Sometimes, the skills of an experienced personal injury
lawyer, or at least the threat that such a lawyer presents to an insurance
company, are worth the money you have to pay that lawyer to represent you. You may
need a lawyer because your injuries are so serious that the potential amount of
your compensation might vary greatly, or because an insurance company refuses
to settle the matter with you in good faith.
*Hiring a lawyer later in the process
If, after you have presented
your claim & negotiated with an insurance company, you don’t feel the
insurer is offering a fair settlement, you can retain an attorney to finish the
process for you or you may be able to consult an attorney on an hourly basis to
see if he or she can spot a particular legal argument that might help you to
move the insurance company toward a more reasonable offer.
There are no hard fast rules
about when you do & don’t need to hire a lawyer. Much of the decision has
to do with how you feel things are going as you attempt to settle your claim on
your own. At some point, you may feel overwhelmed by too much work, or by some
obscure legal rule the insurance company decides to throw at your you may be
stonewalled by an insurance adjuster who blusters that the company doesn’t have
to honor your claim at all, or who offers you only a piddling amount to settle
it. In these situations, you may want to consult an attorney for advice, &
perhaps have him or her take over handling the claim. There are a few types of
injuries & accidents that almost certainly require that you hire a lawyer.
