If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, a work-related injury, a fall in a public or private place, or if you’ve been exposed to an injury or disease as a result of exposure to asbestos, you may be wondering if you need to hire a personal injury lawyer, or if you should attempt to settle the case on your own.
It’s certainly true that not every personal injury case requires an attorney.
When Do You Not Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you’ve suffered a soft tissue injury, such as whiplash, light nerve damage, muscle tears, or basic sprains, it may be simpler to deal with the insurance company on your own and attempt to earn an out-of-court settlement, especially if the value of your case is likely less than $5000.
Soft tissue injuries can be difficult, and in some cases impossible, for medical professionals to document. As a result, winning a substantial cash award in a lawsuit or settlement is rare, and so many personal injury lawyers tend to stay away from them.
Understanding Contingency Fees
In most every other personal injury situation, however, having an experienced lawyer on your side will generally be in your very best interest.
And if the potentially high cost of legal fees is scaring you away from meeting with an attorney, fear not: Nearly every personal injury attorney with his or her salt works on what is known as a contingency basis. That means that won’t have to pay a cent to the lawyer up front, nor will you have to pay if you lose your case.
Only if you win your case and receive a payment from an insurance company will a contingency based lawyer take a cut, which is usually around 33 percent, although that fee can be higher or lower, depending on where in the country you live.
When You Need a Personal Injury Attorney
If your particular claim involves especially complex legal rules, or if the severity of your injuries are such that you’ll need to have a medical professional appear before a judge or jury on your behalf, you’ll definitely want to bring a lawyer on board.
Sometimes, simply having an attorney on your side is enough to scare the insurance company into settling out of court, especially if the lawyer you’ve hired has a reputation of playing hardball. Insurance companies know full well that a lengthy legal proceeding will almost always cost them more than an out of court settlement, which will most often be in your best interest, too. (The legal process has a way of stretching on for a long, long time. An out of court settlement will get you back to your life and away from the stress of the legal world in short order.)
With that said, anyone who has experienced any of the following situations will almost always want to consult with, and eventually hire, and experienced personal injury attorney:
- Medical Malpractice Situations
- Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
- Significantly Disabling Injuries
- Work-Related Injuries
- Traffic Accidents
At Penglase & Benson, Inc., our attorneys are viewed as worthy adversaries to any personal injury opponent. By investigating the circumstances surrounding your motor vehicle accident or catastrophic injury, we are able to empower you with knowledge in an effort to prepare you for the best outcome possible. Drawing on more than 65 years of legal experience, our Pennsylvania lawyers will navigate the circumstances of your accident step by step.
Contact Penglase & Benson, Inc., For a Free Initial Consultation
To schedule your free initial consultation with our Doylestown personal injury attorneys, call our firm at 215-348-4416. We are conveniently located next to the Bucks County Courthouse. You can find parking in a nearby garage or on the street. We are easily accessible by train, bus and via Route 611 and Route 313. You can also reach us by completing an online contact form.
