5 Signs to Help Decide When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

There’s often a lot of uncertainty when dealing with a personal injury—paying medical bills, missing work, etc.—and this uncertainty can easily extend to deciding whether or not you should hire an attorney. If nothing else, it’s unfamiliar territory for most people who have not had much experience with lawyers in the past.

Sometimes there are bright, flashing neon signs telling you you need an attorney, and other times it’s more of a gut feeling. The fact that you’re reading an article about whether you need an attorney is usually a pretty good sign that you already think you need one. If you’re still on the fence, we’ll review some of the biggest indicators that you should hire a personal injury lawyer.

1. You’ve Suffered a Severe or Permanent Injury

Your injury level should definitely figure into your decision about whether or not to hire a lawyer. If your injuries are life-threatening or could leave you permanently disabled, much more is at stake, including your future economic well-being.

Once a case is settled, it is settled forever. That means if you discover later that your injuries were more extensive or debilitating than originally believed, you won’t be able to recover any more money. That’s why it’s important to be thorough when calculating damages. This is a complicated process requiring specific expertise, and you will be much better off with an attorney helping you.

2. Liability Is Unclear

It’s not always clear who is legally responsible for an injury. Hiring a lawyer may be your best bet if the other party or parties are disputing liability or even blaming you. The lawyer can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case and push back when others are trying to shift the blame.

3. There are Multiple Parties Involved

Having multiple parties to a case can quickly complicate things. For example, you may need to negotiate with multiple defendants or compete with other plaintiffs for the money an insurance company is willing to pay. Doing this without a lawyer can put you at a serious disadvantage.

4. Your Case Involves a Corporate Entity

Claims against businesses are defended more vigorously because the party that caused your injury typically has a lot more to lose. Having an attorney assist you can eliminate a lot of headaches and help ensure you don’t accidentally prejudice your claim.

5. Insurance Company Is Acting in Bad Faith

Insurance companies and their employees are highly motivated to settle your case for as little money as possible. They are not on your side, and they are always looking for an advantage. They may try to trick you into saying something that harms your case, send you a lowball offer, push you to settle before you even know how injured you are, or even run out the clock on the statute of limitations.

If you suspect the insurance company isn’t straight with you or trying to intimidate you, hiring a lawyer can make a difference.

Talk to a Lawyer About Your Case

If you’re unsure whether you need a personal injury lawyer, the best course of action is to talk to one. The meeting won’t cost you anything; you can quickly learn about your options. Most people also find that much of the stress they’ve been carrying is immediately relieved just by handing over their problems to an expert.

The JBP Legal team has years of experience in various personal injury cases. Sit down with one of our lawyers to discuss your case and devise a plan for resolving it quickly and fairly. Contact our office to get started.