When should I hire an attorney?

12/26/2016

When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
by Scott Alan Salomon, J.D.

Attorney and freelance writer as poster on legalzoom.com When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
by Scott Alan Salomon, J.D. , August 2015

While there is no specific guideline or deadline as to when you have to hire a personal injury attorney, especially after a car accident injury, it is very important to engage the services of a personal injury lawyer shortly after the accident. You do not want to go without counsel during any part of the process and you can usually hire a lawyer on a contingency basis.

Discussions with Insurance Carriers
Chances are strong that there are going to be have to be conversations with your lawyer regarding your medical bills and your property damage. Your personal injury lawyer and personal injury law firm will make sure that the medical bills are paid and that the property damage claim to your vehicle is paid in a timely fashion so you can get your car back on the road. The time to start that process is right after you leave the emergency room or are released by the accident investigation team that arrives to set up the driver information exchange for your accident.

Avoid Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitation Issues
If you have a medical malpractice claim, time is of the essence. There are state statutes that require you to put the doctor on notice within a specific period of time. If you believe that you are a victim of medical malpractice, you should engage counsel as soon as you can. Medical malpractice claims take time and also require a lot of work on the lawyer's behalf. The more time that you give them to work your case, the better off you will be.

Insurance Companies Have Experts, You Should Too
Insurance companies typically have the deck stacked in their favor. They have plenty of the money and lots of legal resources. You want to make sure that you are on an even playing field, or as even as possible, when dealing with these companies. That is why you want to have your own team of experts in your corner when dealing with these companies. Insurance companies, whether it is your own carrier, or that of the other driver, are going to protect their own interests first. They may try to nickel and dime you wherever possible and save the company money, to your own detriment. That is why it is optimal to have your personal injury attorney to represent you in these negotiations. You never want to do anything on your own other than report the fact that you had an accident.
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Have The Right Medical Team Around You
It is essential that you also meet with the right physicians to get the most out of your claim. Your personal injury attorney, who will be knowledgeable about personal injury laws in your state, can help get you to the right medical experts that can treat you and also serve as good witnesses in your case, should the case go to trial. You want to have medical professionals around you that can not only heal you, but also testify in court, and explain how the injury will impact you in the future.

Personal Injury Law Firms Have Support Staff
In some cases, a personal injury law firm may also have medical personnel on staff that can evaluate your claim and tell you what type of personal injury claim you have and also interpret the medical records that they receive from your physicians and serve as a buffer between you and the physicians. They will also be able to make sure that you are receiving the best personal care for your injuries and best serve your personal injury case by being thorough and professional.

Personal injury lawyers often have investigative staff at their disposal that can help with your personal injury claim. They can help recreate the accident and use the information at trial, or in negotiations with the carrier to get you the best possible settlement or verdict. Private investigators are just as important as the personal injury attorneys as they arm the personal injury lawyer with the information necessary to pursue your claim.

Do You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?
Even a 5 MPH collision could cause a variety of damage to the back, neck and spine. Regardless of how simple you think your case is, you should always engage the services of a personal injury attorney. You should never go through this minefield yourself. In most cases, there is no charge to you if the lawyer doesn’t recover any money, so there is no risk to you in engaging counsel as soon as possible.

33 Comments

Mike

12/26/2016 09:31:57 am

The insurance company adjuster called me and tried to get me to admit to being in the wrong, what should I say.

George Otstott

12/26/2016 09:36:08 am

Quite often, a person who has been injured in a car wreck will tell the adjuster that they haven't been injured, or that they may have looked away before the wreck, or they may have been speeding, all of which are admissions against the injured person’s interest. These types of admissions are used later by the insurance company to reduce damages paid or to deny the claims entirely. Speaking to adjusters is best done by me, an experienced attorney. George Otstott

Sam Li link

3/29/2019 01:56:37 pm

I like what you said about avoiding medical malpractice. I think that hiring a lawyer is the best way to receive compensation. If I were to need such services, I would hire the best lawyer around.

