If you were injured in a serious accident, you may be weighing whether you should hire an accident attorney. When you protect your rights with an accident attorney, you enjoy enhanced peace of mind while seeking maximum compensation for your losses. But what risks do you take if you choose self-representation?
What Does an Accident Attorney Do?
To understand the risks and consequences of not hiring a personal injury attorney, you need to understand what these legal professionals do.
After an accident, you can submit an insurance claim to cover the costs of your damages. In many cases, though, insurance will not cover the full extent of your losses. Attempting to negotiate insurance settlements or take the case to court requires exceptional legal knowledge, negotiation skills, and resources.
An accident attorney evaluates your case, investigates evidence, determines liability, negotiates with insurers, and seeks maximum compensation on your behalf. They can handle your claim and lawsuit while you heal from your accident.
Contact our team today so we can fight to help you get the compensation you deserve.
The Risks of Not Hiring an Accident Attorney
Choosing not to hire an attorney after your accident comes with numerous risks, including the following:
Lower Compensation
Accident attorneys have the legal knowledge and resources to fight for your maximum compensation. Unless you’re experienced in personal injury law, you may accidentally settle for less than your case is worth.
Insurance adjusters employ numerous tactics to attempt to make you assume liability or settle too quickly. You may face a claim denial or low-ball settlement offer that throws the entire case off track.
If you want to avoid compensation risks, you need to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can represent your financial interests.
Legal Complications
Personal injury cases involve many complex laws. Without a deep understanding of this legislation, you may make a misstep that harms your case. For example, you could say something to an insurer that leads you to assume liability for an accident you didn’t cause.
You also may not understand all of the legal requirements for case filings. One mistake in the process could lead to penalties, fines, or worse.
Missed Deadlines and Filing Issues
When filing a lawsuit, you must adhere to numerous strict deadlines and filing requirements. One misstep can delay the entire case while potentially putting your claim at risk of denial.
Attorneys can ensure precision in your filings so you don’t have to worry about unnecessary problems. Your legal advisor can even help you complete paperwork correctly to avoid risks.
Accidental Liability Assumption
Attempting to navigate a personal claim without legal representation can lead to accidental liability assumption, but what does this mean?
The majority of U.S. states follow one of two negligence laws (or a modified version). These laws dictate how you can seek compensation based on your liability:
Contributory negligence: With contributory negligence, you cannot seek compensation if you’re found even partially liable. If the court rules you 1% liable for an accident, you’ll be barred from all compensation.
Comparative negligence: In comparative negligence, your compensation will be calculated based on your liability percentage. For example, if you’re found 30% liable, your compensation will be reduced by 30%. Some states limit the threshold to 50%, meaning you can only seek compensation if you’re less than 50% liable.
Regardless of the laws in your state, you can see how liability greatly impacts your potential compensation. If you accidentally assume liability, you may forfeit some or all of your compensation. An attorney can help you avoid liability by collecting evidence, hiring private investigators, interviewing witnesses, communicating with insurers correctly, and more.
Emotional Stress
Self-representation comes with high risks of emotional stress. You must handle legal matters on a daily basis while attempting to heal from the traumatic event.
A regular day might involve communicating with insurers, filing confusing documents, re-visiting the site of the accident for evidence, handling claim denials, researching laws in your state, attending court dates, and more. The process involves high levels of frustration and confusion that can spike your anxiety while you should be resting from the accident.
Inadequate Finances or Time
To properly represent your case, you should be able to invest a lot of your time, energy, and personal funding. Lawsuits require hefty upfront fees and manual work. If you have a busy job, family to take care of, or limited savings, you likely shouldn’t attempt to represent yourself.
Your accident attorney’s full-time job is to represent you and other clients, so they can dedicate their time to your case. Many personal injury attorneys use a “no-fees-until-you-win” structure, so you don’t need to invest any upfront resources.
The Potential Consequences of Not Hiring an Accident Attorney
So, what happens if the above risks occur? The potential consequences of not hiring an accident attorney include the following:
Financial Consequences
If you cannot seek maximum compensation for your losses, you may face serious debts. Expenses like hospital bills, emergency transportation, property damage, and more can add up to tens of thousands. Without proper compensation, you may spend many years attempting to pay these debts off.
Personal Consequences
Self-representation in an accident case can come with many personal consequences. Aside from the stress, anxiety, and financial burdens faced during the lawsuit process, many issues can arise moving forward if you aren’t awarded an adequate settlement.
Without full compensation, you may not be able to afford the required medical treatments for your injuries. As you’re healing, you may need support for things like child care, transportation, lost wages, etc. If your compensation doesn’t cover these items, your family may struggle for the time being.
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Don’t Face the Risks of Self-Representation: Seek Legal Support Today
Avoid the risks and consequences of self-representation by hiring an accident attorney to represent your financial interests and legal rights. At Accident Hotline, we connect you with accident lawyers. Learn more about personal injury attorney fees, then call Accident Hotline at (888) 340-7454 for a case evaluation with an experienced accident attorney.
For a free consultation, call 888-340-7454
