Personal Injury Lawyers
You are probably familiar with the names of a few personal injury law firms. In fact, if you watch television, you may even have a catchy jingle or two from personal injury law commercials running through your head! Unfortunately, many people may have negative stereotypes of what these kinds of lawyers do, or they may have little idea of how important a good personal injury law firm can be. If you or a family member has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, a personal injury lawyer can be crucial to your family’s ability to get compensation -- and to get through one of the toughest times any family can experience.
When You Are Injured
If you are seriously injured, you face a number of challenges. In some cases, you may literally be fighting for your life. Even if your injuries are not life-threatening, you may be in pain and unsure of what your future will look like. In addition, you will likely not be able to work; for some families, the loss of wages can be financially devastating. When someone has suffered a major injury, there will also be expenses to cover. These expenses might include the cost of medications, therapy, attendant care, housekeeping, special travel costs, and more. Recovering after a major injury can constitute one of the lowest points in one’s life, and it’s at this time that a personal injury lawyer can be of great help.
Here are some of the things that a personal injury lawyer can help you with:
- Filing an insurance claim. Insurance claims for major injuries are exacting, complex, and time-sensitive. They require supporting material that includes medical records, police reports, and other paperwork. An incorrect or incomplete filing, or one that misses a deadline, can lead to the rejection of the claim. The best person to file a claim on your behalf is a personal injury lawyer, who understands what documentation is required, will know which deadlines will need to be met, and who can accurately assess what your claim is worth.
- Negotiating with insurance companies. Many accident victims think that because they have been paying premiums to their insurance company, the company will happily provide compensation now that they need it. However, it is important to remember that every insurance company tries to keep payments to its customers as low as possible, and yours is no exception. If possible, the insurance company will deny your claim; it will certainly try to pay out as little as possible. It’s important to have a representative who is used to dealing with these companies helping you. If the company comes in with an offer that is unfair, your personal injury lawyer can negotiate to try to get you more money. It’s also been proven that claims negotiated by lawyers are settled more quickly than those where the victim tries to do their own negotiating.
- Filing a lawsuit. A good personal injury lawyer can also tell you if or when it is to your advantage to file a suit against the insurance company, should negotiations fail to provide a reasonable offer. Any suit will need to be shepherded by an experienced personal injury law firm.
- Investigating the accident or issue. Often a personal injury lawyer is the person who does the legwork that reveals the cause of the accident, or provides the most clear picture of what happened. A personal injury lawyer may talk to witnesses, do research at the scene of the accident, or uncover information that is crucial to your case.
- Finding help. Most personal injury lawyers can recommend therapists who can help with your recovery process. They can be an invaluable resource as you work toward maximizing your potential.
- Moral support. When you are struggling to recover from a serious injury, you can feel discouraged and alone. Knowing that you have someone who is advocating for you can help to give you hope.
Affording a Personal Injury Lawyer
Sometimes people hesitate to call a lawyer, fearing that legal fees will be unaffordable. In fact, there is no good reason to go without legal representation. Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that they do not charge hourly fees; instead, they receive a percentage of any settlement that you receive. There are two points to be made about this:
- It ensures your lawyer will work hard to get you the highest possible compensation, since his/her fee is contingent on what you receive, and
- Insurance claims that are negotiated by lawyers have larger payouts than those that are conducted by victims. So even though you may be paying a percentage of the damages to your lawyer, it’s likely that the amount recovered would have been much lower had you not sought out legal advice.
And generally, the first consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Ontario is free! So you have nothing to lose – and possibly a great deal to gain – by contacting a personal injury law firm. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call a personal injury lawyer today.