why does someone hurt in an accident retain a personal injury attorney

by Kayla Thompson 7 min read

How does the insurance company determine pain and suffering damages?

The multiplier method is an equation frequently used by insurance companies and is a common way to calculate pain and suffering damages. You add up all actual damages (also called special damages) and multiply that number by a number between 1.5 to 5.Nov 30, 2018

What can a personal injury attorney do?

Personal Injury Lawyers are types of Litigators who provide legal advice and representation to clients who have sustained physical or psychological injury, as well as financial loss, after falling victim to the carelessness or negligence of an individual or organisation.Sep 16, 2021

Why are personal injury lawyers important?

A personal injury lawyer is a civil lawyer who provides legal representation to an individual injured in an accident or due to the negligence or lack of care or even deliberate intent of any person. They help their clients to recover financial compensation for the injuries or mental anguish suffered.Dec 16, 2021

Why do lawyers take so long to settle a case?

The reasons a case can progress slowly can be summed up into three general points: Your case is slowed down by legal or factual problems. Your case involves a lot of damages and substantial compensation. You have not reached maximum medical improvement from your injuries (this will be explained below)

How do you deal with personal injury?

It Hurts Everywhere: How to Cope With an InjuryGet it on Ice. You'll want to ice immediately following an injury and throughout the recovery process. ... Get (the Right) Help. ... Keep Moving. ... But if it Hurts, Don't Do It! ... Breathe. ... Pay Attention to your Body. ... Reach Out. ... Focus on Something Else.More items...

What does an attorney do in an accident with a truck driver?

In the case of an accident with a commercial truck driver, for example, an attorney might get access to the trucker’s logbook, which will show how long the truck driver spent behind the wheel before the accident.

What to do if you have an accident?

If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, you should contact an attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Severe injuries often leave the victims of those accidents with substantial medical bills, extended medical treatments, and in many cases, no or reduced income to help pay for those bills.

What to do if time has passed since accident?

If time has passed since your accident, especially if you have not communicated with the insurance company or liable party at all, immediately consult a personal injury attorney to ensure your claim is still valid.

Why does my insurance company deny my claim?

The insurance company may deny the claim for one of several reasons. The insurance company believes that the party they cover did not cause the accident. The insurance company may attempt to claim that you caused the accident, or may try to establish that another party bears liability for the accident.

What to do before accepting a settlement offer from insurance company?

Before accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company or the liable party in your accident, contact a personal injury attorney. Many will offer a free consultation that will give you a better idea of how much compensation you should expect, and how you should react to the terms offered in a given settlement.

What do insurance companies want to know about an accident?

The insurance company will often want to know more about how those injuries affect your life, both immediately after the accident and in terms of your long-term prognosis.

Why do you need an attorney for a spinal cord injury?

Any time you suffer serious injuries in an accident, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or amputation, working with an attorney is invaluable for seeking the compensation you deserve, as well as giving you a better understanding of the claims process and how much compensation you might expect.

What does it mean when you come to us with a personal injury case?

When you come to us with a personal injury case, we know that dealing with the injury itself takes a physical and emotional toll on both the injured party and their caregivers. Our team will treat you and your family with compassion. We handle the details of the case so you can prioritize taking care of yourself.

What is personal injury lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer is an attorney at law who has gone to law school, passed the State Bar Exam, and obtained his or her license to practice law. A lawyer can represent any person to protect the person’s rights. Personal injury is a term that is used in the legal industry.

How much has Sibley Dolman Gipe recovered?

At Sibley Dolman Gipe Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we have had the honor and pleasure of representing over ten thousand injury victims and have recovered over $100,000,000.00 for our clients. Every last lawyer at our firm considers himself or herself to be a serious personal injury lawyer.

What is UM insurance?

UM coverage, also known as uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured motorist coverage , is a standard coverage option provided by most auto insurance companies. UM coverage protects the insured in situations where the party who struck their vehicle either did not have any insurance coverage or was underinsured. The Lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are experienced in handling UM claims and fighting for their clients in these situations.

