If you have had the misfortune of being involved in an accident, then you know all about the tough road ahead. The injury and trauma are hard enough to deal with but now you need to fight to recover lost wages, damages, and medical bills. Is hiring a personal injury attorney the right move?
You can attempt to duke it out with insurance companies yourself. For car accident injury claims specifically (a major subset of personal injury cases), IRC studies from around 2007–2012 show that 36% of claimants hire an attorney, meaning 64% handle it themselves. But 85% of all insurance payouts for bodily injury claims go to claimants represented by an attorney according to the Insurance Research Council (IRC).
The message is clear: hiring an attorney greatly improves your chances of receiving a significant payout from insurance companies. This is mainly because getting the law involved really motivates these companies to settle,” said a personal injury attorney in Melbourne, Florida. “They realize they cannot push an attorney around the same way they can with someone who doesn’t know the law.”
It’s true that an attorney gets roughly around 30% of what you are awarded but they only get paid if you win your case. If you had to pay up front and then lose your case, you are essentially being victimized twice. The current model of payment is what works best for both plaintiff and attorney. You also have the peace of mind that the attorney is fighting for you because they don’t make any money unless you win.
Your attorney will handle everything. They will gather the medical bills, vehicle repair bills, and create a healthy estimate of work dollars lost and a pain and suffering total. They will handle all phone calls in relation to your case. You should speak to your attorney only and never speak with insurance companies.
You want an attorney who is aggressive and knows the law inside and out. They need to have professional patience as well as a firm approach. You can usually find great local injury attorneys through word of mouth and by checking reviews on Google.