Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Handle a Personal Injury Case Alone
Suffering personal injury, whether through a car accident, a slip and fall incident, or even medical malpractice, feels unfair. After all, it is another person’s negligence that caused your injuries. Fortunately, the law offers a path to compensation in the way of a personal injury lawsuit.
Opting to seek compensation is one thing, but deciding whether to pursue the case yourself or with the help of a personal injury lawyer can be difficult. However, with all of the facts, it doesn’t have to be.
Here are the top five reasons why you should not pursue a personal injury claim by yourself.
- Personal Injury Law is Complex
The reality that most people don’t know is that personal injury law is complex. Handling the case yourself is setting yourself up to lose. You may be unaware of the laws and statutes that apply to your specific case, and you may also be unaware of the steps to file the claim.
For these reasons, these cases are best left to the professionals, personal injury lawyers. They have handled multiple cases like yours. They also know how the system works and will break down complex case procedures for you.
- Insurance Agents Can Be Cunning
Insurance companies often offer stellar service to their clients, but make no mistake – when it comes to paying victims, they are businesses first. A business must make a profit, which means they will try to settle for the least amount possible.
That said, personal injury lawyers have the required skills to handle insurance agents. An attorney will ensure the insurance agents do not take advantage of you by negotiating on your behalf. Depending on your case, they also wield the knowledge to deduce the right time to settle.
- Do You Know How to Calculate the Worth of a Personal Injury Claim?
“The metrics that go into calculating the worth of a personal injury case can be complex,” explain the personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz and Bhaya. Take, for example, calculating the worth of your pain and suffering (non-monetary damages). If you are unaware of how these damages are calculated, insurance agents will take you for a ride, undercompensating you in the process.
Personal injury lawyers can calculate the worth of such damages. This is especially advantageous because insurance agents will often offer a settlement that is way below the minimum threshold. An inaccurate valuation of your case’s worth may incline you to settle prematurely and get inadequate compensation.
- Court Representation
Research shows that most personal injury cases end in an out-of-court settlement. However, some cases do end up in court, and you never know how yours will turn out. You will need an attorney if negotiations fail and the case proceeds to trial.
While you can hire an attorney at that point, don’t you think it would have been better if you hired one from the onset? They would have been more familiarized with your case, which can help them build a stronger case.
Also Read: What to Look for in a Personal Injury Law Firm
- You May Not Know the Statute of Limitations
Sure, you may Google the statute of limitations for a car accident personal injury lawsuit in your state and find it is two years, but there are exceptions that often come down to the specifics of your case.
For instance, the time between the injury and its discovery can sometimes extend the statute of limitations. This is why it is best to seek the services of a personal injury attorney, as they will accurately interpret the statute of limitation laws for your specific case.
