Will I Receive More Money If I Have a Personal Injury Attorney?

Accidents happen. Some accidents seem straightforward. You might even think, “I’ll just call my insurance agency and let them take care of it.” Unfortunately, accidents caused by another party’s reckless or negligent behavior can be complicated to sort out.

When your accident involves another individual or the use of products, the other party or manufacturer may even try to blame you. To muddy matters, insurance companies do not care about your best interests. Most are motivated to protect their bottom line.

For all these reasons, if you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by another person, business, or government agency, it’s a good idea to call a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney will protect your interests and fight for you.

What Does the Research Tell Us?

Whether you’re in an automobile, workplace, or slip-and-fall accident, the fallout often includes financial and emotional damage that may linger for years to come. You only have one shot at collecting an agreeable award in most cases.

Multiple, comprehensive studies conducted by the Insurance Research Council show that people who suffer bodily injury in an auto accident because of driver, manufacturer, or government negligence win 3.5 times more in settlement benefits when represented by a personal injury attorney.

These study results are a perfect example of why working with a skilled attorney can help you receive the best financial settlement.

Why Does Having an Attorney Help You Win More Money?

Personal injury attorneys handle accident claims every day. That experience can be invaluable when you need to pursue an injury claim. Let’s take a look at some of the specific ways a personal injury attorney improves your chances of getting the full compensation you deserve.

A Personally Injury Attorney Can Help You Track Down Responsible Parties

An accident’s cause isn’t always straightforward. If another driver runs a stop sign and T-bones your vehicle, there may be reasons other than that driver’s negligence for the crash. The other driver may have tried to break, but their car failed to stop.

In this case, a brake pad manufacturer or the mechanic who installed the brake may also be negligent. Or perhaps bushes growing on a public road obscured the stop sign. In that case, the city or government could be responsible.

Attorneys know how to analyze your case through the right lenses. They hire investigators and medical experts to help guarantee that everyone responsible for your injury is identified and held accountable.

An experienced personal injury attorney is an advocate who can help you weave all the facts and evidence into a picture that can lead to the highest settlement amounts.

A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Communicate with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are known for offering low insurance settlements. They’re also known to intimidate victims into accepting payments worth less than their accident-related expenses.

A personal injury attorney knows how to work with insurance companies and can prevent them from harassing you with tactics like:

Claiming your medical records are insufficient and insisting you see one of their approved medical professionals to reassess your injuries;

Trying to get you to admit to something you didn’t do on record and then using it against you;

• Tying up your claim for extended periods; and
• Using other stall tactics that cause you to feel so anxious that you settle for less.

A personal injury attorney will work hard to stop insurance companies from taking advantage of you while fighting to obtain your best possible financial outcome.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Knows How to Assess your Injuries and Calculate Your Pain and Suffering

According to Harris Law Firm, PLLC, the settlement amount you receive depends on your injuries and other damage that may affect you in the long run. A personal injury lawyer will work with your medical team to determine how your pain and suffering might affect your future.

For instance, you’ll want to know if your injuries will interfere with your ability to return to work in the same capacity as before your injury or if you have to attend long-term physical therapy.

If your accident occurred on the job, your attorney could also help you understand your worker’s compensation rights and how they may affect any insurance settlement.

In assessing your injuries and working with your medical team, your attorney will calculate all relevant damages. Once they calculate this monetary figure, your lawyer will do everything possible to win you this settlement amount.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Knows Your State Laws

The legal system operates differently in every state. Furthermore, every state has different laws governing personal injury cases. In the absence of proper procedure in some courts and states, you could lose your case entirely.

Taking your case to court is a complicated, time-consuming process that requires expert knowledge of the law. If you do go to court without a lawyer representing you, it’s unlikely you’ll end up with the compensation you deserve.

For this reason, it's best to let an experienced lawyer in the state where you were injured handle your case. Hiring a lawyer can help assure you walk away with the best compensation possible.