Giles Burt link

11/23/2020 08:51:28 pm

Hi nice reading your blog

Taylor Hicken link

6/22/2021 12:49:48 am

I appreciated it when you shared that it is important to engage a legal representative as soon as you can if you believe that you are a victim of medical malpractice. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is worried about her mother who was almost died due to a negligence of the doctor who was supposed to treat her. I will suggest to her hiring a reliable medical malpractice attorney to help with the case.

Mia Evans link

10/28/2021 02:45:10 am

Thanks for pointing out that personal injury attorneys will be able to have investigative staff at their disposal to help gather information for your claims. I guess my sister should hire one now that she has been in an accident with another driver this morning. It appears that the accident happened when her brakes did not work properly.

Thomas Clarence link

12/7/2021 04:44:19 pm

It really stood out to me when you mentioned that it is a good idea to start engaging with a personal injury attorney shortly after you are involved in an accident. A couple of days ago, my wife was hurt in a car accident that was caused by a driver that was distracted. Since my wife didn't cause the accident, I would imagine that we are entitled to some kind of injury benefits.

Zachary Tomlinson link

1/17/2022 04:27:32 am

It's cool to think that seeking out a lawyer can help you receive the appropriate treatment for your injuries without paying a single cent. My colleague talked about his plans of driving around using his new car after the pandemic. I'll be sure to recommend this to him so he'd get the support he needs when necessary.

Millie Hue link

2/2/2022 04:01:58 am

It got me when you said that the personal injury lawyer would make sure that your medical bills and property damage claims are processed as soon as possible. With that in mind, my sister needs to hire these professionals to file a claim and get the compensation she deserves. It's because the car accident that happened to her this afternoon was actually caused by another driver who did not follow the traffic lights.

Hailey Miller link

2/15/2022 01:16:56 am

It got me when you said that personal injury lawyers can help us with our claims by recreating the accident and doing negotiations. My partner got a right leg injury while doing his job at the construction site last week. Since the resident doctor has advised that he needs to recover for at least three months, we will be looking for an attorney on Friday who can help us get the compensation he deserves for medical bills and lost wages.

Robin Garcia link

3/11/2022 02:32:56 pm

That is why you want to have your own team of experts in your corner when dealing with these companies. Insurance companies, Thank you, amazing post!

Orange County Divorce Attorney link

3/25/2022 01:53:56 pm

If you believe that you are a victim of medical malpractice, you should engage counsel as soon as you can. Medical malpractice claims take time and also require I’m so thankful for your helpful post!

Orange County Family Law Attorney link

3/25/2022 02:31:15 pm

That is why it is optimal to have your personal injury attorney to represent you in these negotiations. Thank you for making this such an awesome post!

Jeff Carbine link

4/1/2022 09:29:39 am

You did a great job of explaining that the deck is usually tilted in favor of insurance firms. They have a lot of money as well as a lot of legal resources. In my opinion, I also think that the people affected would have to focus on recovering rather than being stressed about the case. Just in case I get involved in a lawsuit like this, I’ll be sure to follow your advice and hire a personal injury lawyer.

Braden Bills link

5/20/2022 10:05:05 am

I was in a car accident, and I'm having a hard time getting compensated for this. It makes sense that I would want to get an attorney to help me out with that. They would be able to help with discussions with the insurance carriers.

Aaron Bruner, Attorney at Law link

9/20/2022 12:20:35 am

Great explanation. keep doing the good work.

Eve Mitchell link

9/22/2022 04:48:35 pm

It's good to know that a personal injury attorney can also help you see the right medical professionals. My husband was in an accident yesterday while crossing the road, and he was hurt pretty badly. I would like to hire an attorney who can help us get compensated for the other person's actions.

Georgina Mckenzy link

10/24/2022 07:24:15 am

My grandfather was charged for swerving last night while going to his friend's house to play poker. I agreed when you said drunk driving is the leading cause of the collision. My grandfather swore he was distracted by the car coming towards him, and that's why he swerved. He plans to hire an accident attorney to help him explain his side in court. https://www.timothyodonovanesq.com/motor-vehicle-accidents

Mark Schiffrin link

11/1/2022 07:15:29 am

Great read!!! Thanks for sharing such a great blog with us.

