At Barthelette Law, we are proud to be personal injury lawyers! If you were involved in an accident, you may be wondering if you need a personal injury lawyer to represent you. In fact, you may be thinking you will save money if you represent yourself! But, this is a mistake. There are benefits to having a personal injury lawyer represent you. In this post we discuss the top three reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer.
But before we do, let’s first discuss the truth about accident compensation.
The Truth About Accident Compensation
It’s not ordinary for magicians to reveal their secrets, but at Barthelette Law we understand that when you’re the victim of someone’s auto negligence, faulty craftsmanship or improper signage, your recovery calls for extraordinary measures. That’s why we want to share some harsh truths about personal injury compensation in Florida that we’ve learned from decades of experience getting the best payouts for our clients, not to scare you, but to show you the benefits of having a personal injury lawyer fighting in your corner while you focus on getting back in the saddle.
‘Do I need a personal injury lawyer?’ This may be a question you’ve recently been forced to consider and the answer is technically, no, but truthfully, it can’t hurt to have all the information at your fingertips before you decide to represent yourself – take a quick look at some of the ways your recovery could benefit from our experience and you’ll be more confident knowing when to contact a personal injury lawyer or not.
Here are the top three reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer!
Reason 1: Professional Support When You Need It Most
If you have suffered an injury as a result of someone’s negligence, you know by now that the personal injury compensation process is not as simple as it should be. That is why you need a dedicated professional who is available at all times to correspond with the various parties – from law enforcement to insurance companies – that are making demands on your time and distracting you from your recovery.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will guide you through the settlement and claims process and handle all of the complex negotiations that arise after an accident. They will also ensure that you get all of the compensation you are entitled to. For instance, there is a time limit that starts running against you as soon as your injury is sustained – it’s called the statute of limitations and it restricts the time you have to make a claim for compensation. An experienced lawyer will be familiar with these deadlines and will keep you from missing out.
Paperwork and procedure aside, proving a personal injury case is complex and only a personal injury lawyer is equipped with the negotiation tactics required to ensure you come out on top. If you represent yourself, it may be very challenging to negotiate a settlement agreement against a team of professionals. This means you could end up fighting in court and because Florida operates a purely comparative damages principle – which means that the injured party’s compensation is determined proportionally to the attribution of fault – an insurance company is going to be gunning to limit your payout by applying complex legal arguments to persuade a jury that you are partially to blame for your injuries. These kinds of strategies require the poise and skill of a professional to counter argue. Your opponent will have a lawyer, it’s only fair that you should too.
We often see cases where victims have shot themselves in the foot by failing to assess the extent of their own injuries. A lawyer will be able to advise you as to the nature of your injuries – there’s often more to the picture than reimbursement for medical expenses, you may be entitled to compensation for intangible damages such as psychological injuries or loss of consortium. This is all part of the deeper understanding of the claims process that a personal injury lawyer has and will ensure you avoid setbacks or reductions in your compensation, that you understand the liability laws that apply to your situation, and that you have someone on your side who has a long-standing familiarity with the local courts and officials that can streamline your case.
Reason 2: Results You Can Trust
The unfortunate reality is that where litigants attempt to represent themselves, their settlements are lower, they have longer claims processes often lasting months or years, and in some cases, they end up with no compensation at all.
To the list of things working against you, you can add the insurance companies who are not looking out for your best interests and whose lawyers are pulling every string to minimize how much they have to pay out. Insurance companies employ techniques to get you to take the first and often the worst offer in a settlement process; a personal injury lawyer will be able to see through this and will know what option is best for you. Most personal injury lawyers operate a no-win, no-fee policy, meaning they only take payment from you as a percentage of your compensation upon settlement. So not only are they invested in you winning quickly, they also want you to win big.
But there are factors that are more important than your financial wellbeing and this is something that a compassionate lawyer should attend to and may even be better placed to look out for than you are, especially if you’re swept up in the stress of medical bills, correspondence and recovery on top of your daily life.
A lawyer will assess your claim objectively, without emotion and this is important after a traumatic experience because it ensures you are making informed decisions. Additionally, a lawyer can make sure you get the right care. Often times they will have a network of trusted medical specialists.
Reason 3: Freedom To Focus On Your Recovery
Your wellbeing is first and foremost. At the end of the day, your compensation is a legal gesture aimed at getting you back to where you were before your injury. You don’t want to worsen your position by putting yourself under undue stress, so investing in a lawyer may be the best option for your recovery and your financial future.
In Florida, there is a litany of complex procedures and strict rules that need to be followed after an accident occurs. If you want to see a payout, it is vital that you have someone who is familiar with and has the time to process the paperwork, manage damage inspections, diagnoses and correspondence. Any mistakes along the way can set your claim back by months or damage it irreparably. With potential medical bills stacking up, it’s unlikely that you can wait for a slow payout.
Don’t go through this process alone; it could end up costing you more in the long run both financially – between time off work and childcare arrangements – and physically – especially if stress impacts your recovery.
Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?
In an ideal world you would be able to secure your own personal injury compensation. Unfortunately, the reality of a personal injury claim is probably too much for any one person to handle. However, we hope that this article has shone some light on why, with a no-win, no-fee policy, seeking the help of a personal injury lawyer is a no-brainer when it comes to easing the claims process.
We hope you enjoyed reading, “Top Three Reasons To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer.” Of course, if you have questions not found in this post, check out our blog which we update regularly! For a good starting point on personal injury law, read this post first!
If you have been involved in an accident, do not hesitate to contact us today! We handle car accidents, bicycle accidents, child injuries, and many other injury claims!
Stay safe!