Settling A Personal Injury Case? Why You Still Need An Attorney
When you're injured in a car accident, you often need to seek compensation through a personal injury legal claim. However, many accident cases never make it to the courtroom. Instead, they often end in a settlement between the victim and the insurance carrier.
If you're open to resolving things in a settlement, then, do you still need a lawyer? If you never enter a full courtroom to press your case, should you still retain legal aid? The answer is usually 'yes', and here's why.
1. To Build a Strong Case
Negotiation between you and the insurance company relies on the strength of your case — even outside the courtroom. Why? In general, your ability to get the settlement you want and deserve depends on whether the opposing side believes it's less expensive to pay you now than to go to court.
How can you convince them that settlement is in their own best interests? By showing you have a case that is more likely to result in an even bigger judgment. This calls for a strong case that compels them.
2. To Negotiate in Your Interests
Can you negotiate as well as a room full of expensive corporate attorneys? Many laypersons are intimidated by this thought. And even if you're confident in your skills, you can't afford to take the chance that those lawyers will get the better of you. You need a skilled, trained attorney on your side to help you with tough negotiations. Only then will you know you've gotten the best settlement possible.
3. To Understand Your Rights
As a victim and as a plaintiff, you have certain legal rights. Do you know all of yours? Do you know what the opposing lawyers may or may not ask? What private or medical matters you may keep private? How much would your case be affected in your state if you're partly at fault for the accident? Can you delete social media posts that may be misconstrued?
The wrong move in any of these areas could be disastrous. The other side's lawyers, after all, know all your rights and will take advantage of any naivete.
4. To Complete Legal Steps
Even if you do agree to a settlement, you'll have to complete certain legal steps. If settling after starting a case with the court, for example, you must follow the rules to bring the case to a close. And the settlement itself must be drafted in a way that makes it legally binding and enforceable.
Contrary to what many people think, most legal work by attorneys actually happens outside the courtroom. And all of that still goes on no matter how you finally resolve your legal case.
Where to Start
No matter where you wind up taking your car accident claim, the right legal assistance is vital. Make sure you have that by consulting with experienced personal injury attorneys—such as Gayheart & Willis P.C.—today.
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