How much does a personal injury lawyer charge per hour?

These lawyers charge by the hour and they can bill at an hourly rate of $300, $400, $500, and some up to $1000 dollars per hour. Most people cannot afford those high rates. So, the law has provided a way for most people to hire a personal injury lawyer – a “contingency fee” agreement.

How much higher is a settlement when represented by a lawyer?

A study by the Insurance Research Council found that settlements were 40 percent higher when claimants were represented by a lawyer. To make sure you get the maximum compensation you deserve, hire an experienced personal injury attorney that isn’t afraid to try your case.

What is a no fault accident?

The most common type of personal injury case results from a car/bus/truck accident. No-Fault laws require the insured to promptly advise their own insurance company of an accident so that a No-Fault claim number can be submitted to all medical service providers. The medical service providers must submit their bills to your No-Fault insurance company within a limited amount of time.

How much money do you need to settle a lawsuit without counsel?

For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother. Believe it or not, most attorneys give honest opinions on whether or not it would be worth your while to hire an attorney or take any easy settlement.

What is the importance of signing off on an agreement?

It is important, however, to have a high level of confidence that something unexpected isn't going to happen. Once you sign off on an agreement, you'll likely never have the chance to seek more money ever again.

Do insurance companies do their jobs?

In a lot of instances, insurance companies do in fact do their jobs as expected. There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill. Let's take a look at some of the cases where you may NOT need to hire an attorney after an accident.

Can you file a personal injury claim if you have no injuries?

Generally, if no people were hurt, or there was no damage ( no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. Just be careful making this judgment of “no injuries” yourself.

Do you have to have counsel in small claims court?

You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court . The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.

Is the police report accurate?

The paperwork does not look accurate ( police report, insurance communications) Details are complicated (technical, legal, medical) Insurance is not playing nice. You do, however, have to ask if paying an attorney to recovery $10,000 in damages is worth the bother if you end up handing over $5,000 to the law firm.

What can a personal injury lawyer do?

A personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the process, protect your interests, tackle the complexity, and recover money to compensate you for your losses.

How to teach yourself to be an insurance agent?

You can teach yourself the steps in the process with some searching and study . Most of the basic tasks involve making phone calls, obtaining relevant documents, following up on the little details, and taking on the demeanor necessary to let the insurance company know you aren’t a pushover.

What does "let bygones be bygones" mean?

Some people take the attitude “let bygones be bygones.” While I’m not sure how often this happens in real life, I have seen it in movies; two cars get in a fender bender, the owners get out, chat briefly, and then wave goodbye to each other and drive home for supper. It is easy to take this attitude if you weren’t injured in the accident. But sometimes even if you suffered a minor injury or property damage, you may feel that it is no big deal. If your injuries are significant and if you are having ongoing problems, this is probably not the attitude you take. However, if you find yourself saying the accident was “no big deal,” then it is a waste of both your time and the lawyer’s time to pursue the at-fault driver.

Is it a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer?

But sometimes hiring a lawyer is not a good idea. In the following situations, it’s probably not a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer: 1. You weren’t really hurt. Not every accident results in injuries. Sometimes accidents leave you shaken up, but nothing else. Sometimes collisions happen at low speed and even though contact is made, ...

Do lawyers defend personal injury claims?

Lawyers that defend personal injury claims usually have close relationships with insurance companies (sometimes the lawyer is an insurance company employee). This defense is provided to you without charge, because it is a benefit of your automobile insurance (although, your insurer may raise your rates).

Do you need a lawyer for an accident?

Sometimes accidents just result in damage to your car, bicycle, or personal belongings, but you are not injured physically. If you weren’t hurt in an accident, or if your injuries were extremely minor, you probably don’t need a lawyer.

Is insurance subject to different laws?

To make matters more complex, insurance policies are subject to different laws depending on the state jurisdictions. In the Washington, DC area, there is a high probability that you live in a different jurisdiction from where the accident occurred and where the at-fault person lives.