We are blessed to have a civil justice system built upon the fundamental principle that each of us is responsible for the consequences of our actions. In the area of personal injury law, that means that if a person is negligent (i.e. careless) and another person is injured due to the carelessness, the injured person is legally entitled to be compensated by the careless person.
While the beneficial policy of being responsible for one’s conduct is simple, our legal system to effectuate that policy can be complex and overwhelming to a layperson. So, the question routinely faced by an injured person is whether they need a lawyer to pursue their legal rights and, if so, what type of lawyer should he/she retain.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you by sharing their legal expertise and guiding you through the entire process related to a personal injury claim. For example, if you are injured due to the negligence of another, an attorney will be able to explain to you the various elements of damages that you are entitled to be compensated for. Lawyers can also help you navigate the nitty-gritty, doing things like obtaining medical bills and records needed to substantiate your damage claim, as well as sorting through the available insurance policies to ensure maximum recovery.
It’s not always clear whether a lawyer would benefit your case after an injury. While every injury is unique and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, there are certain factors that almost always indicate that a lawyer will be an asset to your case.
Always contact a lawyer if any of the following apply to you:
- You sustained a serious injury (e.g., broken bones, fractures, or a concussion or other traumatic brain injury) that required emergency room admission or overnight hospitalization.
- Your injury resulted in medical bills costing multiple thousands of dollars.
- You sustained a permanent injury that requires ongoing medical care.
- You are facing pushback from an insurance company about who was at fault for causing your injury, or about whether the subject incident caused your injuries.
- You were in an accident involving a commercial vehicle.
- There were multiple parties involved in your accident – in automobile accidents, that means there were at least two other vehicles in addition to yours.
Still Unsure Whether You Need a Lawyer Regarding an Accident or Injury?
Initial inquiries with the personal injury attorneys at Curcio Law are always free and come with no obligation to retain the firm. So, if you still have doubts about whether you need a lawyer, there’s no harm in consulting with us to discuss whether you have a case and whether you need a lawyer to help you pursue it. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will discuss the best course of action for you, including whether you can settle the case without a lawyer, or if you would be better served by hiring a personal injury lawyer.
A guiding principle at Curcio Law is always to keep the client’s best interests at heart. In practice, that means having a candid conversation with every potential client as to whether their claim or case has merit, and if so, whether you need a lawyer to pursue it.
What Type of Lawyer Should You Hire?
If you’ve been injured, always reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer for legal representation; that is, a lawyer who focuses their practice exclusively or primarily on personal injury cases. When searching for a lawyer, investigate the types of cases they’ve handled, and select someone who has documented successes obtaining settlements and verdicts in cases that are similar to yours.
In the current information age, there are numerous ways to locate an experienced personal injury lawyer or firm. A simple internet search and review of a potential lawyer’s website should help you answer the following essential questions, which can play a big part in evaluating the knowledge and credibility you are looking for in an experienced lawyer:
- Is the lawyer a member of well-established, well-regarded professional legal organizations?
- Has he/she received honors, awards, and positive testimonials from previous clients or peers?
- Is he/she active in their community, whether as serving as a board member in local safety initiatives, the performance of charitable work, or organizing or contributing to local events?
- Has he/she written articles that have appeared in legal publications indicating an attorney’s level of experience and knowledge?
- Is he/she a frequent speaker on issues and topics related to personal injury law?
Lastly, don’t forget to ask friends and family members for recommendations.
