Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim Myself?
Unintentional injury was the leading cause of death in the US in 2018. The millions of Americans injured in these accidents deserve adequate compensation. Many injury victims are left asking, “Can I make a personal injury claim myself?”
When you’re trying to navigate complex issues after a personal injury or accident, you will benefit from professional legal help. A personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the process and ensure you get the compensation and support you need to recover from your injury. From instructing you what to do immediately after a car crash to sharing the types of medical treatment you may be able to benefit from, an experienced personal injury lawyer will make sure you get the help you need.
Most personal injury cases are settled out of court, so you may feel tempted to represent yourself. This is almost certainly a bad idea. Representing yourself may be acceptable if you have had a very minor injury that did not require any medical attention and the other party has admitted fault. Studies show that in almost every other situation, injury victims get better support, and more money in compensation from their personal injury claim when they hire a personal injury lawyer.
We recommend you hire a personal injury lawyer because it will offer you peace of mind, and you will also likely benefit financially.
What Are the Advantages of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer will help streamline the legal process for you, so all you need to worry about is recovering from your accident. A personal injury lawyer will provide confidence that you are going to get a great outcome from your personal injury claim and the peace of mind you need to reduce the stress associated with the post-accident recovery process.
In total, 5.5% of Americans aged 30-49 hired a personal injury lawyer in 2018. There is a reason personal injury lawyers are so popular.
Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not have to pay your lawyer unless you win compensation. Since you only pay if you recover, you do not have to pay your lawyer anything unless they win you money, and you’ll never have to pay out-of-pocket or upfront costs to get your case started.
Will You Get More Compensation If You Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer?
Naturally, you want to know how much you will likely win if you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you. Every case is different, but the Insurance Research Council reports that in cases of personal injury due to an auto accident, people received 3.5x more money in compensation for their injuries if they hired a personal injury lawyer than if they represented themselves.
Thus, in the vast majority of cases, lawyer contingency fees are more than worth the cost because injury victims get more compensation in the end. Plus, your injury lawyer will do all the work, so you can focus on recuperating from your accident.
When Is It Possible to Represent Yourself?
Yes, you can represent yourself in a personal injury case. There is no federal right to counsel in civil cases. So, if you are one of the millions of Americans who find themselves in a situation in which you are hurt and deserving of a monetary settlement, personal injury lawyers make it possible to maximize the compensation you receive from your personal injury claim. Personal injury lawyers also allow you to avoid the physically and mentally demanding tasks associated with representing yourself in a personal injury claim.
We have established why it’s beneficial to hire a lawyer, but if you do choose to represent yourself, consider a few essential questions.:
- Can you take time off work to research your case?
- Will you be able to get to and from the court and court-ordered events?
- Will you lose earnings by missing work?
- Do you know what steps to take when you start a case?
- Do you know 100% that you are in the right?
- Are you comfortable negotiating with professional negotiators?
You should not represent yourself if you are not absolutely sure that you are not at fault.
There are a few first steps you should take as you start to form your case:
- Assess damages: what injuries and damages (physical and non-physical) have you sustained?
- Take photos of the scene of the accident and your injuries.
- Ensure you have a copy of the police report and of any medical records related to the injury.
Once you’ve got these basic steps out of the way, you will need to do more work. You’ll need to write a demand letter where you outline the specifics of your case, negotiate with the other party, and potentially navigate the court system.
If you cannot meet all of the above criteria, do not understand the true value of your case, fail to negotiate well, or simply cannot go to court or attend a meeting, you are at risk of settling for less money than you deserve.
It Makes Sense To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer
In limited circumstances, it may make sense to represent yourself. However, in most cases, you will get the best outcome, and have a much better experience, if you hire a personal injury lawyer.