Have you been injured recently due to someone else’s fault? Have you been absent from work because of your present condition? If your injuries are now affecting your everyday life, then it’s time to call an accident lawyer. While the law does not dictate that accident victims must get a lawyer, having legal representation is beneficial for you. Here are some of the reasons why:
An Accident Lawyer can Strengthen your Claim
Personal injury claims can be difficult to navigate. There are tons of paperwork and legal requirements needed to present a valid claim. Depending on the laws of the state you are in, some technicalities may invalidate your case, such as:
Timeline of filing
Did you know that there is a deadline for filing legal actions? In Arizona, ARS §12-542 provides a two-year limitation for personal injury lawsuits. This timeframe may even be shorter in other states. But what does it mean for you? Let’s put it this way: Suppose you were injured in an accident. It took you a year or two before deciding to finally file a case against the person responsible. If it is too late, you may lose your chances even if you have collected enough evidence. The length of time may suggest to the court that your injuries may not be as serious as you have claimed. If you were able to talk to an accident lawyer right after the accident, he/she may have advised you to file a case sooner.
Identification of the liable party/parties
There are cases where determining liability becomes complicated. When more than one person seems to be at fault, you need to consult an accident lawyer. For example:
- Premise accidents like slip and fall may hold different persons accountable. The victim may have slipped due to a poorly maintained walkway or a substandard flooring material. Hence, the maintenance staff and the building manager may both be liable for breaching their duty of care.
- Construction accidents usually involve multiple parties at fault. A construction worker may suffer injuries because of several safety violations. It could be anything from insufficient gear, malfunctioned equipment, or other workplace hazards. When an accident happens, it can be the fault of the contractor, engineer, project manager, supplier, and even the property owner.
- In auto accidents, it could more than just be the driver’s fault. A poorly maintained company vehicle is a road hazard, no matter how careful the driver might be. In other cases, injury lawyers found defects that could have caused collisions. For example, a defective braking system can make the vehicle manufacturer liable for an accident.
Therefore, to win your claim, you must first be able to correctly determine the parties to blame.
Legal Representation Results in Higher Compensation
Having an accident lawyer by your side levels the playing field. When faced with a liability suit, the party at fault will surely hire a lawyer to defend them. So, it only makes sense to face them with legal representation of your own.
Did you know that injury claimants who hire attorneys tend to get higher compensation? It is because injury lawyers are experts in calculating damages to their full extent. Aside from this, an accident lawyer knows how to navigate the insurance process. He/she can review all the policies that can be applied to your claim. Hence, you can receive maximum compensation with legal representation.
Your Accident Lawyer can Help you Prove your Claim
Accidents resulting in injuries may lead to complex cases. When there is negligence, you should be ready to hear disputes. It means that the persons who caused your injuries may not readily admit their fault. Especially in comparative fault states like Arizona, you may be partly blamed for your injuries if your arguments are weak. With reduced liability, you may receive a lower amount of compensation.
The key to a successful injury claim is by showing enough burden of proof. In legal terms, that is called the preponderance of evidence. You must prove that the liable party caused the accident, more likely than not. Sure, you can do it all on your own. But it takes years of experience to know just how much evidence you need to meet the legal threshold.
Negotiate a Fair Settlement on your Behalf
Did you know that only a small percentage of personal injury cases go to trial? The cost of litigation and the likelihood of winning in court often result in negotiations. Most injury claims are settled before trial.
Such offers can come at anytime during the legal process. As we have always reminded our clients, first offers should not be accepted quickly. Initial settlement amounts are always the lowest. It is a cost-effective way for insurance companies to make a profit. However, they tend to pay better when faced with a good negotiator.
You need to hire an accident lawyer to deal with insurance companies. Once the liable party realizes the winnability of your case, they will take your claim seriously.
Thus, when negotiations come in, your lawyer will know if the offer is already acceptable. By factoring in all of your losses including your reduced earning capacity, you can get a fair settlement.
You Can Focus on Recovery
After an accident, you deal with physical, mental, and emotional trauma. Aside from getting medical treatment, you may also be missing days from work. These could take a toll on your energy and finances. Hence, you may find it too overwhelming once you add legal battles into the mix. But with injury claims, time is not always on your side. You need to take legal action sooner if you want to hold the liable party responsible.
Instead of trying to handle it all on your own, you should consider hiring an accident lawyer. Getting one can save you a ton of work. Filing an injury claim involves a lot of documentation which may be difficult to accomplish in your current situation. What you need right now is the time to heal from pain and suffering. Your lawyer can take care of all the legal work so you can focus on getting better.
Your Accident Lawyer will Support you
Aside from providing legal advice and representation, your accident lawyer will support you. We usually assist our clients in finding the right doctors for their injuries. If you have problems with your health insurance, we can help you. We will find doctors who do not require an upfront payment. Hence, you can get the right medical care even if the costs will be paid once your case is resolved.
If you were injured in an auto accident, then transportation has also become a problem for you. We can assist you in getting a temporary rental car, which will be shouldered by the insurance company. Your accident lawyer can also take care of your property damage claim for free.
Best of all, our firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not need to pay your accident lawyer unless a favorable solution is reached in your favor. Should your case win, the portion we collect will not be higher than what you will receive.
So, you see, hiring an accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal system with ease. You will be able to explore all your options and make informed decisions. With a lawyer by your side, it will be easier to recover your losses and get your life back on track.
