PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY CAN HELP YOU
When it comes to personal injury suits, some plaintiffs try to handle the case on their own. For the most part, this is a grave error. While you’re not legally required to have a personal injury attorney and can file paperwork on your own, there are many common mistakes that you can easily avoid if you simply have a knowledgeable lawyer on your side. Even after you pay your attorney, you will probably end up with more money in settlement than you would if you handled the case on your own. Let’s take a look at a few mistakes that a personal injury attorney can help you avoid.
DON’T SEEK ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT
In a personal injury claim, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is true with minor injuries as well as disabling ones. Even if you feel just fine after a car accident or similar event, remember that some injuries take a while to show up. Additionally, you may deal with mental repercussions, which often take a while to manifest. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Don’t overlook potential trauma or other related issues.
You also need the right doctors. If your case goes to trial, your physicians may end up serving as witnesses, which means that they will need to adequately explain your injury as well as how it will affect you in the future. If you’re dealing with a medical malpractice suit, this becomes even more complicated. You will need to consult a physician who can delineate how the other doctor(s) have erred, as well as actually provide you will the treatment to heal.
YOU DON’T GATHER ALL THE RIGHT INFORMATION
The most overwhelming part of a personal injury case–aside from the injury itself–can simply be navigating the logistics. In a personal injury case, you have to prove something called negligence. Negligence is when someone, be it a doctor, another driver, or even your manicurist, fails to provide you with the care required by law. There are four elements to proving negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Each one of these elements is a bit tricky to understand in its own right. Additionally, you’ll need to gather the information to prove any monetary issues. This includes hospital bills, repairs to your car or other assets (s), and how much your earnings might have been affected by the injury. Calculating your earnings is also a complex process. You will also need to obtain a copy of the police report at the time of the incident, witness statements, and medical records. At the end of all this, you will need to write a demand letter that includes how much you want and a time limit for the company’s response. If this sounds like a lot of legwork and a lot of detail, that’s because it is. It’s easy for things to slip through the cracks, and it’s easy to get discouraged and give up. This is when an attorney who specializes in personal injury law can help you.
YOU THINK YOU CAN OUTSMART THE INSURANCE COMPANY
Don’t flatter yourself: big-time insurance companies have enormous, knowledgeable legal teams that are used to taking on personal injury suits. Insurance companies have their own lawyers who have the knowledge to possibly get your claim denied altogether. You certainly don’t want to give your insurance company a statement without first consulting your lawyer. Making a statement in-person without proper preparation can be a huge liability for you, especially if you say too much or are not articulate. It is very possible to give too much information. To stay on top of everything, you will have to do a lot of research, but if you hire an attorney, he or she will already know the procedures and can do any additional legwork for you. If you have suffered injuries, have big medical bills, or have had to endure a pay cut because of your injury, then you certainly need a personal injury attorney on your team.
SEEK A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IN ROCK HILL, SC
Personal injury claims are difficult, not only in terms of the complicated paperwork and logistics you have to navigate but also because you are dealing at the same time with an injury of some type. It’s a lot to have on your plate all at once. While it certainly may be tempting to handle a personal injury case on your own, the reality is that it is a complex and long process that can take a toll on you, especially if you are already dealing with the repercussions of an injury.
Personal injury lawyers in Rock Hill, SC at Lewis Law Firm, will help you avoid the mistakes discussed above. The firm has over 80 years of combined experience helping injury victims in the Upstate. Let the Lewis Law Firm focus on your case, negotiations, and settlement recovery while you focus on your own recovery. Call them immediately, so that you can begin the process of healing body and spirit and getting the justice you deserve.