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When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyer
New York Personal Injury Lawyer

Most people believe that they only need to contact a personal injury lawyer if they have been in a major accident. Nonetheless, even minor incidents can result in significant injuries and costly medical bills. There are several situations in which it is advised to employ a personal injury lawyer in New York. Hiring an attorney is especially important when dealing with a large organization, when there is a lot of money at stake, or when your injuries are severe. Of course, there are other situations in which you should seek expert legal counsel, but these are the most typical.

4 Scenarios in Which You Might Want to Hire a New York Personal Injury Lawyer

  1. You or your loved ones suffered a serious injury: Some accidents can result in severe injuries that have a long-term impact on someone’s quality of life. If you or a loved one experienced severe injuries such as dismemberment, substantial disfigurement, loss of an organ, loss of a bodily function, or even death, you will almost certainly want the services of a lawyer. Compensation might be very substantial in cases involving severe injuries. The medical bills for treating the most serious lesions are typically expensive. Surgical procedures, therapy, and medication may all be used in the course of treatment. In some circumstances, people will need to implement adjustments to their homes to allow the affected person to move around. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be especially necessary if you intend to collect compensation for pain and suffering. 
  1. Responsibility for the accident is not clear: It is all too frequent to observe scenarios where the people involved blame each other for the accident. This is especially true in car accidents. When the parties involved dispute liability, hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer might boost your chances of collecting compensation. A personal injury lawyer will assist you in demonstrating that you were not the cause of the accident by conducting an investigation to clarify the occurrences. An attorney with extensive expertise managing cases will gather all available information, interview witnesses, and contact other professionals to determine the true cause of the event.
  1. Insurance companies refuse to pay fair compensation: Most people feel that simply paying for insurance coverage entitles them to reimbursement. One thing to keep in mind is that insurance companies are businesses that generate money by paying as little as possible. Some insurance companies will attempt to obtain a settlement offer that is less than what you should receive to cover all of your expenses. In certain circumstances, people will accept unfavorable settlements simply to finish a long and unpleasant dispute. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can not only make things easier for you, but it will also alert the insurance company that they are dealing with someone who is knowledgeable about the law and personal injury cases. Additionally, if you and your lawyer decide to initiate a personal injury lawyer, the insurance company may be willing to offer a fair settlement just to avoid the lawsuit. 
  2. A government entity might be liable: Cases are usually challenging when government institutions are involved and may be held liable for someone’s damage. Most government entities have sovereign immunity, which shields them from civil lawsuits. This immunity can be waived depending on the nature of the accident and the institution. The statutes of limitations, however, will be shorter than in most situations involving individuals or private organisations. In addition, you will be asked to submit additional information and complete other processes that are not required in other circumstances. Furthermore, government institutions are represented by very capable lawyers. Attempting to file a personal injury claim against a government organization without the assistance of a lawyer dramatically reduces your chances of success in court.

What Are The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer will do all possible to guarantee that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. As previously stated, if you need to prove that your injuries were caused by someone else, an attorney will investigate and obtain the evidence needed to do so. Personal injury lawyers understand how to calculate how much money you need to recover in order to meet all of your expenses. In certain circumstances, people reach insurance company settlements that are insufficient to cover all of the accident-related expenditures. This occurs because they do not understand how to estimate present and future expenses.

Once you and your lawyer have determined how much money you are entitled to, you may confidently negotiate with the insurance company. Negotiating with them, however, is a difficult task. Fortunately, competent lawyers understand exactly what must be done in a negotiation to achieve the desired result. If you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, having an attorney on your side will ensure that you do not miss any deadlines, which could result in the case being dismissed. Even if a lawyer is not required to file a personal injury claim, representing yourself is not a good idea.Several people who represent themselves in court end up losing their cases simply because they do not follow the proper procedures.

What’s The Standard Percentage Lawyers Take After A Car Accident Lawsuit NY?

Personal injury attorneys typically practice on a contingency basis. This means they only earn money if you receive compensation, which means you will not have to pay for their services out of pocket. Typically, the client and lawyer will agree that a percentage of the money obtained by the client will be paid to the lawyer. If a settlement is reached before going to court, lawyers typically receive 30% of the money collected. 33 percent if the settlement is reached during the discovery process and 40 percent if you receive compensation after a trial. Nonetheless, these percentages may vary so you should carefully read the agreement between you and the lawyer to understand all the details of their payment and legal fees before signing. 

Should I Handle My Own Personal Injury Claim?

In some situations, If you were not seriously injured or your accident was minor, it may not be worth your time to hire a lawyer. Another reason you might not want to engage a lawyer is that in no-fault states like New York, you cannot opt out of the system unless your injuries are severe. If they are not serious, you may be able to file a claim with the insurance provider on your own. Furthermore, if you feel confident negotiating with the insurance company on your own, you may not require the services of a lawyer. Finally, if you think you have the time to deal with all the procedures involved in an injury claim, a lawyer might not be so useful. 

Is It Worth Getting a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If your case fits into one of the four scenarios listed above, hiring a personal injury lawyer is a no-brainer. Nonetheless, employing a personal injury lawyer not only boosts your chances of collecting compensation, but it also provides you with peace of mind, which is extremely useful in stressful situations. At Greenberg & Stein P.C. you will find some of the best personal injury lawyers in New York. Our legal team has vast experience representing clients in all kinds of cases. If you decide to hire an attorney, do not hesitate in contacting us at 212-969-8775 to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers.