If you have been in a car accident, or you have been injured by someone else’s negligence, retaining an experienced personal injury lawyer can benefit you enormously. Here are five reasons why.

One: Insurance companies are businesses – they exist to make a profit.

Insurance companies have teams of qualified and experienced employees and lawyers whose goal is to reduce payouts to innocent injured parties to maximize profits. Be aware that insurance claims adjusters are employed by the insurance company and are the insurance company’s representative, not yours. Further, an adjuster’s career success is tied to how fast they clear claims and close files combined with keeping claims settlements as low as possible. In short, their interests are not the same as an injured party seeking compensation for their injuries.

As a result, insurance companies prefer to negotiate with an injured party that has no idea about their rights and the law respecting adequate compensation for the injuries and losses they have suffered. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer helps to level the playing field and increase compensation for injured individuals.

Two: An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you get the maximum possible compensation for your injuries.

Experienced personal injury lawyers have a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with insurance companies. When you are injured, the last thing you want to do is deal with the other party’s insurance company to gather expert evidence, obtain medical reports and fight for adequate compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer can do all of this for you and more. This helps to ease the stress caused by an accident, lets you focus on your recovery and ensures that you receive a payment that fairly compensates you for your injuries.

Second, an experienced personal injury lawyer knows what other claimants have received for injuries similar to yours. They also know how to find cases that support high compensation awards, and how to use those cases to support your claim.

Third, experienced personal injury lawyers are skilled at negotiation, and encouraging the insurance companies to settle before going to court, but will not hesitate to take matters to Court when a settlement is not possible.

Finally, a personal injury lawyer’s interests are aligned with yours throughout the entire process. Injury lawyers generally work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid if you do. Your lawyer’s rate of pay is entirely dependent on the award of compensation you receive. Therefore, aside from it being the right thing to do, a personal injury lawyer has an additional incentive to obtain the maximum award possible for you.

Three: A personal injury lawyer can level the playing field against the other party’s insurance company.

When you sue for compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident, for example, the insurance company of the other party will vigorously defend the action for their insured. Large insurance companies have vast resources at hand and experienced insurance adjusters on their team. It can be intimidating to face experts hired by an insurance company on your own. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you manage that stress. Your personal injury lawyer will obtain experts for you, hire accident engineers to determine fault if necessary, and communicate with medical specialists regarding your injuries.

You may not have the resources or connections to hire these experts on your own, but personal injury lawyers do, and they will cover the upfront costs of making sure you have the professional help you need to make your case. Let your lawyer handle the legal details and communicate with the other party’s insurance company, while you focus on your recovery.

Four: A personal injury lawyer can answer your questions and provide trustworthy practical advice.

With years of experience handling numerous personal injury cases, an experienced personal injury lawyer is a source of knowledge for you to rely upon. You will likely have many questions, and will require accurate and practical answers.

A personal injury lawyer can answer questions like:

• How they will navigate the legal process/system for you
• How your medical treatment will be paid for initially
• How to obtain benefits through your own insurance company, and what those benefits are
• How to document your injuries and symptoms
• What records you must keep throughout the entire process
• What you can expect to receive as compensation, and
• How to prepare for your post-injury life

A good personal injury lawyer will be up-front with you, and will tell you in clear terms the strengths and weaknesses of your case, your legal options, and your expected compensation once appropriate medical information has been received. Your lawyer can guide you through the process and ensure that you are aware of the best possible courses of action available to you at each stage of the claims process.

Five: An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you with all stages of the legal process.

Most personal injury cases settle before going to trial, but it is possible that you will still have to take some steps towards litigation, to encourage settlement. The legal system can be very confusing and overwhelming for those who are unfamiliar with it. Having a seasoned veteran of the system on your side can be extremely helpful and reassuring.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can take care of you every step of the way. If you are in an accident, the clock starts ticking and you have only two years to initiate legal proceedings (with certain exceptions). A lawyer will ensure that the necessary documents are filed within the required time, and will complete all needed documents for you.

Retaining an experienced personal injury lawyer will help to ensure that your case is dealt with professionally, smoothly and with minimum stress to you and your family. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer represent you provides some assurance that you will be able to obtain fair compensation for your injuries, with the least amount of stress. You will be able to move on with your life, knowing that you achieved the best possible result given the circumstances.

You have nothing to lose by getting free legal advice.

Most lawyers, including our personal injury lawyers, offer a free initial consultation for personal injury victims. There is no downside to getting some advice about your claim before you make decisions that will impact your future. It is always better to be fully informed about your rights and obligations when dealing with any legal matter, including an accident claim. If you or a loved one has been injured we invite you to contact one of our personal injury lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation.