Being injured in an accident or other incident can alter your life forever. Accident victims experience emotional distress and pain from physical injuries. However, accidents and injuries also result in significant financial losses.
A personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for your injuries and damages and protect you from aggressive insurance adjusters who want to resolve your claim for the least amount possible. If you wonder, “Do I need a personal injury lawyer?” the chances are good that you do.
Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in California?
Hiring a personal injury attorney allows you to focus on your health and recovery. Hiring an accident attorney also means someone is protecting your best interests. Your attorney will handle all aspects of your personal injury case, including dealing with the insurance company.
Things your personal injury lawyer does to protect your rights include:
- Investigating your accident to determine how your injury occurred and gathering evidence to prove your claim
- Identifying all parties who could be responsible for your expenses and damages.
- Working with leading expert witnesses as necessary to gather additional evidence to support your claim
- Monitoring deadlines and statutes of limitations to protect your right to file claims and lawsuits
- Researching applicable laws and statutes relevant to your claim
- Carefully documenting your damages to calculate how much your case is worth
- Preparing a settlement demand letter and negotiating an insurance settlement
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and taking your case to trial if a settlement is not possible
Insurance companies and large corporations have endless resources to fight your claim. Hiring a personal injury law firm in San Diego gives you a legal team and resources to protect your interests. It levels the playing field with the insurance company.
Reasons Why You Should Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Some injury claims may not need the help of an accident attorney. However, consulting with a lawyer for a free case evaluation is always wise to confirm whether you need an attorney.
However, some situations always indicate that you should talk with a lawyer as soon as possible. Signs that you need to hire a personal injury attorney include:
Catastrophic Injuries and Impairments
Accident victims can seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. Severe injuries and lifelong impairments generally increase the value of your damages.
It costs more to treat and recover from catastrophic injuries. Traumatic injuries and impairments can increase your pain and suffering damages. Insurance companies tend to fight higher-value claims more aggressively.
You may also receive compensation for future damages, including ongoing medical care, diminished earning capacity, reduced quality of life, and long-term personal care. However, expert witnesses may be required to prove future damages.
The Insurance Company Denies Your Claim
Insurance companies are required to investigate claims promptly. You should seek legal advice if a company unnecessarily delays or denies your claim.
California’s statute of limitations restricts the time to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing the deadline means losing the right to pursue a claim. Most personal injury lawsuits have a two-year statute of limitations, but exceptions could shorten or lengthen that time.
You Are Accused of Causing Your Injuries
A common tactic to avoid liability for an accident or injury claim is accusing the victim of causing their injuries. California’s pure comparative negligence standard allows courts to reduce the amount of damages awarded to a victim by their level of blame for their injuries.
Suppose a jury awards you $1 million for your personal injury damages. However, the jurors are convinced you were 40% to blame for causing your car accident. Under these circumstances, the judge will reduce your damages award by 40% or $400,000.
Allowing an attorney to handle all communications with the insurance company and other parties is also wise. Something you say could be used to allege you contributed to the cause of your accident.
Your Child Sustained Injuries in an Accident
Child injury claims can be complex. A child’s injury can result in life-altering conditions and lifelong impairments. A traumatic brain injury could result in cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments. A child may require long-term treatment, special education, and other care, which can be expensive.
It can be difficult for parents to be objective. An attorney gives parents a realistic perspective and helps them to take the steps to protect their child’s rights and best interests.
You Do Not Know How Much Your Damages Are Worth
Placing a value on pain and suffering is challenging. Calculating future damages can be complicated. If you are unsure how much your case is worth, you should talk with a lawyer as soon as possible.
A personal injury settlement can include economic damages for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and benefits
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitative therapy and treatment
Your settlement may also include compensation for non-economic damages such as:
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Impairments and disabilities
If you accept a settlement offer from the insurance company, the company requires that you waive your right to file a lawsuit or claim. In other words, you are limited to the settlement amount. Even if you discover additional damages or claims, you cannot pursue them.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in San Diego, CA?
The cost of hiring an attorney is often a concern for injured victims and their families. Most personal injury lawyers take cases for a contingency fee. Instead of paying the attorneys when you hire them, they receive a percentage of the amount they recover for your case. Therefore, you do not pay anything until the attorney wins your case.
Before hiring an attorney, discuss their fees and read the retainer agreement. Specifically, ask the attorney who pays the costs of the case if they do not recover money for your claim. Most law firms pay the costs of the case as they incur them and are reimbursed from the settlement proceeds. Costs could include deposition fees, copy costs, postage, filing fees, etc.
Learn More About Injury Claims During a Free Consultation
Our San Diego personal injury lawyers at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers fight for the rights of injured victims. We work to obtain the compensation they need and deserve after a tragic accident or injury. Contact us today at (858) 551-2090 to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys.
