Tips for Managing Your Own Personal Injury Claim
Most personal injury cases are going to require the assistance of an injury attorney. The law is extraordinarily complex, and many seemingly straightforward legal issues are far more complex than they initially appear. However, in some situations, you can successfully manage your own personal injury claim with a bit of claims processing knowledge, patience, and careful attention to detail. This is only advisable for the most straightforward of cases, but if you manage to succeed, you save yourself quite a bit of money by avoiding attorneys’ fees.
Examples of Cases You May Win by Yourself
The only times you should attempt to tackle a personal injury case without professional legal assistance is when your losses were minimal and you possess a firm understanding of the claims process. There are countless resources available that may offer guidance, and arming yourself with the right information will help you succeed.
Some examples of cases you may successfully handle yourself might include:
- Vehicle collisions or accidents involving a vehicle and a bicycle or a pedestrian. This is only advisable if the events are unambiguous and there are witnesses who can reliably testify as to the course of events during the incident.
- Slip and fall claims. If you suffer an injury due to a slip and fall hazard, careful documentation, security footage, and keen attention to detail could help you win a claim without an attorney.
- Defective product claims. In many cases resulting from injuries and illnesses caused by consumer goods, the plaintiff only needs to prove the product was defective in some way to win a claim.
- Premises liability. If you suffered an injury while legally present on another person’s property because of an obvious hazard, you can often make your case without the assistance of a personal injury lawyer.
These are just a few examples. While considering whether to hire a lawyer for your unique situation, recognize the elements of your case that may require professional assistance. Saving money on attorneys’ fees doesn’t mean much if you miss an opportunity to secure damages that you may not have known to pursue and wind up with far less compensation than you could have won with an attorney’s help.
Additionally, if you have significant losses or incurred any permanent disability or medical condition, an attorney will be incredibly valuable as he or she will help you secure the maximum amount of compensation possible by exploring every possible avenue for claiming damages. Many personal injury claims inevitably involve insurance companies. Dealing with claims adjusters can be stressful and even daunting, so having an attorney field these issues for you can save you a lot of time and lead to a more satisfactory result.
Things to Remember
If you plan to represent your own personal injury claim, there are several things you must remember if you want to succeed. First, many documents you’ll need to file with the court and send to the defendant operate on very strict timetables. Failing to file the appropriate forms with the right entities within the time limit can have your case thrown out before it even starts.
One of the most important things you must do for any type of case is to keep detailed records of everything you do concerning the incident in question. This can include securing copies of correspondence with the defendant, witnesses, and other entities, securing police reports and medical reports, gathering viable evidence to support your claim, and keeping records of your dealings with insurance claims adjusters.
Representing your own case is sometimes viable and (in some cases) better than working with an attorney – especially when the attorney’s fees would eclipse your settlement amount or trial award. If there is any uncertainty, your best bet is to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney and secure professional representation.