According to the CDC, roughly 39 million Americans experience injuries that require medical care each year.
If you have suffered an injury due to another party’s negligence, you have the right to be compensated, both for the medical costs and any other losses.
However, before this happens, you will need to lodge a claim against the negligent party. Before you do this, you’ll also need to decide whether you want to engage legal representation or if you want to DIY your case.
If you have never fought a claim before, you might be wondering whether hiring a personal injury attorney is worth it. What are the pros and cons, and will they be worth their fee?
Before you begin your case, you must get to grips with the answers to these questions. Otherwise, your case might be in jeopardy.
Ready to get wise on the pros and cons of hiring a personal injury attorney? If yes, keep reading as we break down the pluses and the minuses of hiring legal representation.
Pros of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
There are numerous pros to hiring a personal injury lawyer. These include better representation of your case and accurate claim amounts. Besides this, you’ll also save yourself time and stress.
Let’s take a look at these pros in a little more detail.
You Case Stands a Better Chance
If you are wondering is it worth hiring a personal injury lawyer, the short answer is yes—if only for the success of your case.
Personal injury is a complex area of law. What’s more, each state has its own specific laws around personal injury cases. This means that to fight your case successfully, you’ll need to have a comprehensive understanding of both federal and state personal injury laws.
Besides the law itself, you also need practical knowledge of how the court system works. Without this, you may be in danger of missing deadlines, creating a lot of extra work for yourself, and ultimately giving the defense the advantage.
In contrast, an experienced personal attorney has an intimate knowledge of personal injury law. They know about all stages of the court process, and they should also have trial experience. If your claim can’t be settled out of court and goes before a judge and jury, a personal injury lawyer will be equipped to present your case in the best possible light and battle any false narratives the defensive is trying to establish.
Speaking of the defense, a lot of personal injury cases are fought against companies and corporate entities. These organizations usually have dedicated legal teams who are versed in defenses of this kind.
In other situations, you may be facing the legal representation of an individual. Either way, if you do not have your own lawyer to fight back, your case would be put at a serious disadvantage.
You’ll Know How Much to Claim
Knowing what damages you can recover is an important part of any personal injury case. Some common damages you can claim are economic damages, damages related to emotional loss, and punitive damages.
Did you know about all these categories? And do you know what could qualify as these types of damages?
Personal injury attorneys are versed in this and know exactly what types of damages you can claim, as well as what amounts. If you do not have a personal injury lawyer to consult, you might miss out on a significant sum of money in damages—just because you didn’t have access to expertise.
Besides this, you could also be in danger of over-claiming, which can put your case at risk of being dismissed and reduces the chance of successful out-of-court settlement.
You’ll Save Time
Another of the benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney is that it saves you time. Handling a claim case on your own can be very time-consuming, especially if you have never negotiated the court system before. ‘
To have any chance of success, you will need to spend a lot of time finding out how the processes work. You will also need to prepare everything yourself, make all the submissions, and carry out all communication related to the case.
This all adds up, to the point where it can eat up almost all of one’s time.
Reduced Stress Can Help You Recover From Your Injury
When considering the pros and cons of hiring a personal injury attorney, an important benefit to remember is the stress that a personal injury attorney can save you.
Handling any legal case can be highly stressful. Personal injury claims can be doubly so, as there is often an emotional component. Having a lawyer handle the case can reduce any associated stress.
This, in turn, can give you the space and time required to begin healing from your injuries. Stress is proven to be detrimental to the healing process, making this an important benefit to keep in mind.
Cons of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Generally, there is only one con associated with hiring a personal injury attorney. This is the cost.
However, there are often ways you can work around this. In some cases, you may be able to agree on a contingency arrangement or a payment plan with your attorney. This is something you can discuss in your free consultation with a personal injury attorney your are considering.
What’s more, even though there are costs involved, having a lawyer increases the chances of a successful case, which makes hiring one a potentially financially wise move.
Do You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer on Your Side?
If you are thinking of opening a personal injury case, you must understand the benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney. While the costs of this can be a potential con, having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side will substantially increase the odds of your success.
If you need a seasoned personal injury lawyer to fight your case, you’re in the right place. Experts in all law areas, our team here at Elkus & Sisson are experienced litigators that will leave no stone unturned when seeking justice on your behalf.
Contact us today to give your case the chance it deserves.
