Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney to Represent You
While many car accident cases are settled outside of trial, during negotiations between individuals, attorneys, and insurance companies, not all cases are so easy to settle for maximum compensation. In particular, major car accidents that result in severe injuries usually end up with more complicated and extensive needs.
While you may be eager to save money on attorney’s fees after an accident, there are benefits to hiring an attorney that shouldn’t be discounted. Keep reading for information about cases in which self-representation vs. hiring an attorney might be better for you.
Some Say You Do Not Always Need a Lawyer to Get a Fair Settlement
It is indeed possible to get a settlement after an accident without hiring an attorney. Whether or not the settlement offer is fair, is a question that could be left unanswered. There are several factors, however, that should be considered before deciding whether you should represent yourself.
How Severe are Your Injuries?
Insurance companies are invested in paying out as little in settlements as possible, but if you were involved in a minor car accident with clear liability and that resulted in few injuries, the company may not dispute your settlement for sake of resolving and disposing of your claim quickly.
Read also: Most Common Car Insurance Topics
In other cases, where you or another person was severely injured, you will likely receive a low settlement offer from the insurance company regardless of the size of the bills. Therefore, in such instances, it’s recommended that you have your case evaluated by a professional personal injury lawyer.
How Much Evidence Do You Have?
It is much more difficult to gather evidence without the assistance of a lawyer. Without witness testimonies, photos of the crash, and other evidence documents, it is highly unlikely that you will receive a fair settlement. Insurance companies require proof of pain and suffering to pay out, so if you are not sure how or where to gather such proof, hiring a lawyer might be your best bet.
Can You Calculate Your Maximum Pain and Suffering?
Settlements require you to put a solid number on your physical pain and mental suffering, even though there’s no standard way to calculate this number. In addition to medical fees and car repairs, there are a variety of other factors that go into calculating pain and suffering. Personal injury lawyers are much better equipped with the knowledge and experience to provide you a reasonable calculation of what damages could amount to.
The Truth about Getting Some Versus a Maximum Fair Settlement
Insurance companies are ultimately profit-driven. As a result, they are motivated to pay as little as possible in car accident settlements, however friendly they might seem.
When you represent yourself in such a settlement, you are less likely to recognize an underestimated settlement when you see it. You are also less likely to have the knowledge and resources to dispute such a settlement. As a result, when you represent yourself in a car accident settlement, you are likely to get some money from your settlement, but probably not the maximum amount you could get if you had hired a lawyer.
How to Get Professional Help with Your Car Accident Claim
Do not represent yourself in a car accident settlement without carefully considering all the factors weighing against you in your particular circumstance. Even if you think you might be able to save money on attorney’s fees by representing yourself, you might be missing out on a higher settlement by not hiring a lawyer.
Read also: Understanding Attorney’s Fees at Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC
Call Sandoval Law Firm of Houston at (346) 347-7777 today to get started on your car accident pain and suffering claim.
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