You might be entitled to compensation for your injuries if you have been injured in a car accident or some other type of accident. Receiving that compensation usually requires going through the insurance claims process. However, most people are unfamiliar with the process of submitting insurance claims.
Most insurance companies are out to protect their bottom line. They might try to take advantage of you by not offering you fair compensation for your injuries. Another option is to hire a personal injury attorney to help you through the claims process. Keep reading below to learn when to hire an attorney versus attempting to navigate the insurance claims process on your own.
When Should I Submit an Insurance Claim Without a Lawyer?
Not every accident claim requires hiring a lawyer. Thankfully, some claims are quite straightforward and only involve minor injuries. If you only sustained minor injuries and financial losses, you can likely submit an insurance claim without hiring an attorney.
Additionally, if you are familiar with the insurance claims process, you may be able to navigate it on your own. Remember that you should also be able to estimate the value of your claim. Otherwise, the insurance company might try to make you a lowball settlement offer.
You have a right to be compensated for both economic and non-economic damages. Common examples of damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
- Reduced earning capacity
- Diminished value of your vehicle
Also, be sure you have enough time to handle your own claim because gathering and submitting evidence can be quite time-consuming. If you work a full-time job or are busy with other activities, you might find it difficult to spend the necessary amount of time on your claim.
Large insurance companies have entire teams of adjusters and lawyers who spend all their time handling claims. Their job is to settle those claims for as little money as possible to help protect the insurance company’s bottom line. If you are not prepared to go up against these large corporations, you likely should not attempt to handle the claim on your own.
When You Need to Hire an Attorney to Handle Your Insurance Claim
Although you might be able to handle your own claim in some instances, there are other situations where hiring an attorney is a wise decision. More complex claims warrant the need for an attorney to help protect your legal rights and help make sure you receive all the compensation you are owed. Some common situations that likely necessitate hiring an attorney for your claim include the following:
- You suffered severe or catastrophic injuries in the accident, such as a brain injury or loss of a limb.
- The accident involved multiple parties, and determining liability is difficult.
- Multiple potential defendants may arise from the accident, such as in big truck accidents or product liability cases.
- You do not have sufficient time to gather evidence for your claim.
- You are not familiar with the insurance claims process.
- Someone else is accusing you of liability for the accident.
- The other party involved in the accident was a governmental entity.
- The insurance company is already refusing to accept liability or pay your claim, among other bad faith practices.
An experienced attorney can help make sure that your legal rights are protected, and they can make sure the insurance company does not take advantage of you.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With Your Insurance Claim
You might be wondering why you need to hire a personal injury attorney to help with your insurance claim. There are many ways an attorney can help. First, injury victims who hire an attorney typically receive 3 to 4 times more compensation than those who choose not to hire an attorney.
Next, a personal injury attorney can help you thoroughly investigate the accident and determine who was at fault. They can also assist with gathering and presenting the evidence required to prove your claim. Your attorney can save you time and headaches by handling all communications with the insurance company.
An experienced attorney also knows how to assess the value of insurance claims properly. This can help ensure that you get a full and fair recovery for your injuries. Lastly, a personal injury attorney can litigate aggressively for you in court when the insurance company refuses to negotiate a fair settlement.
How Much Does Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the attorney only gets paid if they win your case. The attorney’s fee is taken as a percentage of any compensation that you receive, with no money required upfront.
Most contingency fees range from 25% to 45% of the settlement or award. For example, suppose an attorney charges a 30% contingency fee and negotiates a settlement of $10,000. The attorney would receive $3,000, and the client would receive the remaining $7,000.
Understanding the fee structure and agreement before hiring your attorney is important. Most contingency fee agreements are required to be in writing. You may also be responsible for paying court costs, filing fees, and administrative expenses from the proceeds of the settlement or award.
Contact a San Diego Personal Injury Attorney for Your Free Consultation
If you have been injured in an accident and need to file an insurance claim, you should schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Most attorneys offer free consultations anyway, so there is no obligation to discuss your case with them.
The experienced team at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injury victims, and we are ready to put our experience to work for you. Schedule your free consultation with us today at (619) 777-5555 to learn how we can help with your insurance claim.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in San Diego, CA
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers
2515 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA (92108)
(619) 777-5555
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