The situation after a car accident can be confusing. It is difficult to cope with the injuries and medical bills and talk to the cops, simultaneously. The next question that comes to the mind of accident victims is- Do I need a personal injury lawyer? This is a common question, and people are intimidated by the very idea of hiring one.
The personal injury lawyers at MNH Injury Lawyers in Alberta, say that victims are often afraid of the fees that lawyers charge. They assume hiring a lawyer is an additional expense and try to avoid taking legal help until they understand that they can’t build the case themselves. He adds-” This is not the case. We lawyers usually do not charge you anything upfront. Once we recover the right settlement amount for you, we charge a proportion from the compensation.”
What are the factors you should consider before hiring a personal injury lawyer?
- The severity of injuries
There are cases when no one is hurt or suffers major injuries after an accident. If there is no major property damage and the injuries are minimal, there is no substantial reason to file a claim. Minimal injuries mean normal cuts and bruises that can be treated by first aid itself. However, if the injuries are major and there has been damage to the property, legal representation is necessary. It can be complicated for you to understand the legal process, analyze your case and assign a monetary value to your losses and damages.
- It is unclear which party is at fault.
In car accidents, someone is at fault, anywhere between 0-100%. In several cases, it is difficult to determine the at-fault party. Insurance companies don’t want to pay you for all the damages or injuries until you prove that you were not at fault. Injury Attorneys are experts and work with top-notch experts to investigate the case and find the guilty party.
- Potential claim money from an accident case
There are several cases where the expected claim money is minimal. In any such cases, you should not need an attorney. Moreover, they will also refuse to take your case. Most attorneys value their time and work and give honest opinions on whether you should hire an attorney for your case or not.
- Response from the insurance company
If you tried to contact your insurer and believe they are offering you a fair settlement offer, you can accept it and might not need an attorney. But remember that the insurance companies are smart and will, most of the time, give you a lowball settlement offer. The math for the settlement amount can be confusing. Personal Injury attorneys are familiar with the clever tactics of insurance companies and can warn you if they feel the settlement offer is not worthy. However, if you are dissatisfied with your insurance company’s offer or the insurance company refuses to pay, you need to hire an attorney.
- Number of parties involved
There have been several instances where it is difficult to establish the fault of a single party and multiple parties are involved. It is almost impossible for you to contact these parties, do follow-ups, understand their legal process, and answer all their questions, simultaneously. An attorney will represent your case and can smoothly navigate the entire process.
How long do you have to make a claim?
There are several deadlines that you need to meet to win your case. You have seven days within which you need to inform your insurer. You will receive an application for accident benefits from your insurer. You have 30 days to fill this out and send them back. If you want to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party, you have 2 years to bring a lawsuit.
It is best to hire a personal injury lawyer early, as they will help you to complete the legal requirements within the set timelines.
