You’re a well-spoken, smart person who doesn’t mind talking to the adjuster over the phone about your personal injury claim. Why do you need a lawyer to help you?
If you’ve been hurt in a car crash, a trip and fall or a slip and fall, or been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may have already received a call from an insurance adjuster about your case.
The adjuster may have gotten some basic information from you (like what happened, what health insurance and ar insurance you have, and what kind of medical treatment you’ve received). And the adjuster may have even offered to pay you for your injuries.
So now that it seems like you’re going to get a check from the insurance company for your injuries, you may think you don’t need a lawyer’s help dealing with the insurance company. You’re probably incorrect.
Lawyers aren’t just folks who are good at talking to people or good at writing mean letters. We are skilled, educated, experienced professionals with years (or decades) of experience evaluating claims and, if necessary, litigating them.
So when you hire a lawyer, you get an advocate on your side who can put your best case forward and convince the insurance company to pay you the maximum amount of money you’re entitled to and, if not, take your case to court or a jury to convince a judge or jury to get you paid.
But advocacy isn’t the only benefit you get by hiring a lawyer.
Most people do not know all of the different kinds of compensation available in a personal injury case and do not know how to maximize your recovery
Hiring a lawyer isn’t just about hiring an advocate. It’s also about hiring a person with knowledge of the kinds of compensation you are entitled to for your injuries and how to make sure that you keep the most money in your pocket after a settlement.
Sure, the insurance adjuster offered you a thousand dollars for your pain and suffering, and you think that’s a lot. And maybe it is, for your pain and suffering. But did you know that you’re entitled to be paid by the insurance company for the money your own health insurance paid for your care? And did you know that if you settle a case with the insurance company without getting money for the care provided by your health insurance company, you could get in big trouble?
And what about compensation for lost wages for time at work missed? Or for the vacation time you had to use while you were getting better?
Put simply, there are dozens and dozens of things that have to be taken into consideration when evaluating and entering into a settlement with an insurance company after a personal injury. If you do not hire a lawyer and try to go it alone, chances are you will miss many of them. And that means you’ll miss out on money you should have been entitled to.
Trust me–the insurance company is never going to tell you how much money you’re entitled to. And the insurance company and its adjusters are happy to let you think you can settle a claim without a lawyer–they almost always pay less to people who don’t have a lawyer.
Don’t let that be you.
For example, I had a client who was hit in a moderate speed crash by a driver who wasn’t paying attention. She went to the ER and had imaging and, later, physical therapy.
The driver’s insurance company paid to fix her car right away. When it came to compensating her for her injuries, she initially tried to make the claim herself. The insurance company offered her $5,000. To her, it seemed like a fair deal, and she was tempted. But she decided it would be better to call me to find out.
I handled her claim and successfully resolved it after investigation and thorough preparation a few months later. The insurance company paid her over $75,000 in compensation. Even with my attorneys’ fees taken into consideration, she got more than ten times what she would have gotten if she had tried to go it alone.
An Experienced Injury Attorney can help you find Insurance Coverage you Did not Know you Had
The knowledge benefits of hiring a lawyer do not stop when it comes to evaluating and negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. You may have coverage under your own insurance policy that could provide you with additional compensation for your injuries without raising your insurance rates. But if you do not know what to look for or how to complete the claim process correctly, you could forever waive your right to make such a claim.
Holmes Law Firm is experienced at reviewing all available insurance coverage and maximizing your claims’ value.
If you were hurt at work or hurt somewhere else while working, you may have a claim for both workers’ compensation benefits and personal injury. If that’s the case, you need an attorney experienced in both areas of the law. Holmes Law Firm can handle both kinds of cases.
An Attorney can help take the pressure off
If you’ve been hurt in a car crash, a trip and fall or slip and fall, or hurt at work, the last thing you need to be worrying about is whether you’re navigating the complicated systems correctly. You need an experienced attorney to be your advocate and your guide.
Attorney Kevin Holmes is renowned for being smart, hard-working, and aggressive in court. But he’s also well-known for being compassionate, responsive, and approachable to his clients.
Please, don’t try to settle an injury claim yourself. Call Holmes Law Firm for a free, no-obligation consultation. If we take you on as a client, you won’t have to pay any attorneys’ fees up front, and we only get paid if we win your case or settle your claim successfully.