Are you wondering if you should handle a personal injury claim yourself or hire a personal injury attorney? Whether or not to engage a personal injury attorney depends on the situation’s complexity, the extent of the injuries, how the insurance company takes it, among other factors. Ideally, having a personal injury attorney by your side can help you navigate the complicated legal processes as you focus on your recovery.
Whether you have suffered damage due to a car accident, work-related accident, motorcycle wreck, slip and fall accident, assault etc., here are the signs that you need a Santa Rosa personal injury lawyer to guide you through your claim process.
1. Your injury is severe.
One of the first signs that you need a personal injury attorney to handle your compensation claim is if you have suffered extensive injuries. You can handle claiming some minor injuries, such as cuts that require a few stitches by yourself, but major injuries can be complicated to claim. Any pain that takes more than a few days and requires extensive medical care is severe, mainly if it necessitates hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, or rehabilitation. Generally, you should engage a personal injury attorney if the claim involves substantial past and future medical expenses.
2. Someone else’s negligence caused the injury.
You are eligible for compensation for any injury you suffer due to someone else’s negligence, be it a car crash, slip and fall, or work-related accident. You should consult a personal injury lawyer to strengthen your claim and gather all the needful evidence. Keep in mind that proving legal fault involves applying specific standards to the evidence, so a personal injury attorney is needful to guide you through.
3. An insurance company representative is bothering you.
Insurance companies will do everything to deny you your claim or make you settle for less. Sometimes an insurance company’s representative may keep on bothering you with calls, asking for your story, recorded statements, medical records, and other information. You should be careful during personal injury claims since anything you say can be used against you. The right thing to do is tell the representative that you are contacting an attorney, and they will hear from them soon.
4. The insurance company is denying the claim or offering a low amount
It is not new for insurance companies to use dirty tactics to try and deny people their rightful compensations. They include delaying your compensation or offering an unreasonably low settlement amount. A personal injury lawyer can end such tactics to help you get the compensation amount you deserve.
5. You are not familiar with the law.
Another reason to engage a personal injury attorney is if you are not familiar with the law and the settlement process. Getting fair compensation requires tactful negotiation, presenting facts, and knowing the statutory regulations surrounding your case. A personal injury attorney has your interests at heart and can help you navigate through the complicated process.
The bottom line
Engaging a personal injury attorney helps you get the appropriate settlement amount, whether a minor or major injury.
