After an accident that leaves you seriously injured, it is often to your advantage to hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Most only charge on a contingency basis, meaning that you only pay if you win. Hiring a personal injury attorney early on also helps to ensure that you will not run afoul of the statute of limitations that applies to legal action after an accident.
However, there are some specific signs that you should hire a personal injury attorney to handle your case. Here are a few of them.
1. Communications With the Insurance Company
Once the other party’s insurance company starts contacting you, you might want to hire a personal injury attorney to assist with settlement negotiations. Otherwise, the insurance company could offer an unreasonably low settlement amount, counting on your unfamiliarity with the applicable laws to pay out less than you deserve.
2. Questions About Liability
It may be that you genuinely do not know who is liable for the accident. In this instance, you should hire an attorney to represent you in case the insurance company tries to blame you. However, even when it seems fairly clear that the other party is responsible for the accident, the insurance company may still try to shift the blame to avoid paying out. An attorney can employ investigative techniques to place the blame where it belongs.
3. Multiple Parties Involved
Personal injury cases can be complicated enough when there are only two parties involved. If there are multiple parties, it can be difficult to determine who is at fault and who deserves compensation for damages. Hiring an attorney can help you to protect your interests and recover what you deserve.
4. Major Injuries
A major injury is one that requires surgery, puts you in the hospital, or necessitates rehabilitation such as physical therapy. However, if your injuries are minor, you probably do not need to hire an attorney because what you stand to recover is probably less than the legal fees that you would have to pay.
5. Inability To Pay Doctors’ Bills
You may not be able to afford doctors’ bills upfront. If not, a personal injury attorney may be able to refer you to a doctor who will not charge you right away. That way, you get the treatment you need as well as medical records to back up your claim.