why do i need a lawyer soon after an accident 1999 study

Hiring an experienced attorney as soon as possible after your accident can keep you from being taken advantage of by insurance companies or just getting talked out of receiving the compensation that you deserve for your pain and suffering.

Full Answer

Should I hire a lawyer after a car accident?

If you were in a vehicle at the time of an accident, you certainly want to seek medical attention. You'll want to hear a doctor clear you of any risk too. Once that has happened, it may become questionable to ask an attorney to help you pursue a claim.

How much recovery should I expect a lawyer to take?

Enjuris tip: If a lawyer takes one-third of your recovery, then they'll need to improve your expected results by more than 50% to justify hiring them. If a lawyer takes one-third of your recovery, then they'll need to improve your expectedresults by more than 50% to justify hiring them.

Should I hire an attorney to help me pursue a claim?

Once that has happened, it may become questionable to ask an attorney to help you pursue a claim. There are some cases where the potential recovery for a claim is so small that you simply cannot justify hiring an attorney.

Do I need a lawyer in a small claims case?

You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court. The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.

Why do you need an attorney for a spinal cord injury?

What to do if you have an accident?

What to do if time has passed since accident?

What happens if your insurance company denies your claim?

What to do before accepting a settlement offer from insurance company?

What does an insurance company ask for in a personal injury claim?

What is a personal injury claim?

See more

About this website

Do You Need a Lawyer After an Auto Accident in Texas?

If you are injured in an auto accident in Texas, the need to call a lawyer may not be your first thought – but it should be a priority.

Basic steps to take after an auto accident in Texas

If you are involved in an auto accident in Texas, safety should always come first.

Why speak to a lawyer after an accident?

Whether you’re injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, or other accident, you will probably be in shock for a few days.

How will an auto accident lawyer help?

An auto accident lawyer will take over the burden of communicating with the at-fault parties from you and your family.

Will my case go to court?

Most experienced accident lawyers will exert pressure on the insurance company of the at-fault party to commit to a fair settlement.

Can you settle without a lawyer?

There is no legal requirement to hire a lawyer to claim compensation from the at-fault party in Texas.

Been in an accident in Houston area?

At the DeHoyos Law Firm PLLC, we’ve seen all sorts of personal injury cases and provide professional and compassionate representation while holding insurance companies to account.

1. There is a Need to Collect Evidence to Prove Liability in the Crash

Collecting evidence about what happened in an accident is crucial to determining if a driver may have been negligent and who is therefore liable for the crash.

2. You Need Someone Skilled at Evaluating Damages and Determining the True Value of Your Injury

Once evidence is collected, it must be evaluated. Attorneys generally have many resources to build a case that the average person does not have. They include hiring medical experts to validate the seriousness of injuries and having accident reconstruction specialists to recreate the accident scene.

3. You Need Someone Who Can Dispute an At-Fault Driver Who Claims They are Not Responsible for the Accident

Sometimes a driver who is at fault in an accident will try to shift the blame and assert that it was not their negligence that caused the crash. A Slater & Zurz attorney will go over the evidence to determine exactly who was at fault. They will build a strong case on your behalf.

4. You Need Someone Knowledgeable About Ohio Law and How Insurance Policies Work

Slater & Zurz attorneys are familiar with Ohio personal injury law, Ohio insurance law and the defenses to negligence that are often presented. They know how to best mitigate these defenses and will file a lawsuit for you if necessary.

5. You Need Someone Knowledgeable about the Settlement Process

Insurance adjusters negotiate insurance settlements on a full-time basis. They fight for the best interests of the insurance company. Your Slater & Zurz attorney has considerable experience as a negotiator so you can obtain the compensation you deserve.

6. You Need Someone Who Can Offer You a Contingency Plan

Many times a personal injury victim has a big fight ahead and that fight will cost a considerable amount of money. Slater & Zurz accident lawyers have the necessary resources to fight your fight for you and they will offer you a “contingency plan” for payment of your legal bills.

Why do you need an attorney for a spinal cord injury?

Any time you suffer serious injuries in an accident, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or amputation, working with an attorney is invaluable for seeking the compensation you deserve, as well as giving you a better understanding of the claims process and how much compensation you might expect.

