Personal Injury Tips and FAQs (Page 2)
Why should I hire a lawyer?(Part 2)
- Pay for Medical Care. How are you going to pay in advance for treatment for injuries that were no fault of your own if you do not have the cash or the medical insurance? The adverse insurance company will not do it. Besides borrowing money, one of the only ways you can do this is to obtain an attorney lien. Some doctors are comfortable treating you without payment as long as you have hired an attorney who will sign an attorney lien promising to pay the doctor his fees once the case settles.
- Investigate the Accident. Do you have the knowledge and ability to investigate the scene of the accident or the damage to your vehicle in a way that will convince an insurance company to pay your claims? Personal injury lawyers either know how or use trained experts to perform these functions when the situation requires it.
- Negotiate Your Settlement. Do you know what your case is worth? Do you know how to negotiate your case? Do you know the insurance companies and the adjusters, and the information they need to maximize your settlement? This step alone takes years of experience to learn and master. The adjusters are trained and have years of experience doing this, how can you face them on equal footing by yourself? They are not your friend and they are not your legal counsel, yet if you represent yourself, they may try to use "friendly persuasion" to settle your case without real regard to the value of your claim. They want to get out of your case as cheaply as possible. It's how most adjusters receive salary raises and bonuses-by saving their company money-not by paying you more!
These just a few examples and should give you some idea of why you should hire an attorney.
What is my case worth?
One of the most common questions we are asked is, "What is my case worth?" It is a valid question and it is the "bottom line" in any case--besides trying to get back to a normal, pain-free life after sustaining an injury.
In our opinion, any attorney or insurance adjuster who claims they can tell you the dollar amount that your case is worth after an accident without you receiving medical care, concluding medical care, or reviewing your medical records is someone you cannot rely on.
Your pain and suffering, as documented by the medical care providers, is the only sure way to know what your claim is worth. Other factors include wage loss, loss of earning capacity, and the psychological effects of the accident upon you, if medically documented.
In our opinion, you should "run away" from anyone who says they can do it without having this information! We can usually give you a good idea after you have concluded treatment.
