Do you need to hire a personal injury attorney?
If you or your loved one is injured in an accident, one of the first things you should do is contact a personal injury lawyer. By doing so, you will ensure the case is beneficially handled for you. The following information explains why this is the case:
What Does Personal Injury Mean?
In legal terms, personal injury refers to all kinds of physical, financial, or emotional injuries that were caused by another party’s negligence. That other party can be an individual, group of individuals, a business entity, (a large corporation or small business), or even a governmental entity (city, county, state, etc.). Personal injury lawsuits are also referred to as civil tort cases. While there is a whole range of personal injury scenarios, the most common are auto accident cases, medical malpractice, and slip and fall cases. If you have suffered any kind of personal injury and you’re trying to determine if it might fall under the legal definition of personal injury, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer.
The Importance of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer Following an Accident
After an accident—a car or bicycle accident, slip and fall, etc.—the at-fault person or entity’s insurance representative will likely contact you. They will often ask to take your recorded statement. Sometimes, they will even talk with you about settling your claim. Remember, the insurance representative is NOT looking out for your best interests. No matter how sympathetic they may sound on the phone, they are working for the shareholders of the insurance company and NOT for you. Their goal is to settle for as little money as possible.
On the contrary, personal injury lawyers work for you. Their goal is to get you as much money as possible and ensure you are fairly compensated for your personal injury.
It’s also important to specifically hire a lawyer who focuses on personal injury cases. A personal injury lawyer has experience and knowledge in working against insurance companies. Lawyers who work in other areas of law simply do not have the expertise to carry your case through to its most successful outcome.
Why You Should Not Represent Yourself
If you like DIY projects, you may feel you can handle your own personal injury claim. This is a bad idea because those who are not personal injury lawyers don’t know how to navigate the complex legal world (dealing with medical liens, dealing with insurance companies, knowing the legal arguments to make, etc.). There may be certain strategies the other party may put to use that could hurt or even ruin your case. You need a savvy personal injury lawyer who understands the intricacies of the law. Personal injury lawyers get paid on a contingency basis, so they get paid only if you win. This gives the attorney incentive to fight for your case. Finally, your personal injury attorneys at East Valley Injury Law offer free consultations; you will meet the attorney who will be working for you on your case during the initial consultation.
When choosing a personal injury attorney, you should look for an award-winning firm with many years of combined experience, a proven track record of successful personal injury cases, and a dedicated team of legal professionals who will focus on your needs. The attorneys at East Valley Injury Law are here to help. Call today to schedule your free consultation!
