Under what circumstances should you hire a personal injury lawyer? If you’ve recently suffered an accident or injury and believe someone else is at fault, you may be correct. If so, the person at fault may already be speaking to a team of lawyers.
Guess what?
Their lawyers are not on your side. They’re not hired to find the unvarnished truth or who is rightfully at fault. Their only goal is to clear their client of wrongdoing or get them off with the lightest sentence possible.
Fortunately, you may also hire your own lawyers to prove who’s at fault and secure a fair settlement. But do you really need one? When you’re ready to learn which elements affect the decision to hire a lawyer, so you can finally make an informed decision, read on.
Serious Injury
According to the MMUCC 4th Edition, a serious injury is one that results in one or more of the following criteria.
- Severe cuts that expose your underlying tissues, muscles, or organs
- Broken or distorted arm(s) or leg(s)
- A crushing injury
- Skull, chest, or abdominal injury that goes beyond bruising and minor cuts
- Second or third-degree burns that cover more than 10% of your body
- Paralysis
- Permanent disability
If you’ve suffered such an injury, even if you aren’t sure who’s at fault, you should seek immediate counsel from personal injury attorneys like Adelaide personal injury lawyers. The law is nuanced. As such, your case may not be as simple as one party is guiltless, and the other party is guilty.
In such circumstances, you may be awarded a settlement based on the percentage of the fault that lies with each party. If the court finds them 100% at fault, then they’re responsible for paying 100% of the settlement. The court will adjust the settlement to account for parties found less than 100% responsible.
Uncertain about Fault
If you were injured or in an accident, it might be unclear who is at fault. If so, seek an attorney for a consultation. Consultations are often free, and you must better understand your options before you can make an educated decision.
If you avoid hiring a personal injury lawyer, you might face no repercussions for your decision. You also might be defending yourself from a team of lawyers out for blood. And you wouldn’t know whether your part in the accident could land you behind bars.
More than Two Parties Involved
We’ve all heard of 5-car pileups on the freeway, but have you experienced one firsthand? What about a major accident at work that involved more than 2 people?
If you’ve suffered from an accident in which multiple parties were involved, it’s time to start hunting for a lawyer for hire. Why? If for no other reason than because they know more about working with multiple insurance companies to settle a claim.
Claim Denied
If your insurance company is delaying or outright denying your claim, seek legal counsel. This sort of behavior is common. If it goes on for too long, it falls under the bad faith category.
Generally speaking, if your insurance has delayed your claim for longer than 2 months, it’s time to take them to court.
Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
Now that you know whether your circumstances warrant hiring a personal injury lawyer, it’s time to get started. First, run a search on injury lawyers working within an hour’s drive. Pick the top 3 and ask for a consultation with each to pick your favorite.
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