What to do if you have an accident?

If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, you should contact an attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Severe injuries often leave the victims of those accidents with substantial medical bills, extended medical treatments, and in many cases, no or reduced income to help pay for those bills.

What to do if time has passed since accident?

If time has passed since your accident, especially if you have not communicated with the insurance company or liable party at all, immediately consult a personal injury attorney to ensure your claim is still valid.

What happens if your insurance company denies your claim?

If the insurance company does deny your claim, an experienced personal injury attorney can appeal the denial and provide evidence to increase your odds of a successful resolution. 2. The insurance company delays responding to your claim or delays payment on your claim. Some time has passed since your accident, but you have received no response ...

What to do before accepting a settlement offer from insurance company?

Before accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company or the liable party in your accident, contact a personal injury attorney. Many will offer a free consultation that will give you a better idea of how much compensation you should expect, and how you should react to the terms offered in a given settlement.

What does an insurance company ask for in a personal injury claim?

An insurance company covering a personal injury claim may ask to see substantial evidence of the limitations caused by your injuries. The medical bills and medical records, which establish the extent of your injuries, are just the start. The insurance company will often want to know more about how those injuries affect your life, ...

What is a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim requires you to establish that another party caused your injuries. If you believe that happened, or that outside factors contributed to the accident, you probably need an attorney to collect evidence and pursue your personal injury claim. In many accidents, multiple parties may share liability.

How much money do you need to settle a lawsuit without counsel?

For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother. Believe it or not, most attorneys give honest opinions on whether or not it would be worth your while to hire an attorney or take any easy settlement.

What is the importance of signing off on an agreement?

It is important, however, to have a high level of confidence that something unexpected isn't going to happen. Once you sign off on an agreement, you'll likely never have the chance to seek more money ever again.

Do insurance companies do their jobs?

In a lot of instances, insurance companies do in fact do their jobs as expected. There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill. Let's take a look at some of the cases where you may NOT need to hire an attorney after an accident.

Can you file a personal injury claim if you have no injuries?

Generally, if no people were hurt, or there was no damage ( no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. Just be careful making this judgment of “no injuries” yourself.

Do you have to have counsel in small claims court?

You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court . The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.

Is the police report accurate?

The paperwork does not look accurate ( police report, insurance communications) Details are complicated (technical, legal, medical) Insurance is not playing nice. You do, however, have to ask if paying an attorney to recovery $10,000 in damages is worth the bother if you end up handing over $5,000 to the law firm.

Why do you need an attorney for a spinal cord injury?

Any time you suffer serious injuries in an accident, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or amputation, working with an attorney is invaluable for seeking the compensation you deserve, as well as giving you a better understanding of the claims process and how much compensation you might expect.

What to do if you have an accident?

If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, you should contact an attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Severe injuries often leave the victims of those accidents with substantial medical bills, extended medical treatments, and in many cases, no or reduced income to help pay for those bills.

What to do if time has passed since accident?

If time has passed since your accident, especially if you have not communicated with the insurance company or liable party at all, immediately consult a personal injury attorney to ensure your claim is still valid.

What happens if your insurance company denies your claim?

If the insurance company does deny your claim, an experienced personal injury attorney can appeal the denial and provide evidence to increase your odds of a successful resolution. 2. The insurance company delays responding to your claim or delays payment on your claim. Some time has passed since your accident, but you have received no response ...

What to do before accepting a settlement offer from insurance company?

Before accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company or the liable party in your accident, contact a personal injury attorney. Many will offer a free consultation that will give you a better idea of how much compensation you should expect, and how you should react to the terms offered in a given settlement.

What does an insurance company ask for in a personal injury claim?

An insurance company covering a personal injury claim may ask to see substantial evidence of the limitations caused by your injuries. The medical bills and medical records, which establish the extent of your injuries, are just the start. The insurance company will often want to know more about how those injuries affect your life, ...

What is a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim requires you to establish that another party caused your injuries. If you believe that happened, or that outside factors contributed to the accident, you probably need an attorney to collect evidence and pursue your personal injury claim. In many accidents, multiple parties may share liability.