1. Your Attorney Knows How Much Your Claim is Worth!
The truth is, most people don't know how much money they can get from their personal injury claims. Although there are tools such as a personal injury settlement calculator that can help you establish a rough idea of the value of your claim it will not give you an accurate estimate of the final value of your settlement. Getting a high insurance settlement is more than just putting numbers in a program. It requires understanding the subtleties of your specific injury case. This includes analyzing your injuries, putting a value on your pain and suffering, understanding the "good facts and the "bad facts" in your case and what part they may play, understanding how the insurance companies work and negotiating your accident settlement. If you pursue your insurance claim on your own you will only be guessing at what your injuries are worth and this could cost you thousands of dollars. Hiring a personal injury attorney allows you to leverage their tools and experiences at arriving at the best insurance settlement.
2. Your Attorney Understands the Legal Process
Even if you have a good idea of what your personal injury settlement might be worth, you will be unfamiliar with the legal procedures involved with litigating or mediating your claim. This includes not knowing how to properly complete forms, whether to give a statement, what documents you do and do not have to present, what legal documents you must file and the applicable statute of limitations. The gap in your legal knowledge may allow the insurance companies to beat you on a legal technicality. There is no worse feeling than knowing that you missed out on thousands of dollars from your insurance settlement, simply because you did not follow some minor legal process.
3. Your Attorney Improves Your Odds
Going against the insurance company is like preparing for battle. Undertaking such a battle by yourself is similar to showing up to fight with no weapons. No matter how much you prepare yourself, you just won't be able to put up a strong fight or put your best foot forward. The insurance company knows that it has far more knowledge and bargaining power and will use this to ensure that you get the lowest settlement possible. They will use your unfamiliarity with the claim process to ensure that their interests are protected. The best weapon that you can garner for yourself is a skilled personal injury attorney.
4. Your Attorney Is Motivated to Help You
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they will only get paid if you get an insurance settlement. This is incredibly beneficial to you since you have someone who has experience working against insurance companies, motivated to help you get the highest settlement possible.
5. Your Attorney Can Take Your Case to Trial
Although most accident injury cases never go to trial, if you have an attorney, the insurance company knows there is a much higher chance that you could take your case to court. This will likely motivate them to an earlier and more equitable settlement offer. Most insurance companies know that if you are handling the case on your own, you will likely never file a lawsuit.