There are pros and cons regarding filing your own personal injury claim. This decision may impact a victim and their family’s receiving maximum compensation and benefit. While you would not need to have money to retain an attorney upfront, what you are sacrificing may far outweigh your perceived savings by filing the claim yourself.
Professional Support Impacts Success of Claim Awards
Insurance companies do not generally freely provide, or pay out, benefits on simple claims without an often long, drawn out process and “red tape.” Even on more complex personal injury claims, ample evidence and specific qualifications are required to even be considered. Time limits and the ability to negotiate compensation awards are best left to an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Pros and Cons Tied to Legal Experience and Negotiation Skills
In order to get personal injury compensation, not only for injury, wage loss, treatment, and medical costs, but also for claims of pain and suffering, a specific legal process and claim qualification needs to be met. Very often the injured and their family are not well equipped to manage the specific procedures and legal filing requirements, or successfully plead their case through the court system.
Personal Injury Types Tied to Claim Compensation
Victims of a personal injury generally fall into specific types of injury:
- permanent serious disfigurement including loss of limb or body parts
- serious impairment where one can no longer live their life as prior
- claims for death made by the surviving relatives
When any of these three types are a reason for the personal injury claim, you are more likely to receive compensation. If pain and suffering are the main impetus of the claim, a qualified attorney will help to prove that any of the above noted types of injury become more likely to occur.
Misconceptions Regarding Personal Injury Claims
The main misconceptions surrounding retaining a lawyer in a personal injury claim include:
- Personal injury claims and cases are long and drawn out. Very often, these types of cases never make it to the courtroom, typically ending in settlements reached outside of the court. While serious cases may take longer, many cases are settled within 8-12 months.
- Minor injuries do not require a personal injury lawyer. Even with simple injuries, you are entitled to having your medical expenses covered now and in the future when new issues arise.
- Holding out for results in a larger settlement. A qualified personal injury attorney works for you, negotiating the best settlement and compensation award.
- There is plenty of time to file a personal injury lawsuit. With personal injury claims there is a “statute of limitations” which begins from the moment you are injured.
A Personal Injury Attorney Works for You
Joel Baskin, an experienced personal injury lawyer who will work for you after a personal injury. Call his office for a legal consultation and assessment of your case.