Personal injury claims are rarely straightforward. What may look pretty simple from the outside may take a complete 180 as the claim or case goes on. This is why you need to consult a lawyer, not after filing a personal injury lawsuit but immediately after you’re injured.
The services of a lawyer go beyond legal expertise. They can help you file the necessary paperwork and send it to the concerned parties. And the biggest one? They’re great at tackling insurance adjusters who knock on your doors and offer a meager amount as compensation.
Personal injury lawyers will also help negotiate fair compensation with the insurance company.
The difficulty of a personal injury case comes down considerably with the help of a lawyer. Given below are 4 instances where you absolutely need a lawyer to win.
Injuries that Cause Disability or Long-term Damages
If you’re lucky enough, you’ll get out of an accident with minor injuries.
But there are accidents where a victim suffers severe injuries. These injuries take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to recover. Even after recovery, the after-effects will stay, interfering with the victim’s everyday life.
Then, there are accidents that cause disability to the victim. Say, for instance, that an amputation is the only way the victim will survive an accident. The victim will have to live without a limb for the rest of their life.
You need the assistance of a lawyer for both cases mentioned above. The lawyer will accurately calculate all the damages that are related to the injuries. This also includes non-economic damages like pain and suffering and emotional distress. Without a lawyer, an insurance company will use a standard formula to calculate compensation.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals have to maintain a specific standard of care when treating patients. An injury caused by the failure to meet this requirement leads to a medical malpractice claim.
You’ll have to prove the following elements for a successful medical malpractice claim.
- That patient-healthcare provider existed
- The provider exhibited negligence
- The provider’s negligence caused the victim’s injury
Without a lawyer, validating these elements is an impossible task.
Additionally, medical malpractice claims involve more than just improper treatment. Cases like the ones mentioned below also fall under medical malpractice.
- Failure to diagnose
- Misdiagnosis
- Anesthesia and medication errors
- Failure to warn the patient about the risks of the procedure
Each of the above conditions comes with its own set of complications. A medical malpractice lawyer is a must in this scenario.
Severe Injuries
The severity of an injury depends on the circumstances under which the accident happened. The injuries a victim suffers in a head-on collision will be much worse than those in a sideswipe or rear-end collision.
As the severity of the injuries goes up, so do the complications involved in calculating your claim. Severe injuries account for some of the highest compensation amounts. This is why you need a lawyer. They know how to interpret your bills and medical records and help you calculate appropriate compensation that will help you towards normalcy.
Toxic Exposure
Toxic exposure is commonly seen on construction sites. However the increase in additives in food and the presence of chemicals in air, soil, and water make it a risk for the average citizen as well.
Injury or illness due to toxic exposure is hard to prove. This is because you’ll have to present scientific data to support your claim. Additionally, if the claim is filed against a major corporation, proving your side is next to impossible.
A lawyer is crucial in cases like this. They’ll have the contacts to prove the scientific side of things. And they’ll offer the assistance required to correct the injustice you’ve suffered.
Final Thoughts
A lawyer is a crucial aspect of a personal injury case or claim. Without one, you run the risk of receiving terribly low compensation or, worse, no compensation at all.
Time is of the essence in a personal injury case. Talk with a lawyer today and get the legal assistance you need.
