Do you have a feeling that something is not right after your car accident? Are the insurance companies jerking you around? Do you think the other driver might be lying to their insurance company? Or, are the other insurance companies telling you that the accident is still under investigation?
No specific rulebook tells you when to hire a lawyer, but some situations are red flags for when you want to get one involved. Even if none of these cases apply to you, consulting with an experienced Denver personal injury lawyer never hurts.
Read on to learn about scenarios when you almost definitely need a lawyer.
If You Are Facing a Long Term Disability Due to Car Accident Injuries
If you were in a car accident and sustained injuries requiring long-term care, it’s a good idea to hire an attorney. Or if you have permanent disabilities. An experienced car accident attorney can help you determine a fair value for your personal injury claim.
They can also help you calculate damages like lost wages and future earning capacity. It can be tricky to figure out how your injuries might affect your earning capacity over time. But lawyers deal with these types of cases all the time and can provide expert assistance for your unique case.
If You Sustained Severe Injuries Due to Someone Else’s Negligence
If you suffer harm from another person’s negligence, you can hold them legally responsible for your injuries. Negligence often comes into play in different industries and circumstances when someone’s recklessness or carelessness causes harm to another person. In personal injury cases, car accidents are the leading cause of claims.
Negligent acts can be one of two categories: ordinary or gross. Gross negligence involves more than just an act of carelessness. It means the at-fault party had extreme disregard for the safety of others while acting carelessly. For example, if a driver aggressively pulls around a school bus unloading children, that would be gross negligence.
On the other hand, ordinary negligence is when a person fails to take reasonable precautions. As a result, if their failure to take reasonable precautions causes injury to another, that’s ordinary negligence. An example of ordinary negligence is a car that doesn’t stop at a stop sign. Whatever the level of negligence, it’s a good idea to seek legal counsel when you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence.
If The Insurance Company Is Offering You an Unfair Settlement
If you cannot secure a fair settlement with the at-fault insurance company, you should consult with an attorney.
The value of your personal injury claim will depend mainly on the severity of your injuries. Insurance companies typically consider the following factors when measuring the severity of your injuries:
- Type of injury
- Cost of medical bills
- Length of recovery time
Then, with more considerable potential compensation, you’re likely to reach the policy limits of the at-fault party’s liability limits. In that case, insurance companies always try to pay only a fraction of what you deserve. Sometimes, insurance companies outright refuse to give a fair settlement or make an offer at all.
In other cases, insurance companies engage in bad faith tactics. An attorney can help you file a bad-faith insurance claim. Whether you think your settlement offer is too low or your negotiations with the insurance company have broken down, an attorney can offer proper legal guidance.
If Multiple Parties are Involved or if Liability Is Unclear
Let’s say you get into a car accident involving multiple other parties. It might be unclear who is liable for the accident and your injuries. Multiple car accidents also complicate insurance dealings, especially if several people are injured.
Insurance companies might try to pay everyone less if several people are injured. Or, one of the other parties involved may try to pin the liability on you. If you partially contributed to causing the accident, that may affect your compensation. An attorney could help protect you from counter-claims from other parties involved in the accident.
If You Have Medical Bills to Pay For Because of the Accident
After a motor collision, you’ll need to deal with insurance companies. However, you can hire a personal injury attorney to mediate with insurance companies on your behalf. Your attorney will help ensure you can pay for your medical bills and property damage from the accident.
Furthermore, they will help you ensure that you file a claim before your time runs out. The best time to start the claims process is immediately after you get medical treatment after the accident. Promptly filing a claim will guarantee a fair shot at winning an award to cover all damages incurred.
Do I Need a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?
Having a legal expert familiar with legal proceedings and your local laws can make the difference between a win and a lost cause. Here are a few ways in which having a personal injury attorney will be advantageous:
Your Attorney Will Help You Meet All Legal Requirements
Filing a personal injury claim has many requirements, and the law can often be complex. To be eligible for compensation, you must submit a plethora of legal paperwork and do so within a time limit.
Working with an attorney will ensure that you fill out and submit all necessary paperwork and gather all relevant evidence for your case. In addition, lawyers often work with doctors and other professionals in their network to obtain evidence that will establish the validity of your claim.
Finally, to file a claim, you must make sure you have a valid case. Your attorney can review your case details and advise you on the best way to proceed. There are three basic requirements for a personal injury claim:
- You need to prove the other party was negligent. For example, if the other party crashed into your car because they ignored a stop sign, that’s considered negligence.
- You need to prove that the other party’s negligence caused your injury.
- You’ll need to demonstrate that your injuries caused harm and damage. Let’s say the other person crashed into your car, leaving you with a spinal cord injury. In that case, you have a right to compensatory damages. Your attorney can help you get full compensation for those damages. Some examples of compensatory damages include medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Your attorney will help conduct an expert investigation of your case and gather all relevant evidence to support your claim. By having a trusted legal expert on your side, you won’t have to worry about whether your case meets the requirements to file a claim.
Your Lawyer Is a Skilled Negotiator With Experience in Dealing With Insurance Companies
With an attorney on your side, you can get an objective and accurate evaluation of the damages you can claim. Negotiating with insurance companies independently can be tiresome and frustrating. Without an attorney on your side, they may try to offer you an unfairly low settlement or none at all.
A good lawyer knows insurance companies’ tactics and can plan your case accordingly. With an attorney, you’re showing the insurance company that you’re ready to g to trial if necessary. Most insurance companies want to avoid litigation and are more likely to negotiate an agreeable settlement offer with your attorney.
You Have a Better Chance of Securing a Higher Settlement
It’s a known fact that you are more likely to get compensation from a lawyer. Furthermore, you’re more likely to get a higher settlement. The reason is that personal injury attorneys have the skill and experience to deal with insurance companies. They win people fair settlements for a living. They never accept the first offer. Instead, they negotiate and push for the maximum compensation possible.
Your attorney can help you secure a higher settlement than if you try to handle your claim yourself. Insurance companies almost always try to offer less than what you are owed. But, with a lawyer, you can negotiate a fair settlement. Additionally, your lawyer can help you recover for the following damages:
- Permanent disability
- Long-term medical care
- Current and future medical bills associated with the injury
- Assistive equipment and in-home care
- Nursing care
- Accessibility modifications are required due to the injury
- Lost or reduced wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Emotional anguish
Your Attorney Can Represent You in Court
Insurance companies generally try to avoid litigation. While most personal injury cases get settled out of court, a lawyer can go to trial on your behalf if it comes to that.
You Can Focus On Your Recovery and Healing
Working with a Denver personal injury lawyer will help you with a tremendous amount of time and energy. They can handle all of your case’s paperwork and administrative processes. That way, you can focus on healing and getting your life back on track.
Need an Experienced Denver Personal Injury Lawyer?
Please reach out if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Nobody should have to bear the aftermath of an accident alone. Our team of personal injury lawyers handles every client’s case with genuine compassion and the utmost professionalism. Furthermore, we have the skill, experience, and resources to fight for you. We will happily discuss your case details during your free, no-risk initial consultation.
Schedule a consultation today or call (720)500-HURT.
