Georgia Injury Lawyers Blog
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be tempted to try to handle your claim without an attorney. In our experience, however, non-lawyers who handle their own claims typically wind up with a less favorable result. And once you settle your claim, that’s it – you can’t go back and ask for more. Hiring a personal injury attorney can make sure that you get a fair result and that all of your losses are covered.
1. A Lawyer Can Help You Evaluate Your Claim
Determining what your claim is worth is not as easy as you might think, and it can therefore be difficult to know what a fair settlement amount is.
While your medical bills may be a big part of your claim, there are many other losses that should be included but are often overlooked. Other factors, like pain and suffering, are very difficult for non-lawyers to estimate. A seasoned personal injury attorney has the knowledge and the experience to give your claim a specific value.
2. A Lawyer Can Help You Assemble Your Documentation
There is a lot of paperwork to keep track of if you need to pursue a claim. The bills, reports, letters, emails, and other documents can be overwhelming, especially when you need to focus on your recovery. If you hire an attorney, they can help compile and organize this information. In addition, they can then serve as the primary point of contact so that this documentation is going to them directly, rather than coming to your house.
A lawyer can also help you identify and obtain the evidence you will need to make your case. Things such as photographs and witness statements can be critical to the success of your case, and a lawyer will know exactly what that evidence needs to include to support your claim.
3. A Lawyer Can Help You Navigate the Insurance Claim Process
Despite what insurance companies would like you to believe, making a claim is pretty complicated. When you’ve been injured in an accident, you may have to deal with more than one insurance company, making it even more complicated. In addition, the insurance company isn’t going to just cut you a check – they are going to scrutinize your claim, and try to use your own statements against you. The insurance company is going to value their bottom line over your recovery.
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how the claim process works and how insurance companies think. Your attorney can handle the claim process from speaking with the adjusters to negotiating a settlement of your claim.
4. A Lawyer Can Negotiate the Best Possible Settlement
If you don’t have an attorney, you are at the insurance company’s mercy and they will take full advantage of your inexperience. Simply having a lawyer may help settle your case as they know you have legal counsel who is likely prepared to file a lawsuit. An experienced personal injury attorney is a skilled negotiator, and they will know when to make a counter-offer and when you should accept the insurance company’s offer.
5. A Lawyer Can Represent You in Court
If you can’t settle your case, your lawyer can obviously handle the legal proceedings. The court system is notoriously difficult for non-lawyers, and a single procedural error can result in your case being dismissed.
6. You Won’t Have to Pay Any Upfront Legal Fees
Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they are paid a percentage of the compensation they recover on your behalf. As a result, you never pay any legal fees out of pocket, and your attorney gets paid only if they are successful in handling your case.
Contact Slappey & Sadd – Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you need to think about your future. Accidents and injuries can have unforeseen, long-term consequences, and you may be entitled to compensation to cover your losses. Don’t jeopardize your future by thinking you have to work through this process on your own. At Slappey & Sadd, we’ve been working with accident victims in the Atlanta area and across Georgia for over 30 years, and we can help you too. If you’ve been injured and would like to talk with one of our attorneys, call us at 888-474-9616 or send us an email in order to schedule a free consultation.