If you have recently been injured at it was because of the actions or negligence of another party, you might be wondering how to get a fair settlement. There are several reasons why you should always speak to a personal injury lawyer before accepting any kind of settlement. Here’s everything you should know.
Why You Should Never Accept a Settlement Without Talking to a Personal Injury Lawyer
You May Not Know What Your Case Is Worth
This is one of the biggest reasons to avoid accepting any offer without first speaking to your lawyer. As a layperson, you may not know how much you should be expecting from your settlement.
Your lawyer will likely have worked on cases similar to this one before. They’ll have a much better idea if what you are being offered is fair for the injuries and damages you’ve suffered, or if you should be fighting for a higher amount.
Insurance Companies Are Not Your Friends
The representative from the other party’s insurance company may try to get in touch with you early on. They may sound compassionate and understanding, but you need to understand that this insurance company is not your friend. You should avoid speaking to them.
The goal of the insurance company is to have to pay you as little as possible. They may use your lack of legal knowledge against you and try to get you to admit at least partial fault. If the insurance company tries to get in touch with you, let your lawyer handle it.
You Don’t Have to Accept the First Settlement
When people choose not to work with Kansas City personal injury lawyers, they may not realize that they don’t have to accept the first settlement offered. Unfortunately, many people without proper guidance and representation take the first offer, meaning they may not get the compensation they actually deserve.
When you hire your lawyer, they will look at the other party’s initial offer with you. If together you decide that this is not what your injuries and damages are worth, then your lawyer will help you get a more reasonable amount.
You Might Not Have All the Right Evidence
To get the most out of your settlement, you’re going to have to present evidence to prove several things. First, you need to prove that you were in fact injured and suffered damages. You will also need to prove that these injuries and damages were caused by the accident.
Your lawyer can tell you what pieces of evidence you need. They’ll also help you gather them and keep them organized. Some examples of the types of evidence you can use include photos and videos of the scene, medical bills and notes, and tickets indicating the at-fault driver committed an offense like drunk driving.
How to Find the Right Lawyer
Go for a Consultation
These days, most lawyers will offer free consultations to prospective clients. You should absolutely take advantage of this while you’re looking for the right lawyer.
During your consultation, make sure you ask plenty of questions. Ask if they’ve worked on similar cases in the past, and what those results were like. You should also try and get a good feel for the lawyer’s personality. You may be working with this person for a long time, so the two of you should get along well.
Ask About Their Caseload
Popularity is a reasonable indication that the lawyer is a good one. But if their popularity has resulted in a heavy caseload, then you might want to look for another option. You want your lawyer to be available to give your case the attention it deserves, after all.
Along with how heavy their caseload is, ask questions like when they’re available to speak as well as what their usual communication methods are. You should also check whether you’ll be speaking to them directly, or if an assistant will be handling communication.
Look For Someone Understanding
If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, you are likely dealing not only with physical pain but mental pain as well. Accidents like these can be extremely traumatizing, and it’s important to look after yourself during this time.
It’s also important for you to work with a lawyer who understands what you’re going through. You want to work with someone who’s going to get you results but who will also offer you patience and compassion while you’re healing from your injuries.
Being injured because of the negligence or actions of another party is a scary thing. You deserve to be properly compensated for what you’ve experienced. To get the settlement you deserve, you need to work with a qualified lawyer. They’ll make sure that you don’t get anything less than what you deserve for your injuries.
