Following an accident, you may not be sure how to proceed. You could go it alone and negotiate your settlement for damages without legal assistance, or you could hire a personal injury attorney to do the leg work for you.
Both options have their good and bad sides, but at the end of the day, you want what is best for your case. Does hiring an attorney improve your chances of receiving a bigger settlement?
We have asked attorney, Alaina Sullivan, about what you should do. Here is what she had to says:
Having a Solid Case
Nothing is guaranteed. Ultimately it depends on your case. If you do not have a strong case, it does not matter what an attorney can do for you. However, an attorney can make the best out of the situation and at minimum, get you the best reward you can get to compensate you for your damages.
Further, when certain facts are involved, having an attorney is practically necessary to receive compensation you may not realize you deserved or may not know how to go about requesting.
Questioning Fault
Having an attorney is extremely important when you are facing a situation where fault is being questioned. Each side is going to have an opportunity to present his or her best argument, and that argument could be what determines who was at fault.
An attorney can assist you in crafting the best settlement request you can submit, and he or she can ensure that you do so with an amount for damages that is equivalent with what you deserve.
The attorney also knows the law and will be able to argue on why you should not be considered to be at fault in the accident. Having that experience in your corner can go a long way in getting a larger settlement.
Damages Above Medical and Property Requests
When it comes to receiving reimbursement for your injuries through medical bills or payment for damaged property, you can often do this negotiation alone. However, if you are asking for anything above and beyond those two categories, you may receive pushback from the insurance company, especially if you are going into the tens of thousands of dollars or more.
You may qualify for certain types of damages but not even realize it or be too hesitant to bring them up, such as loss of future income, loss of enjoyment or pain and suffering. If you choose to request these damages in your demand letter, the insurance company may not take you seriously as an unrepresented litigant.
However, if you have an attorney who knows what these damages entail, knows how to get them and knows what they are worth, you are more likely to succeed in your requests, thus walking out with a higher settlement amount.
If you are not even sure what those damages are or whether you could receive them, you should always reach out to an attorney for a free consultation. He or she can tell you what possibilities are out there and make sure that you are getting the help you deserve.
Contact an Attorney Today
If you are the victim of an accident and want to be compensated fully and fairly for your damages, you should speak with an attorney to discuss your case. A licensed personal injury attorney will be able to evaluate your case and determine if you have a claim against the other party’s insurance company.
To receive the compensation for your medical bills, property damages, and pain and suffering, you should speak with a personal injury attorney in your area today.
