8 Signs You Should Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

Did you know that unintentional injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the US?

However, if you've survived an unintentional injury, you're not out of the woods yet. Injuries can impact your earning power, quality of life, and mental/emotional health.

If you've suffered an injury thanks to another's negligence, you deserve compensation.

Pursuing a personal injury case on your own can be challenging. If you don't enlist professional help, you could compromise the outcome of your claim. Getting just compensation isn't usually a straightforward process.

Are you wondering whether you need to hire a personal injury attorney?

Here are 8 signs that you should look into hiring a lawyer for your personal injury case.

1. The Insurance Carrier Is Being Difficult

One of the first signs that you should hire an accident attorney for your personal injury claim is if the insurance carrier is being difficult.

Most insurance adjusters are infamously difficult to work with when claiming for an accident.

This often takes claimants by surprise. Insurance companies paint themselves as having claimants' interests at heart. But, in reality, the interests of insurance carriers are usually the opposite of claimants'.

Justifiably, you want to claim the maximum allowable amount for the injuries you have suffered. Most insurance companies will try to pay out the least they can to preserve their bottom line. At the end of the day, they are business entities looking to turn a profit.

Here are some of the common signs that an insurer is underhandedly trying to minimize your claim:

• Low balling you and offering an insulting settlement amount
• Not investigating your claim
• Misleading you around your legal rights

Some insurance adjusters will even resort to delaying tactics to try and make you miss the deadline for filing a lawsuit. This usually takes the form of:

• Ignoring your phone calls
• Denying your claim
• Saying they have "lost" important case documents
• Postponing your claim

If the insurance carrier you're dealing with is demonstrating any of this behavior, it's time to hire a personal injury attorney. Insurance carriers have entire teams of legal experts. If they are being difficult, you need to have a professional deal with them.

2. Your Injuries Are Extensive or Severe

If your injuries are extensive or severe, you should definitely hire an accident lawyer for your personal injury case. According to statistics, accidental injuries lead to almost 4x more visits to emergency departments than doctors' offices. This indicates that accidental injuries are often severe.

The worse your injuries are, the more compensation you will be entitled to, and the more of a fight the insurer is going to put up.

If you have suffered a severe injury, it's very important that you get adequate compensation. Severe or extensive injuries can impact your quality of life for years to come. They can also result in high amounts of pain and suffering, and compromise your earning power.

You might be faced with ongoing medical expenses while not being able to hold down full-time employment.

The last thing you want to do is leave your fate in the hands of an insurance carrier that's focused on keeping claim payments down. A personal injury attorney will have all the experience, qualifications, and resources to ensure you get fair compensation.

3. Liability Is Contested

If liability is contested, this is another urgent sign that you need an accident lawyer on your side. In cases of contested liability, it's up to you to prove you are not the at-fault party.

This usually means that you'll need to take your case to court and prove liability to a jury. This is not something you should attempt on your own.

A personal injury attorney will be able to gather evidence and navigate the court proceedings for you.

4. You Need Medical Experts to Prove Your Case

Speaking of gathering evidence, do you need medical experts to help you prove your case? Some injuries, such as spinal injuries can have long-lasting effects.

If you engage a medical expert witness, they can clearly explain to a court why your injury is likely to cause ongoing issues. However, it's essential that you find the right expert witness to do this.

An experienced accident attorney will have a network of medical experts they can bring on board to prove your case.

5. There Are Various Parties Involved

A lot of personal injury cases involve numerous parties. If you were involved in a construction accident, were the victim of medical malpractice, or a multi-vehicle collision—you probably aren't dealing with just one party.

If a personal injury claim involves multiple parties, it's essential that you seek legal help. The more parties are involved in a claim, the more complicated the case becomes. If you don't diligently pursue your claim, against all liable parties, it might be unsuccessful.

6. Your Claim Involves a Government Entity

Cases that involve government entities are often more complex. There are usually reduced times to claim, caps on claim amounts, and other pitfalls.

Some examples of claims against government entities include:

• Accidents involving malfunctioning stoplights or road signs
• Accidents caused by roadworks
• Accidents caused by dangerous conditions in places like public parks
• Being hit by a government-owned vehicle

A regular personal injury case can be complicated enough. If you have to claim against a government entity, you should definitely consider hiring a lawyer to help you through the process.

7. You’re Not Sure What the Value of Your Claim Should Be

Are you feeling unclear on what the value of your claim should be? Unless you're versed in personal injury claims, it can be hard to determine what claim value is fair.

An experienced professional injury attorney will be able to draw on their experiences with past cases. They will also be able to consult with medical professionals and expert witnesses.

8. You Don’t Have Time to Pursue Your Case

Pursuing a personal injury claim can take a lot of time and energy. If you don't have the time, or the emotional or physical capacity to devote to your case, a personal injury attorney can alleviate this burden.

Are You Looking for an Affordable Personal Injury Attorney?

If any of the above signs apply to your personal injury case, it's imperative that you hire an accident attorney to help you. However, not everyone can afford to pay exorbitant lawyer's fees.

Need a Utah injury attorney with fair fees?

Here at Fair Price Lawyers, we focus on providing legal help you can afford.

Contact us today for a consultation.