fault party. They can also advise you on record keeping for medical paperwork, accident details, and so forth. If your case needs to go to trial, it can be years before it’s heard and decided, which means you’ll need to carefully document the details of both the accident and how it’s impacting your life thereafter while you wait.
3. Have You Been Financial Impacted?
If your injury is causing you financial impacts, such as lost work and wages or medical bills, it’s important to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. In some cases, your personal injury lawyer may be able to obtain your wages and have the insurer pay medical bills as the case is ongoing.
Many worry about how they’ll pay the personal injury lawyer considering the above factors already pressing their finances. Know that most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning you don’t pay anything upfront and often only pay if your case is successful. This is so that those in need of a lawyer because they’re already facing difficulties aren’t saddled with even more burden as they attempt to hold responsible parties liable for their actions.