If you or a loved one have been injured due to the fault or negligence of someone else, you might be asking yourself: is it worth it to work with an attorney? Will I recover more compensation for doing so, or can I do it on my own?
Will I Get a Better Settlement With a Personal Injury Attorney?
Of course, not every case is the same, and while it is impossible to know every detail of your case without a consultation, all things being equal, the answer is yes. Accident victims who work with an attorney are not only more likely to receive compensation in general, but the payout they receive is over four times higher than those who do not work with an attorney.
This may seem too good to be true, but once you understand the knowledge and experience that a personal injury attorney can bring to the table, you’ll understand how the math checks out. Below, we’ll elaborate on some of the ways that a personal injury attorney can add value to your claim and help maximize your payout.
They Understand Insurance Company Tactics
Most of the time, people who have suffered a personal injury have never been in this situation before. They typically have only a vague idea of what to expect during the process. They might file a claim with an insurance company, and shortly after receive phone calls from them asking to discuss details of their claim. The insurance company may ask the victim to sign a statement or medical release form verifying certain details. Neither of these documents are required, but can seem like normal, innocent parts of the process.
What victims don’t understand, however, is that many times the insurance companies are seeking to use these pieces of paperwork against you. If your signed paperwork has even the tiniest variation of details from what you claim later on, they can use that to argue that you are changing your story. They can also use those medical releases against you, trying to find inconsistencies with your injuries.
A seasoned personal injury attorney has seen all these tricks many times before, used over and over again to avoid payouts to those that deserve them. And, they know how to fight back, making sure victims don’t accidentally damage the validity of their claims
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They Know How to Maximize Compensation
Sometimes, the insurance company may offer you a settlement. This is usually good news. It means the insurance company knows that you are entitled to some form of compensation.
However, this first offer from them is typically going to be much less than you actually deserve for the damages and suffering you’ve had to deal with. In this case, how can you know how much you truly deserve and should ask for? The idea here is not to ask for more than is reasonable, but to pinpoint the right amount.
A personal injury lawyer with experience in these cases will know exactly how to help you find this number. This involves your medical bills and property damage assessment, but could also include other types of damages and loss such as pain and suffering or lost wages due to the incident.
A personal injury attorney will also be able to pull from their past experiences with other victims and their claims, comparing your case to others that are similar and their recoveries, and this allows them to be very effective negotiators.
They Are Effective Negotiators
If the insurance company thinks they can get out of paying you what you are owed by taking your case to court, they will absolutely do so. However, this is also true of a great personal injury lawyer; if they can recover more financial compensation for you by taking things to court, they will do it without hesitation.
However, these situations can be tricky for both parties. Both you and the insurance company may benefit from settling things out of court, as it is easier, quicker, more predictable, and less expensive. But even so, knowing when to accept or reject a settlement offer isn’t always clear.
This is where an attorney comes in. With their expertise, they will be able to understand both your and the insurance company’s positions, allowing them to better negotiate on your behalf. They will know what is typically fair, and will know all of the applicable evidence available in great detail, allowing them to leverage this in your favor.
No Fee Until You Win
Most personal injury attorneys—including TJ Smith—work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have to pay unless he wins compensation for you, at which point the fee is a percentage of total compensation won.
For accident victims, this means they don’t have to worry about additional expenses and bills while healing from their injuries and worrying about all of the other things that come from an accident. This also removes the risk for them that comes with not knowing how a case may end up. Additionally, it lets victims have some additional peace of mind knowing that it is in their attorney’s best interest to do everything possible to maximize their payout, as it benefits the both of you.
Call TJ Today for a Free Consultation
In addition to his contingency fee policy, TJ Smith also offers freer no-pressure consultations. This means he will have a no-strings-attached conversation with you about your situation to help you better understand your rights, and what compensation you might be owed.
To reach TJ today for your free consultation, simply call his cell at (502) 381-9270. TJ gives out his personal number to all of his potential clients, so they can reach him any time of day, any day of the week. You can trust that TJ knows how to make those insurance companies pay what they owe!