Injured in an accident? Wondering if you need a lawyer to file a personal injury claim?
Don’t make the mistake of going it alone.
Insurance companies and large corporations have teams of highly skilled lawyers whose sole purpose is to pay you the least amount of money…or none at all.
When you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer all of that changes.
In this article we cover:
- Why Experience Matters in Personal Injury Cases
- The True Cost of Forgoing a Lawyer
- Maximizing Your Settlement with Seasoned Lawyers
- What Sets Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Apart
Why Experience Matters in Personal Injury Cases
Are all personal injury lawyers the same?
Nope.
Experience in personal injury law matters more than most people realize. The value of that experience is the major differentiator between personal injury lawyers.
Insurance companies are experts at minimizing claims and payout amounts. When faced with an experienced personal injury lawyer, they are forced to treat you more fairly.
Someone without personal injury experience won’t know:
- Which medical experts carry more weight in court
- Which common tactics will not work in your case
- The fair value of certain injuries/damages
- The appropriate approach to take with your insurer
Seasoned personal injury lawyers know this information through experience. They’ve tried multiple methods to get fair settlements for clients just like you.
Here’s some surprising personal injury statistics…
91% of individuals with a personal injury attorney receive settlement payouts. Compare this to the 51% of those without legal representation. This means you’re over twice as likely to receive a settlement with a lawyer.
The True Cost of Forgoing a Lawyer
Think you’ll save money by representing yourself? Think again.
Most people assume that hiring a personal injury lawyer will be more expensive than representing themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Here are the real personal injury statistics:
Individuals with personal injury lawyers end up with payouts nearly three times higher than those without representation.
Yes, you read that right…thrice as much.
If your accident left you with serious injury or long-term medical expenses, this difference can be life-changing.
Even after paying a lawyer’s contingency fee, you still come out ahead.
Personal injury lawyers work on contingency fees. That means they only get paid if you receive a payout. Lawyers and your interests are perfectly aligned.
Take a look at the chart below: Let’s say you were able to get $15,000 without a lawyer. An experienced attorney could easily get you $45,000. Even after a 33% contingency fee, you’d be left with $30,000. Double the amount.
Maximizing Your Settlement with Seasoned Lawyers
Seasoned personal injury attorneys use specific, proven methods to ensure their clients receive the largest settlements possible.
Here’s how they do it:
They Know How to Build a Strong Case
Don’t assume your claim is open and shut. Experienced lawyers know what it takes to make your case watertight. You’ll be surprised at the additional details your lawyer will find that could lead to more damages.
Seasoned attorneys will work with multiple experts to make sure you paint the clearest picture of the injuries and damages you’ve suffered.
These facts are important. Even if your case never goes to trial, they have a huge impact on settlement amounts.
They Accurately Value Your Claim
Insurance adjusters are trained to offer low, quick settlements to people who don’t know any better.
Seasoned personal injury lawyers are experts in valuing claims correctly. They know what cases are worth based on current and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care.
Many people don’t realize how a personal injury affects their life in both the short and long term.
An experienced lawyer can show how your life has changed post-accident.
Seasoned Personal Injury Lawyers are Master Negotiators
Personal injury negotiations are the most important part of the case. Most of the time, these will determine how much money you end up with.
Negotiating a personal injury claim is a skill. It’s something that comes with time and practice.
Seasoned lawyers have likely negotiated thousands of settlements. They know how much to push for with specific insurance companies.
Experienced personal injury attorneys won’t let you make the mistake of accepting the first settlement offer either. These companies know that 70% of people who held out received $30,700 more in settlements. Your lawyer will fight for what you’re worth.
The Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Not all personal injury lawyers are the same. Yes, someone fresh out of law school might happily take your case, but they won’t know what to look for or expect.
Seasoned attorneys are better because:
They Have Relationships
Veteran personal injury lawyers have been working with the same insurance companies, medical experts, and court staff for many years. These relationships often lead to quicker resolutions and higher payouts.
Insurance adjusters will take an experienced lawyer’s letter of demand more seriously. When they see the name, they know you mean business.
They’re Not Afraid to Go to Trial
Approximately 95-96% of personal injury cases settle out of court. This is because no one wins in a personal injury trial.
The loser pays huge sums in legal fees, even though they “won” their case. Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to take a case to trial. These attorneys get better settlement offers.
What you may not know…
Over 90% of personal injury cases that go to trial result in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. This is because insurance companies hate trials too.
They Understand Complex Cases
Serious personal injury cases involve multiple parties, convoluted liability issues, and complex medical evidence. Seasoned lawyers have experience with multi-vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, workplace injuries, and more.
Insurance companies have their own experienced lawyers to take on complex cases. They’ll take the case to trial if necessary. Hiring an experienced attorney is your best defense.
Seasoned Lawyers Understand the Long Game
Insurance companies will use every trick in the book to get you to accept a low settlement.
Seasoned lawyers have seen it all. They know when to apply pressure and when to be patient to get the best outcome.
The Bottom Line on Personal Injury Lawyers
Statistics don’t lie. When you’re dealing with a personal injury claim, having an experienced lawyer will dramatically improve your chances of success.
Here’s what really matters…
Accidents cause medical bills, lost income, pain, and a lot of uncertainty. The last thing you need is to learn about personal injury law from scratch while you’re supposed to be recovering.
Seasoned personal injury attorneys will handle the legal minutiae while you focus on getting better.
Making the Right Decision
Personal injury cases are often your only chance at fair compensation for another’s negligence. You don’t get second chances if you settle for too little too fast.
You have two choices:
- Represent yourself and try to figure this legal landscape alone
- Hire someone who has been winning cases for years.
Personal injury statistics clearly show that experienced representation more than pays for itself. But more importantly, it gives you the peace of mind knowing you have someone on your side who is 100% in your corner.
Time to Take Action
Personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, so there is no financial risk in speaking with an experienced attorney.
Remember that personal injury lawyers work on contingency fees. You pay them nothing unless they win your case. Literally no reason not to get help from experienced lawyers.
Insurance companies will try to take advantage of you while you’re down. The playing field is already tilted in their favor. Don’t make it worse by going without representation.
Your future depends on the choices you make today.