“When should I hire a personal injury attorney?” is a question asked by many. Following an accident-related injury, such as car crash, bike or motorcycle wreck, slip and fall accident, or any other type or negligent injury, you may find yourself wondering if and when you should hire a personal injury lawyer. Your decision should not be made lightly, and there are several factors to evaluate. After you have carefully evaluated your decision, you’ll take the following steps to retaining an injury lawyer.
● How severe is your injury?
Not all injuries will require the expertise of a lawyer. If your injury is minor and you have the time and resources to work on the legal and insurance claims on your own, you may be able to settle your own claim. It is important to remember, however, that you should consider hiring a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer for any injury that has significant pain and requires medical care. If your injury required hospitalization, surgery, therapy, chiropractic care, cosmetic surgery or orthopedic surgery. When injury claims accrue substantial past and future medical expenses, your settlement value can be significantly increased by hiring legal representation.
● Do you believe that your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence?
If you believe that your injury was caused by someone else’s negligent actions, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney. Proving legal liability includes applying certain standards to the evidence. In order to have a strong claim, it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to gather and preserve evidence.
● Have you been contacted by an insurance company representative?
Insurance companies hire adjusters and claims representatives in order to keep their settlement payouts as low as possible. Adjusters do this by actively working your case to minimize the amounts that the companies pay out in injury claims. If you are contacted by an insurance company representative who requests a recorded statements, medical records, your version of the story, etc…, you’ll want to tell them that you are contacting a lawyer. Insurance adjusters may make it sound like they are concerned about your well-being, but it is their objective to try to get you to make statements that are harmful to your claim. Moreover, you should never, ever, sign releases without an attorney’s input. The releases insurance companies often ask for are authorizations that allow them to dig deeply throughout your entire medical history. The reason for this is so they can find a way to blame your injury on a pre-existing conditions, which will undoubtedly reduce the overall valuation of your claim.
It is also worth mentioning that the reason adjusters contact you is because they believe you may have a valid claim. They want to gather as much information as possible so they can minimize their payout, or deny your claim entirely. This is the unfortunate truth even when you are dealing with your own insurance company in a case involving an uninsured motorist. Do not fall victim to their deceitful tactics. Consult an attorney instead!
● Is the insurance company refusing to pay, or offering a low settlement?
As mentioned above, insurance companies play dirty to avoid paying out claims. These dirty tactics can include prolonged delays in your claim, refusing to pay you (even if liability is not in dispute), or making low settlement offers regardless of how severe your injuries are. An attorney understands these tactics, and may even be able to hold the insurance companies that act in bad-faith negotiations liable for doing so. An attorney will fight tooth-and-nail to ensure you receive maximum and fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact our law office
Have you or a loved one fallen victim to an accident-related injury in Las Vegas, NV? You may be entitled to compensation! Please do not hesitate to contact the law office of Jon Remmel for a completely free and confidential case evaluation. If we cannot help you, we will point you in the best direction.