If you’ve been injured, you might be wondering if you need to hire a personal injury attorney. In addition, you may be unsure about when you would need a personal injury attorney and if you need one or not.
You should hire a personal injury attorney if you’ve been injured in an accident or from someone else’s negligence. The role of a personal injury attorney is to help you seek compensation for your losses. In addition, a personal injury attorney will help you protect your rights and ensure you get the total compensation you’re entitled to. Insurance companies and large corporations want to pay you as little as possible for your injuries and damages.
If you are contemplating whether or not you need to hire a personal injury attorney, read on for some helpful information.
While some personal injury cases won’t mandate legal counsel, having an experienced personal injury attorney handle your injury claim will always benefit you. A skilled, professional attorney who handles your case can better help you protect your rights and obtain maximum compensation.
Examples of When You Need a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer
If You Were Injured Due to Someone Else’s Negligence
If you were an accident victim, you must prove the other party’s negligence, wrongdoing, or error caused your injuries. If you can’t prove that the other party’s negligence caused the accident, you probably won’t be able to recover compensation.
If the other party disputes liability and says the accident was your fault, you’ll need to hire a Denver personal injury lawyer immediately. An attorney can investigate your case to determine how your injury occurred and establish liability. Furthermore, a skilled attorney can help you gather evidence and develop a legal strategy to prove the at-fault party’s liability.
If You Are Partially at Fault for the Accident
Even if the other party accepts liability, they can claim that you contributed to causing the accident. For example, if you were involved in a motorcycle accident, the insurance company might argue that you were speeding. Even if the other driver’s failure to yield caused the accident, you will be partially at fault if you were speeding.
In Colorado, if you contributed to causing the accident, a judge or jury can reduce your compensation by the percentage of fault you have for causing the accident. So, for example, if you are found to be 40% at fault for causing an accident, your financial award would be reduced by 40%.
Insurance companies use contributory negligence claims as a way to pay you a lower settlement. But, with an experienced Denver personal injury attorney on your side, you can fight unfounded allegations.
If Multiple Parties Were Involved in the Accident
Sometimes accidents involve multiple parties. One example would be if you were involved in a multi-car pile-up accident. Personal injury lawyers are experienced in dealing with the specific challenges that arise with multiple-party accidents.
Your potential financial recovery could be much more when multiple parties are involved. However, it’s also possible for your claims process to be longer and more complicated.
If You Sustained Any Injuries or Permanent Disability
Personal injury cases often involve traumatic injuries or permanent disabilities. For example, you’ll most likely need ongoing medical care if you develop a disabling condition from car accident injuries. In addition, you may be unable to return to work from your injuries.
Your attorney can also help you seek compensation for your current injuries and future damages. In addition, a Denver personal injury attorney can assist you in obtaining all necessary records to assess the value of your claim. Doing so can help ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your claim.
It would be best if you were prepared for insurance companies to do everything they can to lower the value of your claim. An experienced attorney who knows how to deal with insurance companies and maximize your claim value will improve your odds of getting the best outcome.
If the Opposing Sides Insurance Company Acts in Bad Faith
Insurance companies are profit-driven businesses. Therefore, their goal is usually to pay you as little as possible. They may even try to deny your claim outright. They will do whatever they can to get out of paying you what you deserve. Sometimes, the actions of insurance companies to avoid payouts can be considered bad faith.
For example, suppose an insurance company intentionally tries to prolong your claim to exceed the statute of limitations. In that case, you might lose your right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Here are a few other examples of bad faith practices commonly seen with insurance companies:
- Failure to thoroughly investigate a claim
- Asking you for unnecessary paperwork as a strategy to elongate the claims process
- Refusing to pay a settlement for a valid claim
- Claims false allegations of contributory negligence
- Misrepresenting the terms of the insurance policy
- Purposely misleading a victim about their legal rights; for example, they could knowingly convince you that you are obligated to provide a recorded statement, which is untrue.
An excellent personal injury lawyer is familiar with these insurance tactics and can anticipate them. They also understand the law and how it relates to personal injury claims. In addition, insurance companies are much less likely to act in bad faith if you have legal counsel.
If an insurance company refuses to settle for a fair amount, your attorney can proceed to file a personal injury lawsuit.
To Level the Playing Field
Insurance companies have a large team of professionals and lawyers working to protect them from liability. That means you’ll have to go up against insurance adjusters, investigators, and attorneys working for the insurance company. That means they are working against your best interests. Therefore, you need to hire a legal team to protect your rights and put up a fair fight. With a team of legal experts, you’ll increase your chances of getting fair compensation.
See It Through With an Experienced Denver Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s not always an easy task to find a good lawyer. However, working with a competent, seasoned lawyer can ultimately spell the difference between the success or failure of your case. Furthermore, the stress of an injury or financial hardships can take a toll on anyone, and an inadequate or inexperienced lawyer will only add to your frustration.
Make sure you find the right attorney with your best interests in mind throughout your case. Do not make the false assumption that all personal injury lawyers are of equal caliber. Instead, research and ask the right questions to ensure you make an informed decision and find the best attorney for your case.
Call us today for a free initial consultation. We will happily discuss your legal rights and fight to win you the total compensation you deserve.
