Call a Lawyer If Your Personal Injury Claim Involves These Circumstances
It is possible to navigate a personal injury claim without a lawyer. However, not having a lawyer puts you at a disadvantage as you will probably be seeking compensation from the at-fault's insurer, who will more often than not have a lawyer.
Still, there are situations where calling a lawyer may not make much sense, for example, if the claim doesn't involve significant damages. This guide looks into situations where calling a lawyer for a personal injury claim may be a good idea.
You Have Suffered Severe Injuries
Involving a lawyer may be a good idea if your injuries are more than a few scrapes and bruises. Involving a lawyer does not always mean hiring them. You can consult to determine if your case is worth getting a lawyer for. In most cases, you won't have to pay for the initial consultation, so you have nothing to lose.
Severe injuries almost always mean a high-value claim and massive pushback from the opposing side. If you do not have a lawyer in such a situation, you will have a low chance of recovering fair compensation, so call a lawyer immediately.
The At-Fault Insurer Makes an Unsolicited Offer
“Insurers rarely call if they don't believe an accident victim has a strong case. So, suppose they are calling with an offer. In that case, they probably know your claim could be worth something, and it's a good idea to call a lawyer,” says personal injury lawyer Max Paderewski of Lone Star Injury Attorneys, PLLC.
It's unlikely that the offer you get from the insurer will be fair, and accepting it could mean signing off on your right to rightful compensation. A lawyer can help you review any agreements before signing them to ensure the insurer doesn't trample your rights.
Medical Malpractice and Product Liability Lawsuits
All personal injury claims are complex. However, the complexities of medical malpractice and product liability lawsuits are on another level. Everything from the negligence standards, type of evidence, and the technical aspects of these claims make them extremely challenging, and there is almost no chance of fair compensation being recovered if you go it alone.
In most cases, you will need to engage experts to decipher aspects of your case. Suppose you are claiming a deviation from the standard of care in health provision You would need a healthcare professional to explain the standard and the deviation.
You Are Up Against Powerful Entities
Powerful entities have to deal with lawsuits now and then. As a result, they are always prepared to put up a big fight. Also, their massive resources allow them to access the best legal help. So, you want to have a lawyer when pursuing a case against them.
Often, big names will have more than finances to protect. In some cases, their reputation could depend on a case's outcome, which is a huge motivation for a spirited fight.
Also, juries don't have qualms about awarding large payouts in cases involving large entities as long as they can prove liability, and a lawyer can help with exactly that.
Fault Is In Dispute
If most of the evidence in an accident places fault squarely on one party, they are likely to be more cooperative than where fault is not as apparent. Remember, Texas is a modified comparative negligence state.
So, recoverable damages decrease with an increasing percentage of fault until the victim's fault exceeds 50 percent, where they lose the right to compensation. If the defendant can put some blame on you, they will pay much less or nothing at all.
