Top 5 Reasons to Retain a Personal Injury Attorney

Personal injury cases are something I specialize in. Throughout my career as a practicing attorney, I have seen plenty of cases that did not end well because either the plaintiff or defendant waited too long to retain a personal injury lawyer. I recommend not waiting. The sooner a lawyer gets involved, the better.

Let’s face it, accidents and attorneys go together. Whether you are talking a car accident, a slip and fall accident, or some other incident involving the negligence of others, it is the job of attorneys to set things right on behalf of those whose lives have been impacted.

If you’ve never had to work with a personal injury lawyer, let’s hope that never changes. But if it does, here are the top five reasons to retain a lawyer as quickly as possible:

1. Insurance Adjusters Aren’t in It for You

The job of the insurance adjuster is to protect the best interests of his or her employer. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s how business works. The problem is that adjusters start looking for ways to avoid paying the minute an investigation opens. An adjuster is going to want to speak to you before a lawyer in hopes that you’ll say something that will make it easier to reduce the value of your claim.

2. Insurance Companies Offer Quick Settlements

Insurance companies are known for offering quick settlements in return for making the case go away. This is not necessarily in your best interests. A quick settlement may not account for unforeseen problems that might arise down the road. An experienced personal injury lawyers know this, which is why he or she slows things down and does a thorough investigation before dealing with an insurance company.

Note that insurance company settlements often come with release forms intended to prevent future claims. If you were to accept a settlement and sign a release prior to speaking to an attorney, you wouldn’t be able to file future claims regardless of what the attorney turned up.

3. Not All Injuries Are Apparent

One of the more interesting aspects of personal injury claims is observed in the entries themselves. Not all injuries are apparent. Furthermore, some injuries do not begin to manifest symptoms until much later. Insurance companies want to settle before those injuries start showing up, thus limiting their liabilities. Once again, personal injury lawyers know this. They know the kinds of injuries to look for, the kinds of doctors to send clients to, and the kinds of financial losses that are associated with common injuries.

4. You May Need Litigation

You may eventually find yourself in a situation requiring litigation. A lawyer is your advocate and representative in the courtroom. If you wait too long to hire a lawyer, the other side may end up at a distinct advantage after having had more time to prepare. It is important that a lawyer get working on your case as soon as possible.

5. Insurers Less Likely to Fight Lawyers

Lastly, insurance companies are less likely to fight with lawyers. They will be more than happy to fight with you, especially if they know you are not represented, but lawyers are a different ballgame. A good lawyer can get a fair settlement by using the law to fight on your behalf.

Should you ever find yourself in a situation of having to deal with insurance companies as a result of personal injury, don’t go it alone. Contact a personal injury lawyer right away. Do not wait because doing so could come back to bite you in the end.