No one likes to think about the prospect of getting seriously injured in an accident. For this reason, many of us fail to consider what we would do if we were ever involved in one. We ignore important questions such as:
No one likes to think about the prospect of getting - How will I pay for my medical bills?
- How will I meet my living expenses if I can’t work?
- Will I need to file an insurance claim?
- Will I need to file a lawsuit and go to court?
If you get injured fault through no fault of your own, and as soon as you are ready to act, you should consult with an East Texas personal injury attorney to get answers to these questions.
As we discuss here, an attorney can play a crucial role when it comes to seeking the compensation that will help you to move past your accident.
The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you wonder why you should hire a personal injury attorney, consider this: When you work with a lawyer, the chances of recovering the maximum amount of compensation available to you will greatly improve.
You should especially consider working with a personal injury attorney if:
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Your injuries are serious.
If your injuries are catastrophic – or life-changing – you may face hundreds of thousands of dollars in required medical treatment. You may also be unable to return to work or to life as normal.
You may be entitled to compensation for all of your past and future medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. A lawyer will work hard to pursue this compensation for you.
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You are not sure who is to blame.
It also makes sense to hire a lawyer when you are unsure of who should be held legally accountable for your injuries.
For example, you may suffer injuries in an accident that involves a large commercial truck. Who do you sue – the trucker, the trucking company, the shipper, the warehouse operator, the truck operator … the list could go on and on. In reality, you may have a claim against multiple parties.
When you hire a personal injury attorney, the attorney will work hard to thoroughly investigate your accident and make a determination about which party should be held liable.
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The at-fault party lacks insurance.
One of the worst situations is being involved in an accident that is caused by an uninsured party.
For example, you may be injured in a car accident where the at-fault party does not carry liability auto insurance even though it is required by law. If this occurs, a lawyer can help you to pursue compensation from other sources such as your own uninsured motorist (UM) policy.
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The insurance company denies or minimizes your claim.
If the insurance company denies your claim or offers you a settlement that you think provides far less money than you deserve, you should immediately take action by contacting a personal injury attorney. An attorney will know how to negotiate for a fair settlement amount and will also know how to take your case to court and litigate, if necessary.
Is it Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
Most people want to know two things about hiring a personal injury attorney: What an attorney actually does and how much an attorney charges.
An attorney is responsible for pursuing the maximum amount of compensation that you are legally entitled to receive. In order to do this, the attorney will:
- Investigate your accident.
- Hire experts.
- Collect and organize your medical records.
- Work with financial professionals to determine the value of your losses.
- Advise you of your rights and options.
- File your insurance claim.
- File a lawsuit, if necessary.
- Negotiate with the defendant.
- Be prepared to take your case to court.
The attorney should do all of the above at no upfront cost to you. In other words, you should hire a personal injury law firm in East Texas that works on a contingency fee basis. This means that the law firm’s payment will be contingent on your case being successful. If you obtain no settlement or judgment, the lawyer will collect no payment.
When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you are wondering about when you should hire an attorney after an accident, the short answer is: As soon as possible. This is true for many reasons.
- The claims process should start immediately. The sooner that you hire an attorney, the sooner you can start the claims process and improve your chances of recovering the full amount you are owed.
- Evidence is destroyed over time. By hiring an attorney as soon as possible, evidence that is critical to your case can be preserved, gathered and analyzed.
- You have only limited time to file a claim. If you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, you generally must do so within two years from the date of your accident and injury.
Even if you began the claims process on your own, you should consult with a lawyer and get your case reviewed. It will benefit you, in the long run, to get your case analyzed by an experienced legal professional.
Contact Our Experienced East Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Knowing when to hire an attorney and why you should hire an attorney can be confusing. This is why we encourage all persons who have been involved in an accident in East Texas and surrounding areas to start with a free case consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys at The Sloan Firm.
We can help you to understand the benefits of working with a lawyer and discuss what you should expect throughout the process of pursuing a personal injury claim. To schedule a consultation, contact us today by phone or online. What matters to you, matters to us!