Being injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness can leave you with various expenses, and permanent losses. To recover damages for incurring medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for pain/suffering, you can seek compensation from the responsible party and or their insurance company. You can do this by filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company or by filing a lawsuit with the court of proper jurisdiction. Either way; the process is complicated and can be even more challenging when you are suffering from the injuries caused by the accident and trying to handle your own case without the expertise needed to navigate the claim/litigation process.
Therefore, it is beneficial to hire a personal injury attorney who can handle the details of your case. A lawyer can evaluate your case and guide you through the legal processes. They can also deal with the insurance company out of court or present your case to a jury. In most cases arising out of an accident caused by another person; an experienced personal injury attorney can give you peace of mind through what would otherwise be a stressful and overwhelming experience.
If you need legal representation in Palm Springs, call Barry Regar APLC at (760) 440-5643 or submit an online contact form today.
Determining How Much Your Personal Injury Case Is Worth
Every personal injury case is different because each accident victim suffers different kinds of injuries and losses. The facts relating to the legal causes of an accident are case specific and the accident victim handling his or her own case without legal assistance most often wouldn’t know how to assess issues of negligence, liability, and comparative negligence. Proving the amount of money that should be paid by an insurance company or awarded by a jury to the injured person/plaintiff requires knowledge of medicine as it relates to traumatic physical and emotional injuries.
A personal injury lawyer with experience handling various types of accident scenarios causing a multitude of different kinds of traumatic injuries is uniquely equipped to evaluate your personal injury case.
They can look at several elements to estimate how much your case is worth, such as:
- The severity of your injuries.
- The length of time you’ll be out of work, and your loss of income.
- The type of medical care you’ll need, and the cost for the past, present, and future.
- The emotional costs.
- Your pain and suffering, past, present, and future
An attorney can also reach out to medical and financial experts to better evaluate the damages arising from your accident. An attorney can hire accident reconstruction experts, or other experts needed to prove who was actually at fault for the accident.
By accurately determining the value of your case, your lawyer can recognize whether the insurance company’s settlement offer is fair or just an attempt to take advantage of an accident victim trying to go it alone against the insurance without the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer on their side. In many cases insurance companies just try to “ rip off “unsuspecting accident victims who think that insurance companies are really, “on their side”.
Leveraging Their Legal Knowledge
Whether you are filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit, you must go through various stages to seek financial recovery. You must be mindful of what you do or say at each step; because a mistake could adversely affect your case.
A personal injury lawyer is familiar with the processes involved in pursuing compensation claims. They can discuss what to expect and prevent missteps. They can gather and prepare necessary documents and ensure that everything is filed timely.
An attorney can also build your case by reviewing the evidence and listening to your side of the story. They can establish a legal theory of liability to show that the other party is responsible for damages you suffered.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Filing a claim with the other person’s insurance company is one of the first things you do when seeking compensation. While you might make a good case and clearly show why the insurance carrier’s customer is to blame for the accident, the company might make a low settlement offer or deny your claim altogether.
You must negotiate with the insurance company to get what you believe is fair. Negotiation is a skill requiring that you know how to present evidence, identify weaknesses in the other side’s arguments, and develop counterarguments. That’s where a personal injury attorney comes in. They are experienced in negotiating and can fight the insurance carrier on your behalf.
Even before the negotiation stage, a lawyer can prepare the demand package sent to the insurance company which details what happened and why the other party is at fault. Additionally, they can best communicate with the insurance adjuster or talk to the representatives on your behalf to prevent you from inadvertently saying anything that might be used against you to show that you were even partially at fault.
Presenting Your Case at Trial
If your case is not settled through negotiations with the insurance company, you might need to go to court to resolve it. At trial, you must follow proper procedures, including the rules of evidence and of the court. If you’re unfamiliar with the legal system, this can be daunting. Abraham Lincoln said, “A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.”
A personal injury attorney knows how to prepare a case for trial and to present evidence in court. They know what steps must be taken to file a lawsuit, proceed with the litigation and finally they are skilled at arguing before a judge or jury. Unfortunately, some cases that are tried in front of a jury are lost for various reasons. An experienced personal injury lawyer can advise the client of the risks of going to trial and the benefit of accepting a settlement offer. Each case is different with various risks and rewards.
Giving You Peace of Mind
Having a personal injury lawyer on board and helping with your case is beneficial because it gives you peace of mind. When you hire an experienced lawyer, you will not be at a disadvantage as you might be in trying to go it alone without legal representation. Your lawyer will focus on your best interests and help you make informed decisions. They can provide the support you need throughout the mentally challenging and complex claims or lawsuit process.
For the legal representation you need in Palm Springs or the surrounding areas, please contact Barry Regar APLC at (760) 440-5643.