Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer If I’m Submitting a Claim to Insurance?
No one expects to be involved in an accident. When you are injured, you may face a number of financial costs and losses.
Most people do not have experience in filing an insurance claim following an accident or injury. Oftentimes, insurance adjusters count on the fact that injury victims are unfamiliar with the claims process.
If you are concerned about your insurance claim, you have the option to hire an attorney. Alternatively, you can submit your claim to the insurance provider without the assistance of a legal professional.
Below, we will examine some of the factors that victims should consider when making this important decision.
Submitting an Injury Claim Without a Lawyer
In some situations, victims might want to submit an insurance claim on their own. For instance, suppose that you were involved in a very minor car accident. If your collision did not result in a serious injury or significant property damage, you might not need to consult with an attorney.
When you plan to submit a claim on your own, it is important to have plenty of time to handle your case.
If you file a claim without legal representation, you will need to:
- File the relevant paperwork and information
- Gather relevant evidence
- Negotiate with adjusters
Insurance companies usually have many resources. They are incentivized to pay as little as possible on each claim that is filed.
Companies have adjusters, lawyers, and investigators on their side. Their goal is to minimize or undermine your injury claim. If you plan to bring a claim on your own, it is crucial to have significant knowledge of the process.
Many injury victims prefer to secure a quick payment. However, this can substantially lower the amount that they recover. If you are considering filing an injury claim without a lawyer, keep in mind the substantial investment of time that it will require.
Speaking with a Lawyer Before Filing a Claim
In most cases, speaking with an attorney after an accident can be beneficial for injury victims. It is important to understand your legal options, rights, and opportunities when you have been in an accident.
Most importantly, you should speak with a neutral and qualified source of legal information. Do not trust an insurance adjuster or representative to provide you with the best advice.
The insurance company is not working in your best interest. If given the opportunity, the adjuster will dismiss your claim and pay you nothing.
For most injury victims, it is crucial to consult with a qualified legal professional before they file an insurance claim. Oftentimes, personal injury attorneys will even offer prospective clients a free initial consultation to discuss their cases.
This is an excellent way to better understand the value of your insurance claim. Speaking with a lawyer can also help you to understand the likelihood of success in your case.
When You Should Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
For all but the most minor accidents and injuries, legal representation is vital. Many insurance claims involve complicated legal issues.
When an accident results in significant bodily damage, you should secure legal representation.
Significant physical harm can include:
- Catastrophic injuries
- Permanent disability
- Partial or total paralysis
- Amputation
- Traumatic brain injuries
Severe injuries can complicate the claims process. The resulting medical bills make it highly important that victims receive an appropriate amount from their claim.
If you file a claim on your own in these cases, you may miss out on the financial recovery that you deserve. A personal injury attorney will carefully examine the facts of your case to determine the best legal strategy for you.
Other factors can also complicate your insurance claim. Your case will be more complicated when:
- The other party claims that you caused the accident
- More than two parties are involved, as is the case for commercial truck accidents
- Your claim involves a public organization or government entity
Any of these situations can raise complex legal questions. It is crucial to secure a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer for the highest chance of success.
Damages in Injury Cases
A skilled injury attorney will fight hard to secure compensation for every type of damage in your case. It can be difficult to recover all of the damages that you deserve without the assistance of a lawyer.
The two primary categories of financial recovery in personal injury cases are economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
This type of recovery is intended to compensate the victim for the specific monetary losses that they suffered.
Common examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Property damage
Victims may also be entitled to damages for loss of consortium in wrongful death cases.
Non-Economic Damages
Some damages are non-monetary in nature. It can be difficult to calculate the value of these losses.
For example, how much should someone be compensated for not being able to sit comfortably for long periods of time? What is it worth to be unable to walk or jog without pain? What kind of compensation is appropriate for being unable to lift your child after an accident?
Compensation for these intangible losses is known as “non-economic” damages. Common types of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress and anguish
- Embarrassment
- Disfigurement or disability
- Loss of reputation
When you hire a skilled personal injury lawyer, you will have the best chance of securing compensation in your case.
Some injuries or accidents might be minor enough that you can file a claim independently. But for any claim involving a severe injury or complicated circumstance, it is best to speak with a knowledgeable legal professional.
Contact Hasner Law, PC for a Free Consultation
If you are planning to file an insurance claim in the Atlanta area, do not wait. Contact the skilled legal team at Hasner Law, PC today to schedule a free consultation.