what if i hire a personal injury lawyer and the insurance is fine?

Should I hire a personal injury lawyer?

In sum, there is no sound reason not to hire a personal injury lawyer if you’ve suffered meaningful injuries and damages as a result of the negligence of another.

What happens if you don’t have a personal injury attorney?

A bad personal injury attorney will take whatever they can get. Not having an attorney at all could leave you with nothing. If you were involved in an accident that caused death, serious injury, or significant damage, enlisting the services of a personal injury attorney is the best route.

How do personal injury lawyers get paid?

But almost all personal injury lawyers work on something called a contingency basis. This means that your personal injury lawyer will not be paid any money or legal fees unless you win your case or settle outside of court. Contingency fee agreements work by allowing the lawyer to collect compensation right out of your settlement or damage award.

How can a personal injury lawyer help me after an accident?

A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can explain your rights in a free, no-obligation consultation. During this time, you can discuss the cause of your accident and the extent of your injuries.

What percentage do most personal injury lawyers take?

33%As a general rule, the personal injury lawyer will receive 33% of the final settlement amount in the case. However, cases that go to trial often incur different costs. The goal of this fee structure is to minimize the client's financial risk in hiring an attorney to represent them.

Is the legal responsibility for an injury?

Determining legal responsibility for an accident or injury (often called "liability") can be complicated, but often rests on whether someone was careless or "negligent." It's easy enough to say that the person or business that caused an accident must pay for your injuries.

Who may not be responsible for accident?

The owner is in the car when the accident occurs: The car owner (the one in whose name the vehicle is registered) is not liable as long as he has not instigated the driver to drive fast and rashly.

Who may be liable for damages?

Art. 1092. —Any person who by an act or omission causes damage to another by his fault or negligence shall be liable for the damage so done.

When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Many injured car accident victims find themselves facing an uncertain future after a serious accident. Fortunately, when this happens, an experienc...

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

How much the contingency fee will be is based on a percentage of the amount the attorney recovers for the client in accordance with the applicable...

Does My Situation Require a Personal Injury Attorney?

No two accidents or injuries are the same, and the scenarios surrounding them are almost always unique to the client. Here are four scenarios where...

What to Expect During One of Our Free Case Evaluations?

During our initial consultation with a client, we do a thorough intake, which includes determining all medical providers a client may have been tre...

When Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you have questions after a serious injury accident, we want to make things easier for you and your loved ones. Our law firm offers FREE consulta...

Why do you need a personal injury lawyer?

Why? Because the insurance companies started working out how to trip you up and defeat your claim the minute the accident happened. Every hour of delay gives them a head start.

How much does a personal injury lawyer charge per hour?

These lawyers charge by the hour and they can bill at an hourly rate of $300, $400, $500, and some up to $1000 dollars per hour. Most people cannot afford those high rates. So, the law has provided a way for most people to hire a personal injury lawyer – a “contingency fee” agreement.

What to do if you have suffered a personal injury?

If you have suffered a personal injury as a result of the negligence exhibited by an individual or corporation, hiring an experienced, competent and highly regarded personal injury lawyer or injury law firm is vital. Sadly, I see many individuals attempt to handle their own personal injury claim and fail for several distinct reasons.

How much higher is a settlement when represented by a lawyer?

A study by the Insurance Research Council found that settlements were 40 percent higher when claimants were represented by a lawyer. To make sure you get the maximum compensation you deserve, hire an experienced personal injury attorney that isn’t afraid to try your case.

How to protect your rights after a car accident?

Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, a dog attack, as a result of a pharmacy error, or have lost a loved one, you should protect your rights by immediately talking to a personal injury lawyer. Do not hesitate. Many states have strict time limits — called a statute of limitations — that limit the amount of time you have to seek compensation for your injury.

Why is the contingency fee so high in Florida?

Some people may think that the Florida contingency fee is high, but the Florida Bar sets it this way because the personal injury lawyer is taking a risk on the personal injury case. If there is no financial recovery; the attorney loses all the time, money, and effort they put into the case.

What does personal injury mean?

The meaning of “Personal Injury” is quite simple – it means when a person (you) is harmed or injured. People are most commonly injured from car accidents, slip and falls, dangerous conditions on the property, assaults on property, poisonous air or food, harmful products, and any other type of harm-causing situation.

What can a personal injury law firm do?

In some cases, a personal injury law firm may also have medical personnel on staff that can evaluate your claim and tell you what type of personal injury claim you have and also interpret the medical records that they receive from your physicians and serve as a buffer between you and the physicians. They will also be able to make sure that you are receiving the best personal care for your injuries and best serve your personal injury case by being thorough and professional.

How to get the most out of a personal injury claim?

It is essential that you also meet with the right physicians to get the most out of your claim. Your personal injury attorney, who will be knowledgeable about personal injury laws in your state, can help get you to the right medical experts that can treat you and also serve as good witnesses in your case, should the case go to trial. You want to have medical professionals around you that can not only heal you, but also testify in court, and explain how the injury will impact you in the future.

