If you or someone close to you has sustained injuries as a result of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, then you might be feeling overwhelmed with emotions and pondering on a lot of things. You might be wondering how you will manage to pay your medical expenses and deal with the resulting loss of income. You might be wondering how you will manage to cope with your current situation. And most importantly, you might be wondering if you need to hire a personal injury attorney in Houston to help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Maybe you are just looking for some advice. However, in most cases, you might need a seasoned personal injury attorney to walk you through the process and enable you to get back on your feet as quickly as possible. That is exactly why we are here.
If you have a serious case where the stakes are high, you will need to find a serious lawyer. We have a team of professional personal injury lawyers who will help you navigate the murky waters of personal injury claims and allow you to focus on your recovery.
Do I Really Need an Attorney to Handle a Personal Injury Claim?
It is not a legal requirement to have a lawyer when dealing with a personal injury claim. You have the option to file all the required paperwork yourself and represent yourself in court. However, doing this rarely achieves the desired outcomes, hiring an attorney is the only effective way of ensuring that you increase your chances of being awarded the compensation that is owed to you.
Based on the specific circumstances surrounding your case, you might have to call in expert witnesses, review the documents provided by the defendant, and provide in depth and extensive evidence to prove your case in court. You will need to adhere to the complex rule of evidence and procedure to present your case, file motions, make objections, and so on. During out of court negotiations, you will need to maximize your case to secure a settlement amount that you are satisfied with.
The insurance company, which is a business after all, will be looking to protect their bottom line by minimizing the amount that they have to payout. Remember that they handle these issues on a daily basis, while this might be your first time. Chances are, you’ve never had any contact with the legal system up until now.
A seasoned attorney will provide you with a level playing field by effectively handling the negotiations, maneuvering the pre-trial process, taking your case to trial, and fighting to secure the compensation that you deserve.
What are the Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
While you might choose to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company or the at-fault party yourself, chances are that you will only get a settlement offer that is completely unfair or does not even exist. However, when you have a personal injury attorney by your side, the party you are claiming against will take you more seriously, and you will have a higher chance of getting a favorable settlement offer.
What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?
The right personal injury attorney will attentively listen to you, perform thorough information and evidence gathering, advise you on your options, and help you to pursue the course of action that you prefer.
This includes:
– Personally dealing with your case, listening to your needs, and responding to your questions in a timely and urgent manner.
– Figuring out and documenting the true extent of your damages.
– Making sure that all court documents, insurance claims, and other relevant paperwork are filed properly.
– Systematically collecting all crucial pieces of evidence.
– Interviewing witnesses who were present at the time of the accident.
– Representing your interests during negotiations with insurance companies.
– Putting forward prospective settlement offers and acting in your best interest.
A personal injury attorney will take the burden of the legal process off your plate and offer you the necessary guidance during this complex process.
How to Choose the Right Personal Injury Attorney
When it comes to choosing the best attorney for your case, there are numerous options available. You can search online, look for viable candidates in the phone book, or check with the local or state bar association and make a list of prospective attorneys. You can even seek recommendations from friends or relatives. When you know what type of attorney you are searching for, you will be able to significantly narrow down your selection process.
Get in touch with the personal injury lawyers on your list and schedule initial consultations with them. Many attorneys offer this service free-of-charge, while others charge their regular fees or a discounted hourly rate. During the initial consultation, your attorney will evaluate your legal issues and you will also get to determine whether you want that particular lawyer to guide and represent you. Search for someone that you feel you can trust and feel confident that they will offer you good advice and effective representation.
Questions to Ask Your Potential Personal Injury Attorney
Once you meet the attorneys to make a decision on which one to hire, you will want to find out a number of things from each attorney, for example, their level of personal injury experience, if they have experience dealing with your specific type of case, the way they handle billing, how they handle cases like yours, and so on.
The following are some specific questions that you can ask:
– How long have you been in practice?
– Do you specialize in personal injury law?
– How often do you deal with cases like mine?
– What kinds of verdicts and settlements have you won for victims like me?
– What factors do you see enabling my case, and what can work against me?
– Do you belong to any bar associations and professional organizations?
– Who should I contact in case I have any questions or concerns?
Is There a Limit on How Much Time Can Pass Before I File a Personal Injury Claim?
In each state, there is a limited time window on filing a personal injury claim. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years.
In case you delay and try to file a claim two years after the date of the accident, you will have essentially lost your right to pursue compensation within the court system.
If you are looking to hire a personal injury attorney that you can trust, please get in touch with our law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation. We will assist you to understand your rights and determine the actual value of your personal injury claim.