The Importance of Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer
A legal representative who specializes in handling accident-related lawsuits can help victims to recover remedies for the damages they have suffered.
• Lawyers can assist the victims when negotiating with the defendant’s insurance company which have the tendency to make a settlement that is less than the real amount of damages.
• Lawyers know a lot of expert witnesses (such as doctors and researchers) who can make a statement before a court to prove that the victim deserves to be compensated with his injury.
• Lawyers can gather evidence that will prove their clients’ claims.
• During a hearing, lawyers can assist their clients by teaching them how to make an accurate statement.
• Lawyers know the people who are legally liable for the injuries of the complainants.
• When complainants agree to an out-of-court settlement, lawyers can negotiate in behalf of them because these professionals know if the compensation is reasonable or not.
While lawyers can be very helpful, plaintiffs should also do their part by doing the following:
• List down all the injuries and property damages
• Convince first-hand witnesses to attend the court hearing
• Preserve evidences (e.g. pictures, damaged cars, hospital receipts, doctor’s diagnosis) and any other documents which can strengthen the case.
• Notify the person who is responsible for the accident.
Paying Personal Injury Lawyers
Some people think that hiring personal injury lawyers means they have to pay for the expensive legal fees. However, there are many lawyers that agree to contingency fee, a payment agreement where clients will not pay the legal service unless they receive settlement from the defendants. Because of this condition, this is also referred as “No pay, no win” fee.
The amount of contingency fee will depend on the agreement between lawyers and their clients. But usually, the payment is 25 percent if the case is settled out of court and 30 percent if the lawsuit proceeds to litigation.
However, some lawyers demand higher fees. This is considered legal as long as the amount will not exceed the state’s service cap (usually one-third of the settlement) and the clients agree to this.
The contingency fee has its limitation. The court does not allow this arrangement in criminal cases since there are no financial claims in these.
Our skilled
personal injury lawyers are experienced in handling cases involving
vehicle accidents. For consultation, log on to our website and avail of our free case evaluation.
