When you’re a victim of an accident, it often impacts your life in many ways, depending on the severity of your injuries. Between the medical bills and loss of income, it not only has an impact on your physical and mental health but also on your financial situation. How will you make your mortgage payment or pay the rent and all of your other expenses?
While it can be tempting to take the first offer you’re given by the insurance company or the guilty party, that can mean not having enough money further down the road should you need medical treatment or run into other health issues related to the accident.
No question hiring a personal injury lawyer is the way to go to ensure you’re adequately compensated, but how can that person make your life easier while you’re trying to recover and over the long term?
1 Getting Medical Treatment
One of your first concerns is probably getting proper medical treatment so that you can enjoy the quality of life you did before the accident. By calling a personal injury attorney as soon as possible, he or he may be able to help you get the quality treatment you need.
While it can help in just about every situation, it can worsen a problematic situation if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver and don’t have coverage for that under your policy. You may have to pay for medical bills and then pursue the at-fault party directly to recover those costs, as Washington State’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner notes. That’s difficult to do even when you aren’t injured.
Getting quality health care typically means a faster recovery, and a lawyer who is experienced with personal injury cases will know the steps to take to ensure you receive it. Instead of trying to fight the insurance companies, get approvals for specialists, and so on, all while you’re trying to recuperate, your attorney can take care of all the paperwork, phone calls, and filing that’s necessary.
2 Experience, Legal Knowledge and Connections
Unless you’ve been through it before, you probably don’t have the experience, legal knowledge, and connections it can take to take on the insurance and lawsuit process. Even if you can do some online research, it requires more than that to work through the legal procedures. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help you avoid making significant mistakes while saving you time, money, and stress.
The success of your claim comes down to the strength of evidence and your arguments. The burden of proof requires enough evidence to show that the defendant is likely to be at fault. Experienced lawyers have connections with professionals that can help you build the most robust case possible.
3 A Higher Settlement
Few people know how much money they can get from a personal injury claim. While online calculators can provide a rough idea, there’s no substitute for a lawyer who can look closely at every factor with an educated eye, analyze injuries, place a value on pain and suffering, and several other factors.
If you try to pursue the claim yourself, it’s likely to cost you thousands of dollars. With the settlement you deserve, you can be sure that your medical bills are paid along with your living expenses now and for the long haul.