Top Lawyers link

11/23/2022 08:48:07 pm

The way you explained how the odds are typically stacked against insurance companies was excellent. They have a ton of financial and legal resources. I believe that the afflicted individuals should put their attention on their recovery rather than worrying about the situation. I'll be sure to take your recommendation and retain a personal injury attorney just in case I become embroiled in a litigation similar to this one.

Our Lawyers link

11/23/2022 09:21:29 pm

You should seek legal counsel as quickly as you can if you think you are a victim of medical malpractice. I'm really grateful for your informative post because medical malpractice cases need time and effort.

Glendale DUI Attorney link

11/24/2022 04:30:13 pm

it's very useful thank you so much!

Henry Killingsworth link

11/30/2022 02:53:34 pm

It was interesting to me when you talked about how a personal injury attorney can make sure that your medical bills are paid. As far as I know, your medical bills are going to go up if you have to spend a lot of time in the hospital. I would think that a lot of people won't have money for these bills, so working with a lawyer makes a lot of sense if you are in this kind of situation.

Daisy James link

12/14/2022 12:37:34 pm

I'm really glad you said that they will make sure your medical bills get paid. Last week, I got into a bad car accident that injured my ankle pretty badly, so I was wondering if hiring an attorney for my case would be a good idea. I appreciate you helping me learn more about the advantages of hiring a personal injury attorney.

Personal Injury Case Guide link

12/27/2022 11:51:03 pm

Such an amazing article and it us useful for many people, keep up the good work. Thank you so much for sharing.

Personal Injury Case Guide link

12/29/2022 12:59:11 am

Really an informational article, appreciated.

Jessie Holloway link

1/11/2023 12:52:38 pm

I love how you point out that insurances have experts on their side of the argument and that you should too. I have an uncle that recently got in a car accident and they are trying to decide who's at fault for it. We've been looking into finding him a lawyer to help fight for his side.

Steve Smith link

1/14/2023 11:27:00 pm

I love that you talked that one of the most important things to consider is having the right medical team for a proper treatment process. A few nights ago, my buddy informed me his brother suffers from an allergy because of a misdiagnosis. He asked if I had thoughts on the best option to file a lawsuit. I value this helpful article. I'll tell him it will be much better if they consult an ER malpractice lawyer as they can provide legal assistance.

Mark Schiffrin link

1/20/2023 07:25:11 am

Great read!!! Thanks for sharing such a great blog.

Tex Hooper link

1/30/2023 06:43:50 pm

I appreciate what you said about making sure you get a lawyer who specializes in accident law. My brother was hurt in a machining accident at work. He could use a lawyer to receive compensation for medical builds.

Arlington Personal Injury Attorneys link

4/5/2023 01:21:33 am

This article provides valuable insights into why it's important to hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. From dealing with insurance companies to finding the right medical professionals, a personal injury attorney can help ensure that you receive the best possible outcome for your case. With their knowledge and resources, they can help you navigate the complex legal process and advocate for your rights.

Jessie Holloway link

4/12/2023 10:21:05 am

Thanks so much for talking about how your lawyers and the law firm will be able to help you ensure your finances and bills are in order while you recover. I have a friend who got injured at work and has been working to get the compensation he should for the accident. We'll have to look into finding a personal injury lawyer he can work with to help him ensure everything finance is taken care of.

Richmond Personal Injury Attorney link

4/14/2023 11:53:30 pm

Hey there, Otstott and Jamison team! I stumbled upon your website and I'm excited to hear that a law blog is coming soon. As someone who is passionate about law, I always enjoy reading informative and insightful legal blogs, and I'm sure your content will be no exception.

It's refreshing to see a law firm embrace technology and use it to connect with people in new and innovative ways. A blog is a great platform for you to share your legal expertise, offer guidance, and even connect with potential clients. I'm looking forward to reading about the latest legal trends, case studies, and any updates on legal issues that may affect our daily lives.

Overall, I believe that a law blog is an excellent opportunity for you to engage with your audience and establish yourselves as thought leaders in the legal field. I'm excited to see what kind of content you'll be sharing, and I wish you all the best with your new blog venture. Keep up the great work!

When should I hire an attorney?

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