If you’re involved in a car accident, will you know what to do next? After you’ve received medical care and talked with your insurance company, how can you protect your rights?
After being involved in a car accident or any other type of personal injury accident, you should call a personal injury attorney. These professionals can help you understand your case, assess its full value, and if needed, represent you in court. But how exactly do you know whether or not you need a personal injury attorney? If you believe you’re partially at fault, could pursuing a lawsuit even hurt you?
To understand these various aspects, let’s break down what a personal injury attorney does and how these lawyers can benefit you and your case.
Table of Contents
WHAT IS A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY?
A personal injury attorney is a lawyer who provides legal representation for any plaintiff who claims they suffered physical or psychological injury as the result of the actions or negligence of another person or organization. Personal injury lawyers specialize in a field known as tort law, which protects and compensates those who have been injured by negligent, intentional, or reckless actions. These laws are designed to compensate the victims and to discourage others from committing similar infractions.
WHAT TYPES OF CASES DO PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS HANDLE?
Personal injury law covers a wide range of accidents, which can make it confusing to know whether your case falls under this category of law. The best way to know for sure is to call a personal injury law firm and provide details about your case. Since most Colorado personal injury law firms provide free consultations, this will only cost you a few minutes of your time.
Here are some of the common types of cases handled by a personal injury lawyer:
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- Car and truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Brain injuries
- Head or neck injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Bad faith insurance
- Wrongful death cases
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
Any accident where injury was caused by a liable party (which could be an individual, company, or government organization) is fair game for a personal injury attorney. If you aren’t sure whether your suit falls under this umbrella, it never hurts to make a quick call to learn more.
BENEFITS OF HIRING A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
Many people hesitate to hire a personal injury attorney because they believe their insurance company will handle everything. However, this often isn’t the case. Insurance companies will try to limit the amount they pay out—even on valid claims. After all, insurance companies are still working to make a profit.
Some plaintiffs may also hesitate to call because they don’t think their accident necessitates financial compensation. Deciding whether to pursue compensation is difficult, but you shouldn’t simply ignore your accident or assume your insurance company has your best interests in mind. To understand the full complexities of your case and the full financial value of your claim, you’ll want to work with a personal injury attorney.
Here are some of the benefits of hiring a professional personal injury lawyer:
1. Legal issues are complicated. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand the complexities of your case and help you choose the best options for your case.
2. They can help you receive the proper medical care.
3. They’ll stand up to other lawyers and insurance companies.
4. Personal injury attorneys are experts at the art of negotiation.
5. They can help you make a rational, objective decision.
6. They can help you receive financial compensation fast.
7. Peace of mind–after an accident, the last thing you should worry about is handling your own lawsuit.
DO I NEED TO HIRE A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY?
While every personal injury accident is unique, most stand to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of a personal injury attorney. For example, if you work with a Denver truck accident law firm, they’ll know the ins and outs of these types of suits and give you the best chance of winning. Even if they don’t end up taking your case, they can outline the legal aspects of your accident and help you determine your next step, and refer you to another firm.
To help you determine whether or not you need to hire a personal injury attorney, consider how you’d answer the following questions.
1. How bad are your injuries?
Take a slip and fall accident as an example. Let’s say you slide on a wet floor at a store and only slightly bruise your elbow: a minor injury like this likely won’t warrant a personal injury suit. However, if you slip on the wet floor and break a bone or get a concussion. These injuries can be expensive, time-consuming, and impact your career. These are all reasons that you’ll want to get a personal injury attorney involved with your case.
2. Have you determined liability?
Who or what caused your accident? In many accidents, it may not always be crystal clear and many states have shared liability laws that disperse liability between multiple parties. These laws impact the financial compensation parties are eligible to receive. Even if the other party is clearly liable, they can deny responsibility, hoping you don’t seek legal representation.
3. Can you afford all your medical expenses?
Whether it’s a car accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, or any other type of personal injury incident, the medical expenses can pile up fast. If you have trouble affording these expenses, consider calling a personal injury attorney. Most personal injury lawsuits include compensation for medical expenses, both physical and emotional, and can potentially cover lost wages caused by the accident.
4. Are you having problems with your insurance company?
As previously mentioned, your insurance company may not always have your best interests in mind. Following an insurance claim—even one that is completely valid—your insurance company may refuse to honor the claim, provide only a partial payment, or fail to thoroughly investigate the incident.
These are all examples of bad faith insurance when an insurance provider fails to hold up their end of the bargain. Even if your insurance company simply doesn’t return your calls or delays the process, you’ll want to call a personal injury attorney to back you up.
CONCLUSION – DO I NEED TO HIRE A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY?
If you believe you’re the victim of a personal injury accident, don’t wait to reach out to an experienced and professional personal injury attorney. These specialized lawyers will help you understand your case, determine its true value, and fight for you at trial if needed.
At the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm, we’re dedicated to defending the rights of anyone involved in a personal injury accident, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death cases, and more. Even if you believe you’re partially at fault, we can help. Our team of specialized personal injury lawyers will do what it takes to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. Call 303-333-7285. We look forward to helping you receive the justice you deserve.
The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm is a team of personal injury attorneys in Denver, CO serving victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents. Each of our lawyers is licensed with the Colorado State Bar (CBA) and specialize in injury law.
We've recovered tens of millions of dollars in personal injury settlements and verdicts for our clients. For 13+ years we've helped thousands of people get back on their feet after experiencing serious injuries. We will take your case to trial and get the maximum settlement possible.
