When being advised to contact a personal injury lawyer after being involved in an accident, many accident victims respond with a variety of "what if" questions. The purpose of this article is to take the mystery out of this important legal task by giving you the answers you need to all of the "what if" questions you may have when hiring a personal injury lawyer to pursue your own injury claim.
What If the Injuries Were Minor?
Many of the advertisements you see on TV and word-of-mouth accounts you will hear regarding the services of a personal injury lawyer center around individuals who are seriously injured as a result of their accident. Consequently, it's not hard to understand why people with more minor injuries frequently wonder if they, too, can benefit from the services of an attorney. If you are asking this particular question, the answer is yes, even individuals with minor injuries can often benefit from these legal services if those injuries have interfered in their life in a meaningful way. For example, if your injuries prevent you from returning to work right away, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for lost wages.
What If You Were Partially At Fault?
Another common what-if scenario is one in which you are found to be partially at fault for causing the accident that resulted in your injuries. In some cases such as these, the amount of compensation you are able to collect will often be reduced by the same percentage of fault that was assigned to you. For instance, if you are found to be 10% at fault, any compensation you receive will be reduced by 10%. This does not change any of the benefits that you will receive by choosing to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you.
What If You Already Accepted Payment For Property Damage?
Property damage and personal injury liability are treated as two separate claims. Therefore, you should never avoid contacting a personal injury lawyer simply because you have already accepted a settlement payment for the damage that was done to your vehicle. However, if you have accepted any form of settlement as it relates to your medical costs, lost wages, or other injury-related expenses, you will not be able to collect a second settlement by contacting an injury attorney.
What If You Don't Have Any Money?
If you don't have any money to hire a lawyer, don't worry about it. Most personal injury lawyers will offer you a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. If the lawyer agrees to take on your case, they will do so on a contingency basis. This means you only pay if and when they reach a settlement on your behalf or prove successful in court if you are forced to file a lawsuit.
Contact a local personal injury lawyer to learn more.
It isn't always easy to know how to move forward after something happens like a car accident, but the right people can guide you through the process. From talking with you about how you are feeling to helping you to file the appropriate paperwork, accident and personal injury attorneys make it easy to improve your life. If you are struggling after a car incident, don't feel like you are alone. Reach out to professionals to make sense of your financial situation and your vehicle repair. By making the right changes today, you can improve your entire future for the better.