One of the most common questions I get as a car accident attorney is whether or not a certain case requires my services, or if it can be handled without a lawyer. This is an incredibly important question for anyone involved in an auto accident, as you don't want to spend money on representation if that won't lead to you getting more for your claim.
The fact of the matter is that not every injury or car accident case will require the services of an attorney. There are a lot of lawyers out there that don't want you to know that, because small claims are easy enough to be handled by anybody, and are quick money for a lawyer that takes them. When injuries and property damage are minor, it is possible that the cost of hiring a lawyer will lower the final amount that you actually receive.
With this in mind, though, if you are considering hiring an attorney, chances are that you will actually need one. In the majority of cases, it will serve in your best interest to be represented by someone who has a firm grasp on the law and has experience fighting cases against insurance companies.
There is overwhelming evidence that a lawyer's representation will likely bring you a lot more money. The Insurance Research Council has found that those who hire an attorney get an average of 3½ times more in their settlement. The reason for this is that Insurance Companies are in the business of lowering or denying claims.
They know exactly how to make this happen, and can easily take advantage of auto accident victims who do not have an attorney representing them. The playing field is leveled once you hire a personal injury attorney, because they have spent the vast majority of their career fighting insurance companies. Fighting a small claim is simple and straightforward enough for most people, however, when the claim is bigger; there are a lot more variables to deal with. Fighting this on your own can be a very difficult and time consuming process that is virtually impossible without a legal education. Some cases may not be able to be resolved in arbitration or mediation, in which case it is imperative that you have an attorney to fight your case.
The biggest concern in most people's mind is the common practice where personal injury attorneys take 1/3 of the final settlement as the attorney's fee. Despite this, though, the overwhelming majority of cases show that you by hiring a lawyer, you will in turn get so much more money out of your case that it will easily make up for it. If you are unsure about whether or not the process is worth it for you, call up an experienced personal injury lawyer and ask for a free consultation. Because personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, it is in their best interest to only take cases that will pay out, so a trustworthy attorney will lead you in the right direction.
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