It can be challenging to know when you need help with a personal injury claim. If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a personal injury lawyer. During a free consultation, you learn more about personal injury cases and your specific right to compensation for damages.
The lawyer learns about what happened to you and analyzes your claim.
If the lawyer can help, he explains how he can help and why you need a personal injury lawyer.
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How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me?
Accident victims who sustain minor injuries might not need to hire a personal injury lawyer. If the other party accepts fault for the accident and the insurance company offers a fair settlement, the victim can settle the claim without a lawyer.
However, most personal injury cases can benefit from a lawyer’s assistance.The insurance claims adjuster knows that he cannot use certain tactics when an attorney represents the accident victim. The lawyer is familiar with unfair tactics and bad faith insurance practices designed to cheat the victim out of fair compensation for damages.
When a person represents himself in a personal injury case, the insurance company might try to take advantage of the person’s lack of experience to undervalue a claim.
A personal injury lawyer handles all parts of your claim, including:
- Searching for and gathering evidence proving fault
- Obtaining the accident report or police report
- Searching for and interviewing witnesses
- Organizing medical records and proof of damages
- Hiring experts to assist in the investigation and proof of damages
- Identifying all parties who might be liable for your injury claim
- Filing insurance claims and dealing with the insurance company
- Negotiating a fair settlement for your claim
- Preparing and filing a personal injury lawsuit
A Baltimore personal injury attorney protects you from aggressive insurance claims adjusters and other parties. They provide support and guidance throughout your claim. Your lawyer also works diligently to recover the maximum value for your injury claim.
Seven Reasons Why You Should Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
It is in your best interest to talk with a personal injury lawyer whenever you or a family member is injured in an accident. An attorney evaluates your claim and provides an honest legal analysis.
Even if your case appears simple, there could be factors that you are unaware of that complicate a personal injury case. If your case involves any of the following situations, it is strongly recommended that you talk with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries or severe injuries complicate a personal injury case in many ways. Financial damages are much higher in these cases because it costs more to treat traumatic injuries. Catastrophic injuries can also result in permanent impairments, which also complicate an accident claim.
In many cases, a party might not have sufficient insurance to pay a catastrophic injury claim. For example, the minimum car insurance coverage required for Maryland drivers is $30,000. If you sustain catastrophic injuries in a car accident, your medical bills should easily exceed $30,000.
An attorney searches for other forms of compensation, including underinsured motorist coverage. He also investigates the at-fault driver to determine if the person has assets that could be attached with a personal judgment. Your lawyer explores all legal avenues of compensation for your claim.
Your lawyer also fights for future damages. Future damages for loss of income and ongoing medical or personal care might be recoverable when a victim sustains a disability because of an accident, such as amputations and paralysis.
Disputes Related to Fault
Before you recover compensation for a personal injury, you must prove the other party caused your injury. For example, you must prove a property owner was negligent before receiving money for a slip and fall accident. If you cannot prove fault, you cannot recover money for your injury claim.
If the other party disputes liability, you need an attorney to gather evidence and build a case to prove fault. The insurance company has a team of lawyers working to prove its insured was not at fault.
Allegations of contributory negligence could bar you from receiving any money for your claim. Under Maryland’s pure contributory negligence laws, you cannot recover any compensation for your injuries and damages if you are even one percent at fault for the accident.
If the other party or the insurance company disputes fault, you need to immediately call a personal injury lawyer.
Wrongful Death Claims
Losing a family member is heartbreaking under any circumstances. When another party’s negligence or wrongdoing caused their death, it becomes a legal matter. A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for damages caused by the premature death of a family member.
However, wrongful death cases are very complicated. There are laws regarding who can sue for wrongful death and what the family must prove to recover damages. Some laws dictate what types of damages are recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit.
In some cases, the deceased person’s estate might also file a survival action related to the wrongful death action. A wrongful death lawyer sorts out the claims and pursues each cause of action to seek justice for the family.
Government Entities
Accidents involving government vehicles, employees, or property are incredibly complex. Government entities enjoy sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity prevents you from suing the government unless the government gives you permission to sue it.
Most causes of action for injuries caused by negligence or wrongdoing are exceptions to sovereign immunity. However, that does not mean that cases involving government entities are easy.
There are different rules and laws for suing the government. For example, there are special notice requirements for claims against government entities. Some notice requirements are as short as 180 days after the accident.
If you fail to provide notice as required by law, you could lose your right to sue the government. Therefore, it is best to talk to a personal injury lawyer immediately after being injured.
Multiple Parties or Defendants
Multiple parties can also complicate a case. Interstate accidents, defective product claims, and nursing home abuse claims are just a few examples of cases that might involve multiple parties.
Your lawyer must identify all parties involved in the case and work to determine the extent of each party’s liability for your damages. In most cases, the parties deny liability while accusing each other of causing your injury. You need a lawyer to protect your best interests to prevent the responsible parties from escaping liability for your claim.
Bad Faith Insurance Practices
It can be difficult to identify bad faith insurance practices. The Maryland statutes list some of the instances of bad faith insurance practices.
If an insurance company refuses to investigate your claim, delays your claim, or requires unnecessary paperwork, you could be the victim of bad faith insurance practices. You could be entitled to additional compensation for a separate cause of action if you are the victim of bad faith insurance policies.
Commercial Vehicles
Accidents involving commercial vehicles, including large trucks, delivery companies, and buses, can also be more complicated than a typical personal injury case. These cases can involve large corporations, insurance companies, and other parties. In addition to multiple parties, commercial vehicle accidents often involve disputed liability and challenges to damages.
Trucking companies, bus lines, delivery companies, and their insurance providers have large teams of professional investigators, adjusters, and attorneys who handle accident claims. You need a personal injury law firm with the skills, resources, and experience to fight defendants with unlimited resources.
Are You Still Unsure Whether You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you are still unsure what you should do after an accident or injury, contact our Baltimore office to schedule a free consultation, you can give us a call at (410) 837-2144 to speak with an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers. Learn about your legal rights and discuss your options before you decide how to proceed. It does not hurt to have more information about injury claims before acting.