After a serious accident, you may consider filing a personal injury claim to help recover damages for everything you lost. While some believe they can be their own best advocate during settlement negotiations or in a courtroom, often times it is best to leave the case to the professionals. Working with a legal expert can help your injury case in a myriad of ways, including giving you peace of mind.
Can I Represent Myself in My Case?
Yes, you can legally represent yourself in a personal injury case. If it’s a small personal injury claim and you feel comfortable going against insurance companies and their lawyers, you can. If it’s a large case with multiple factors and may be headed to trial, you may want to request the help of a seasoned legal professional.
Should I Represent Myself in a Personal Injury Case?
While you can legally represent yourself in a personal injury case, it’s not always recommended for complex and time-sensitive cases. The legal professionals at Manchin Injury Law Group note:
“These days, personal injury lawsuits are rarely against individual parties. They’re usually against corporations, employers, and professionals – or, more specifically, their insurance companies. Negotiating with insurance companies can be especially difficult immediately following an accident. You may endure meetings with claims adjusters, requests for additional evidence, lowball offers, and even denials. Choosing to hire an experienced injury lawyer can make all the difference in your injury case.”
What are the Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining an injury, your focus should be healing and rebuilding your life, not fighting in a courtroom full of insurance company lawyers who want to payout as little as possible. Hiring a lawyer can help ease the burden following a personal injury in a number of ways.
They Know What to Prove
Injury cases are more than proving that you were hurt; they often require the claimant to prove he or she was not acting negligently and that the party responsible was acting negligently. Part of proving negligence includes collecting evidence that supports your claim, including police reports, cell phone records, witnesses, working with accident reconstructionists and consulting with doctors.
They are Aware of Deadlines
Regardless of when your accident occurred or when you started seeing symptoms, there is a deadline of filing a claim. Each state differs in their statute of limitations. This includes if an injury occurred on government property. Having an injury lawyer on your side can help you stay on time with your filings and ensure you are abiding by strict deadlines.
They Calculate Accurate Damages
Working with a lawyer can help you better understand what damages you are entitled to and what amount is reasonable given the specific set of circumstances in your case. What may seem like a high number may not be enough considering life-long care; an attorney can work with experts to determine damages.
They Understand Legal Proceedings
Unless you are a lawyer, chances are you are unfamiliar with legal proceedings. If not followed as expected, it could negatively affect your case. Working with an experienced lawyer can clarify what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how it can be done.
If you were injured in an accident and sustained personal injuries, you have options. While you might consider representing yourself in a personal injury case, thoroughly evaluate your options before deciding to go on without an injury lawyer. You have every legal right to represent yourself, but working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help increase your cases of maximizing your compensation.
