Key Takeaways:
- You don’t need to accept an offer from the insurance company.
- Hiring a personal injury lawyer may be the best way to protect your interests.
- You don’t have to pay up front to hire a personal injury lawyer.
- You can request a free, no-obligation consultation to see whether hiring a personal injury lawyer feels like a good step for you.
If you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone else’s actions, you may be upset, worried, and confused about what you should do. It can be hard to know when to hire a personal injury lawyer, but it’s always a good idea to get a free consultation.
Personal injury lawyers can handle every aspect of your case: file paperwork, hire and prep professional witnesses, gather evidence, and ensure insurance companies don’t take advantage of you. Having a lawyer on your side is the best way to get a fair settlement offer from insurers.
When to Get a Personal Injury Lawyer
You might think that if you’re able to walk away from an accident or don’t need an ambulance ride to a hospital, there’s no reason to contact an attorney. But after an accident, adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms, and serious injuries may not be obvious until days later. Getting a free legal consultation right away is always a smart choice.
Here’s how to know when to hire a personal injury attorney:
Your Injuries Are Serious or Disabling
If you aren’t able to walk away from an accident and need medical attention at the scene, you need legal representation. Insurers evaluate the severity of injuries based on factors like the degree of disability, the projected duration of the disability, and medical treatment costs. If you don’t have a lawyer, an insurance adjuster will likely underestimate your injuries and costs and push for a quick settlement, because that’s what they’re paid to do. Hiring a personal injury lawyer increases your chances of getting a fair settlement offer that covers your current and future medical expenses.I
The Accident Involves Multiple Parties
When multiple people are injured, such as in a multi-vehicle traffic accident, the injured parties may file independently or jointly. However, regardless of how you and the other accident victims choose to file your claims, you are likely filing a claim against a single insurance policy.
The at-fault party’s policy may deny your insurance claim because the policy has reached its limit in coverage, or if all parties involved cannot reach a settlement agreement. Personal injury lawyers can work through the complicated nature of a multi-person injury claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
You Need Help Dealing With the Insurance Company
Knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer can help you avoid frustrating back-and-forth conversations with insurance companies. You’re not obligated to accept their offer, and you also don’t have to accept their calls.
A personal injury lawyer can communicate with insurers on your behalf, negotiating the terms of your settlement, resolving insurance issues, and — if necessary — pursuing a payout through litigation.
If the liable party’s insurance company has become unresponsive, regardless of whether you accepted a settlement, a personal injury lawyer can take action to get the company to respond to you. Your lawyer can hold the insurance company accountable for bad-faith practices, such as delayed action or payments.
You Think You May Be Partially at Fault for the Accident
If you think you are partly responsible for an accident that injured you, you may be wondering, “Do I need to hire a personal injury lawyer?” The answer is, “Yes.”
Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means that parties can still recover compensation, even if they hold some liability for an accident. For example, if the total possible compensation in a car accident case is $100,000, but a court determines you were 20% responsible for the crash, the maximum compensation you could receive is $80,000. Hiring a personal injury lawyer is the best way to get fair compensation.
The Accident Involves a Business or Government Entity
Businesses and government entities are well prepared to defend their interests in personal injury lawsuits, with legal teams that have years of experience looking for weak points they can exploit in a claim. If your claim involves the MTBA, a trucking company, or another business, you need a personal injury attorney on your side.
When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
We understand how intimidating it can be to hire an attorney. That’s one reason we offer free consultations. You can tell us about your case and ask us questions about the legal process, without feeling obligated to work with us. And if you decide to move forward, know that you’ll pay absolutely nothing unless we win. That’s our Stone Cold Guarantee. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee comes from any settlement or court award you receive.
The team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has helped thousands of clients get the compensation they deserve, and we’re ready to fight for you while you focus on putting your life back together. If you need a professional and empathetic lawyer dedicated to supporting all of your post-injury needs, contact us today.
Not Trusting What You’re Being Told?
Better Phone Stone
(800) 577-5188
START MY NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION
