You can represent yourself in a car accident case. However, some people prefer to have our car accident lawyers handle the case for them.
While you can handle the case yourself, hiring a lawyer might benefit you, especially if you suffered injuries in a car accident. They can work on your case while you focus on recovering.
Here are some other reasons you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you.
A Car Accident Case Can Be Time-Consuming
If you want to represent yourself in a car accident case to recover compensation for your injuries, know that it can take significant time to build a case, let alone go through the negotiation process.
To prove the other party was negligent—which you must do to recover an award—you must prove that they acted unreasonably and carelessly, their actions caused the accident, and you suffered injuries and financial losses.
You can usually prove negligence by gathering evidence to support your claim. While you can file public records requests, interview witnesses, gather your medical bills, and hire an expert witness, it can take up much of your time. If you are still in treatment for your injuries, representing yourself can also be incredibly stressful and unsuitable for recovery.
Personal Injury Lawyers Know the Law
If you want to read up on insurance and tort law and take the time to learn legal procedures, you can do so. However, one of the most significant advantages of hiring a personal injury lawyer is that they already know the claims process. They have likely worked on cases like yours before, meaning they are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
They can represent you with insurance companies and protect your rights throughout the proceedings, whereas a layperson might need to learn they have rights to protect.
An attorney also knows the deadline in your state, called the statute of limitations, to file a personal injury lawsuit. You need to complete the deadline to avoid seeking compensation at all. A car accident lawyer can work quickly to file your case.
A Lawyer Can Accurately Estimate Your Damages
Lawyers also know how to negotiate with insurance companies. When a victim deals with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, the adjuster might work to downplay their injuries and offer a lower settlement amount.
The victim might accept a lowball offer, not knowing they could be entitled to much more. A car accident attorney can assess all your injuries and financial and emotional losses to estimate what you could be entitled to recover. They can account for the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
If the insurance company does not offer you what your case is worth, your lawyer might suggest taking your case to court. Generally, most cases settle outside of court. According to the Journal of the American Judges Association, approximately 84 percent of tort cases, such as personal injury lawsuits, end before trial. Still, your attorney should be ready if your case warrants it.
However, if you accept a settlement offer that is too low, you generally lose your right to file a lawsuit to pursue compensation in the future.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Is Here to Help
We respect your decision if you want to represent yourself in a car accident case. However, if you wish to help from a personal injury lawyer, Ben Crump Law, PLLC, stands ready to represent you.
We have won clients millions of dollars in car accident cases and want to help you get the settlement you deserve. If someone else caused the accident and led you to suffer injuries, they should have to pay for your damages, not you.
The goal of personal injury cases is to make sure that you suffer no further harm from the injury. If you think the stress of handling your case would be too much, we welcome you to contact our firm.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket. We only take our cut if we secure a settlement or judgment for your car accident. We also do not shy away from tough cases. If the negligent party in your accident were another driver, their employer, the car manufacturer, or a government agency, we would like to hear about your case.