Why are private investigators important?

Private investigators are just as important as the personal injury attorneys as they arm the personal injury lawyer with the information necessary to pursue your claim.

How to avoid medical malpractice?

Avoid Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitation Issues. If you have a medical malpractice claim, time is of the essence. There are state statutes that require you to put the doctor on notice within a specific period of time. If you believe that you are a victim of medical malpractice, you should engage counsel as soon as you can.

Do insurance companies have the deck stacked in their favor?

Insurance companies typically have the deck stacked in their favor. They have plenty of the money and lots of legal resources. You want to make sure that you are on an even playing field, or as even as possible, when dealing with these companies.

Can a 5 mph collision cause damage to the spine?

Even a 5 MPH collision could cause a variety of damage to the back, neck and spine. Regardless of how simple you think your case is, you should always engage the services of a personal injury attorney. You should never go through this minefield yourself. In most cases, there is no charge to you if the lawyer doesn’t recover any money, so there is no risk to you in engaging counsel as soon as possible.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

If you’ve sustained an injury due to someone else’s fault and you pursue a case, a personal injury lawyer will fight for you to receive compensation. An accident lawyer provides legal services for those who seek compensation due to being injured (whether physically or psychologically) at the fault of another individual or entity.

5 Situations Where You Should Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer

If any of these scenarios resemble your own case, it may be time to hire a personal injury lawyer.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

If any of these scenarios resemble your own, it’s time to consult with a personal injury lawyer.

What is the duty of an attorney hired by a liability insurance company?

The attorney hired by your liability insurance company owes his duty to you as his client to keep you informed about your case and to guide you through the litigation. I would continue to call for updates and I would write a letter requesting the attorney update you with his status reports that he writes to the insurer who is paying his fee. You would need to hire your own attorney to look into the matter if you are uncomfortable with the attorney's responses or lack thereof, or if the attorney advises you that the potential settlement exceeds your liability insurance limits.

What is the purpose of insurance premiums?

As stated, the concern is whether your exposure exceeds your policy. A main purpose of insurance premiums is to pay legal fees. As said, you should push your defense counsel for information and tell them you want a written status. Make sure you know the amount of coverage you have and the claimed...

Do defendants in bodily injury cases hire private counsel?

What you have described is not abnormal, and very few defendants in bodily injury cases hire private counsel. As stated, the concern is whether your exposure exceeds your policy. A main purpose of insurance premiums is to pay legal fees. As said, you should push your defense counsel for information and tell them you want a written status. Make sure you know the amount of coverage you have and the claimed...

1. Make a List of Your Requirements

Have you suffered from a negligent medical procedure, product defect or serious car accident? You first need to define your legal needs and the qualifications you require in a personal injury attorney. It will make your search easier and quicker to accomplish.

3. Trust the Value of Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Whether you are the client or the prospective attorney, word-of-mouth-marketing (WOMM) is still the most valuable source for client referrals since nine out of ten consumers trust the word of family and friends over advertising messages.

4. Narrow Your Search to Three Attorneys

Now that you have gathered evidence on professional history and character development, you need to narrow your search results down to three attorneys that you believe match your needs. It will allow you to contact them to request a free consultation.

5. Check Legal Credentials

It is an excellent idea to visit a few of the rating sites to see how your top attorneys rank. Some to consider include:

6. Ask Questions & Take Notes

When you go to your consultation, you need to be ready to ask a series of questions that allow you to understand their legal policy and procedure as attorneys will ask you:

7. Compare Research for the Best Candidate

Now that you have completed your consultations, you will have the information you need to choose the personal injury attorney that has a sincere interest in you and your case. Trust your research, the feedback and your requirements that you noted when you started a search.

Katherine Bishop

Katherine Bishop is a staff writer for Attorney at Law Magazine. She has been a writer with the publication for more than four years. She also writes for Real Estate Agent Magazine.

What does a personal injury attorney do?

Personal injury attorneys normally work on contingency, receiving approximately a third of the eventual settlement or judgment, plus office expenses. Regardless, clarify what the lawyer means when he or she says "no fee if no recovery.". Make sure you understand the attorney's fees from the start. 3.

How to find a good personal injury lawyer?

1. Ask friends and family to refer their injury lawyer. Word of mouth is not going away. The preferred way to find a good personal injury lawyer is to ask friends and family for a referral to an attorney who represented them in the past. Who to ask to find attorneys: friends, Google, Facebook, directories.

Can a personal injury case make up for a lack of connection?

However, no matter how experienced that person is, it can't make up for a lack in connection and personality. A personal injury case is exactly that: personal. You will be telling your attorney intimate details about your life in preparation for your case. Make sure you suffer no more discomfort than is necessary.