If you have been injured in a car accident or injured by another person's actions, you have probably been told that you need to talk with a personal injury lawyer. In fact, in most cases, it is to your benefit to have a lawyer handle your case. Here are 5 benefits to having a personal injury lawyer represent you.
1. Personal Injury Lawyers Know Personal Injury Law.
This may sound obvious, but many people think that they know just as much as a lawyer and that a lawyer just collects the money. That is simply not true. Just because you have been injured doesn't mean that you are entitled to full compensation for your injuries. Few states recognize contributory negligence nowadays, but contributory negligence says that if you even slightly contributed to a car accident, you are not entitled to compensation. Most states recognize some form of comparative negligence which allows you to receive at least some compensation for your injuries depending on your involvement in the car accident.
Another portion of personal injury law is knowing what personal injury claims to which a person is entitled. There are a lot of possible claims, many of which a non-lawyer doesn't think about.
You benefit by the lawyer knowing personal injury law in that an insurance adjuster cannot BS or misrepresent the law in trying to convince you that you will not receive compensation to which you may really be entitled.
2. A Personal Injury Attorney Knows Insurance Law.
This may sound like it doesn't make a difference, but it can make a dramatic difference. For example, an insurance policy may provide for a benefit of $20,000 to an injured person. The insurance adjusted tells you that he will give you the entire $20,000 since you have a good personal injury claim. What the insurance adjuster does not tell you is that there may be ways under state law that you can receive more. For instance, some states allow "stacking" of insurance policies in certain circumstances and this means that you can receive more compensation.
You benefit by a personal injury lawyer knowing if state laws entitle you to more compensation for your injuries than is apparent.
3. Personal Injury Attorneys Know Approximate Values Of Injuries
Experienced lawyers have handled a number of cases and have a good idea of what most injuries are worth. Also, personal injury lawyers know what facts may increase or decrease the amount of compensation to which you are entitled. By virtue of the attorneys' experience, insurance adjusters and lawyers cannot BS or misrepresent the value of a personal injury claim.
4. A Personal Injury Lawyer Will Go To Court.
Insurance adjusters know that if a case goes to court, the insurance company could be forced to pay a lot more that they want to pay. The adjusters also know that if you are representing yourself, it will be difficult for you to go to court. They know that a personal injury attorney will go to court. Therefore, the adjusters have to be more realistic in what they offer you as compensation for your personal injuries.
5. Personal Injury Lawyers Generally Increase The Value Of A Case.
Basically for all of the reasons stated above, insurance adjusters will offer more compensation when a lawyer is representing you. Some people will tell you that the increased compensation amount is offset by having to pay a lawyer. So you end up with the same amount in the end. Sometimes that is true, but in many cases, because of his/her knowledge and experience, a personal injury lawyer will recover more than enough for your personal injury claims to offset the attorney fee.
I cannot and do not vouch for the experience or effectiveness of any personal injury lawyer. The above is merely a guide as to what you may expect. Also, the results of any case may be vary from lawyer to lawyer.
This is general information only. If you have any questions whatsoever, talk with a lawyer licensed in your state.
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