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Determining When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

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When you are involved in an accident, it may seem complicated to hire a lawyer. Even if you are injured, you may feel uncomfortable with the idea of working with a lawyer or you may not even be sure if you have a case. Although every situation is different, the process of determining when it is appropriate to hire a personal injury attorney is not as difficult as it might seem initially.

Severity of Your Injuries

An accident can cause a variety of injuries, but not every injury is considered serious. As a general rule, it is worth hiring an attorney if your injuries are severe and the medical bills are significant.

Severe injuries may be classified differently by insurers, but usually include broken bones, head injuries or the loss of limbs due to the accident. Injuries to the muscles, such as a strain or a pull, may not be classified as severe.13/june/record-recovery-in-medical-lawsuit/

An injury that is very painful, particularly if it relates to broken bones, may be worth filing a case.

Low Settlement Offers

Depending on the situation, you may be offered a settlement from an insurance company. When another party causes an accident, such as another driver, that person’s insurance will usually pay for the cost of your injuries. The problem is that insurers primarily focus on their profits, not your pain and suffering.

If a settlement offer seems very low, then it may be an appropriate time to talk to an attorney. An attorney can help you obtain a higher settlement so that it is possible to avoid financial challenges related to your pain and suffering.

Statute of Limitations Laws

After the insurer offers a settlement, you may have a limited amount of time to make a claim for more than the amount. If you are worried that the statute of limitations will expire before you can make a claim, then it may be appropriate to hire a lawyer.

A statute of limitations can help prevent unnecessary court battles, but it can also cause complications if your settlement is drawn out or you are not pleased with the amount that an insurer is offering. Even if the statute of limitations has not yet been exceeded, it may be beneficial to hire an attorney when the date is coming up. That will help prevent complications from arising.

When to Avoid a Lawyer

It is not always necessary to hire an attorney for your personal injury claims. In general, it is better to avoid hiring an attorney if you suffered from minor injuries or if you feel the settlement is fair based on the cost of your medical bills.

Although it is not always necessary to hire a personal injury attorney when you are hurt during an accident, it is important to recognize when a lawyer may help. Talking to an attorney about your specific situation can help you determine if it is worth going to court based on your injuries and the settlement that you have been offered.

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