If You've Been Injured Hire A Personal Injury Attorney

By Author: Tom B
Total Articles: 7
Comment this article

When You've Been Personally Injured

If you have been hurt because of negligence by another person you have legal rights and may be due monetary compensation.

Don't Go It Alone

You can handle a personal injury case by yourself and withhold from hiring a personal injury attorney, but the risk is too great. You can talk with the person responsible for your injury and try to settle without having to involve the legal system, but if the person at fault has insurance they retain the right to let their insurance company handle the matter. If this is the route they take then you are in a position you do not want to be in, you have to deal with the insurance company. Insurance companies aren't generally willing to give you a settlement as large as you are entitled to. They want to settle low, quickly and save money. Remember that this is an insurance company's profession. They have handled all sorts of cases of personal injury, know the ins and outs, and will do whatever they can to save themselves money. They have their own lawyers and in nearly every case they will outmatch you if you try to handle the matter ...
... yourself. You need a qualified personal injury lawyer to defend your rights.

What Does A Personal Injury Attorney Do?

A personal injury attorney fights for your rights. They have seen cases similar to yours, know the law, and know what restitution you deserve. They will investigate your case and if they feel that you are in the right and deserve compensation they will plot a legal course. A personal injury attorney keeps your best interests in mind and will work diligently to defend you and make sure that your rights are protected.

Choosing A Good Personal Injury Attorney

If you do not know a personal injury attorney and you need to find one you can ask an attorney that you have had experience with. They will surely have at least one attorney to whom they can refer you. If you don't know a lawyer then ask your friends and family if they can refer you to anybody. Once you have the names of a few personal injury attorneys do some research to find out some background information about them and find reviews about them from others. Once you have decided on a few lawyers that you think you will be comfortable with give each of them a call and set up a meeting with them. Many attorneys will meet with you initially at no charge, but some may have a fee so make sure to ask when you set up your meeting. At the meeting you can tell them about your case and decide on which attorney you would like to have represent you.

Ask Your Personal Attorney Questions

You can never ask your attorney too many questions and you can never be too informed. One of the most important things you need to ask your attorney about is cost. A great deal of personal injury lawyers work on a "Contingency Fee" basis, meaning that they receive a percentage of the settlement should your case be won (usually 33%-40% in personal injury cases), but they receive nothing if the case is lost. They don't get paid unless you are compensated and that ensures that they will do everything they can to make sure that you receive as much as you are entitled to from your personal injury. You should also ask about any "Attorney Fees" and "Attorney Costs." These are two entirely separate things, so while there might not fees there may be costs, or vice versa. The majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court, so some of the fees and costs will not come into play but you should make sure that you know about them because you will pay them. Some attorneys are willing to negotiate their fees but you should keep in mind that more experienced attorneys will be able to get you larger awards and settlements than attorneys with less experience.

In the end remember that if you have been injured due to the neglect of another party you do have rights. The best option you have to protect those rights is to hire an experienced, skilled, and respected personal injury attorney to make sure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.