Leaf1

There are millions of lawsuits filed each year in the United States. These lawsuits range from auto accidents to slip and falls. When a person is a victim of an accident they have the right to seek compensation under personal injury law. A person has two options; file an injury claim on their own (pro se) or hire a personal injury attorney.

When a person files an injury claim on their own they will deal directly with the insurance adjuster. The insurance adjuster will evaluate a case, typically through a software application, and determine what they believe a case is worth. If a person decides to represent themselves they will have to negotiate the settlement on their own. This can become time consuming and very stressful. It is important to note that most adjusters are looking out for their employer and not the victim. If a person is not careful, they could provide information that could ultimately be the demise to their injury claim.

If a person decides to hire a personal injury attorney they will work on your behalf. A personal injury lawyer will have experience and knowledge of knowing the tactics these insurance companies use in hopes of smaller offers. A personal injury attorney will serve as the point of contact through the process. This eliminates you from having to speak directly with an adjuster and accidentally providing information which can be held against you. A personal injury attorney will also understand what a case is worth. They can provide a true value of not only the immediate expenses, but also those expenses that may be ongoing.

Some people believe when speaking with an insurance company they have their interest at hand. Insurance companies are multi-billion dollar companies that profit when getting people to agree in much lower settlement offers. This is troubling especially for those people that don’t consider the ongoing expenses that are left out when an initial offer is accepted.

A personal injury lawyer is an advocate in the process. They understand the intricacies of a case. They understand how to manage the process and can eliminate the minutia in a case. They are also in a better position to negotiate the highest possible settlement offer. More importantly, most personal injury lawyers are trial attorneys. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement they can prepare a case for litigation.

While each case may be different a person that has been involved in a catastrophic injury should always consult a personal injury attorney.