I only need to hire a lawyer for serious injuries or accidents.
Because we live in an adversarial system, the insurance company will scrutinize your injuries and their severity to try to lowball you in settlement negotiations. Additionally, you may underestimate the seriousness of your injuries when the accident first occurs. That mistake may lead you to accept a settlement that underpays your compensation. Hire a lawyer right away to avoid this costly mistake.
Personal injury cases take a long time.
The time it takes to recover compensation will vary from case to case. Different factors can affect the timeline of your personal injury claim, including the severity of your injuries, the amount of insurance coverage available, and whether people dispute who caused the accident. If you finished treating your injuries and the other party has accepted liability for your injuries, your personal injury claim might settle in just a few months. Of course, more complex personal injury claims will take longer to resolve.
Hiring an attorney is too expensive.
Personal injury lawyers typically represent injured clients on a contingency fee basis. That means the attorney covers the up-front costs, and you pay the law firm after they obtain compensation for you. You only pay if you win money from your case.
I don’t need an attorney because I have insurance.
Insurance companies make money by paying as little as possible on claims, even your own insurance company. They will do everything in their power to question your injuries. Personal injury law firms check insurance companies and hold them accountable. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you show the insurance companies that you take your claim seriously.
All personal injury cases go to court.
Only a small fraction of personal injury cases go to court. The vast majority of them resolve through a settlement.
I can wait to hire an attorney.
The sooner you hire an attorney, the better. They can advise you early on about the steps you should take to maximize your recovery. In addition, the statute of limitations requires you to resolve your personal injury case within a limited timeframe. Hire your attorney as soon as possible to give them the time to properly handle the case before that statute of limitations expires. Doing so will help avoid jeopardizing your rights and compensation.
Personal injury attorneys are greedy.
In reality, most personal injury attorneys genuinely care about their client’s well-being and want to help with their client’s physical and emotional recovery in any way they can. Personal injury attorneys’ interests align with the interests of their clients because they normally represent clients on a contingency fee basis. The law firm gets paid when their client gets paid only, and the attorney makes more money if they win more money for their client.
Several misconceptions surround hiring a car accident attorney. Avoid these misconceptions to make informed decisions when faced with the aftermath of a car accident. Hire a car accident attorney to gain a valuable asset in protecting your rights, maximizing your compensation, and ensuring a smooth legal process. They have the expertise and experience to handle complex legal procedures and insurance negotiations on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Do not let these misconceptions prevent you from seeking the legal help you deserve.
Learn more about Henness & Haight and find additional FAQ about hiring a car accident attorney.