What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Have you or a loved one been injured and now you’re determining if a personal injury lawyer is worth it? Do you feel as though there’s no way you can lose your case but someone recommends you still hire a lawyer?
You may feel as though hiring a lawyer will cut into your potential payout, but the contrary is actually true.
A personal injury lawyer will provide a better chance of generating a higher payout and can provide what you need to get your life back.
To help you understand whether a lawyer is worth it, we want to discuss what a lawyer will actually do for you and the reasons why you may benefit from hiring one.
What is a personal injury lawyer?
Before diving into specifics, it’s important to know what a personal injury lawyer is exactly. Some lawyers are general counsels and focus on general areas of the law while others specialize in certain practices.
A personal injury lawyer, as you may have guessed, specializes in personal injury. Personal injury is a specialization that includes several areas of practice including:
- Car accidents
- Product liability cases
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Animal attacks
- Big truck accidents
- Workplace injuries
- And more
Essentially, if you’ve been injured, then it is likely a personal injury case.
Injury cases are not the only cases they can tackle. Many personal injury lawyers have experience with other types of cases or work with a team of others who can handle various caseloads that come their way. So, if you have a favorite lawyer they still may be able to help you even if it is outside of their specialty.
What do personal injury lawyers do for their clients
If anyone has been involved in a court case, they know that there is more to it than showing up to court and telling the judge how the other person wronged you.
- Help you navigate the court
- Advise you on what to say (or not to say) and what information/evidence to provide
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Can discuss settlement terms on your behalf
- Help you win a higher payout
There is a lot involved in a personal injury case and can take over a year to reach a settlement. It is easy to get overwhelmed or give up on the process and settle for less than you deserve when you don’t have help.
Why would we need to hire a personal injury lawyer to settle a personal injury case?
A company offers you a settlement, so why hire a lawyer? It may seem counterintuitive to spend more money when you have a settlement in front of you, but there’s often more to gain than the initial settlement offer.
Companies often lowball the initial settlement. An initial settlement may sound good at first until one realizes how much the financial burden of medical bills, time off work and other necessary costs that build from a major injury.
A personal injury lawyer understands what you need today and what you will need in the future. They can help evaluate when a company is offering a settlement that’s far too low.
Get back your life with a personal injury lawyer
Many of us take our health for granted until something happens. Many of us would not trade our healthy bodies for money.
When someone hires a lawyer, it’s not just to get more money. It’s to help them get their life back.
A personal injury case can take up your time. If you’ve been badly injured, your life may look and feel dramatically different. Having a winning case can allow you to get some resemblance of your old life back.
For example, you may have been independent, but now you rely on family and friends. The extra money won can allow you to utilize special services to help you get around town, to appointments or to the grocery store without the aid of a friend.
Ask a lawyer what they can do for you
If you’ve been injured and you are debating whether or not to hire a lawyer, we suggest contacting one immediately. Ask one firsthand how they can help you with your case. Ask them specifically what they can do for you and the benefit they bring to your case.
If you are a Maryland resident, you can call our law firm. We specialize in personal injury cases and have handled hundreds of cases over the years. If you’re not a Maryland resident, we recommend finding a lawyer in your area who you can speak with.
