Personal injury claims cover a wide range of circumstances: a victim could have a sprained ankle caused by a fall, a neck injury received in a car crash, or a catastrophic injury with life-threatening consequences or death.
Not Every Accident Can Be Handled As a Personal Injury Case
Not every accident, even if someone is hurt, results in a personal injury lawsuit. Sometimes, no one was to blame because it was simply an accident. However, it can be difficult to decide whether or not an accident was caused by someone’s negligence, and it may take a judge or jury to make that determination. The best way to protect your rights is to discuss what happened with an experienced injury lawyer in Raynham.
How Serious Was the Accident?
Every day, there is an untold number of fender-benders and other minor accidents. If there are minor or no injuries and limited vehicle damage, most people feel comfortable filing a claim with their insurance company. Before doing so, however, be certain there will be no long-lasting effects from the injury.
Whiplash, for example, does not usually show up on X-rays; it can occur at speeds of less than 5 mph, and can cause permanent, painful damage. Reaching an early settlement with the insurance company could mean there won’t be sufficient compensation to cover any future medical treatment needed.
Be Objective When Deciding to Handle the Claim Yourself
Small Claims Court is the perfect place to settle many cases involving relatively small amounts of money. People gather their own evidence, research their legal position, and present their cases to the judge. However, if there are serious issues involved, it is almost always better to be represented by an experienced attorney.
Legal Representation Generally Results in Larger Settlements
The Insurance Research Council studied whether or not people received higher settlements when they hired a lawyer. They found that, on average, claimants with representation received settlements that were 350% higher than were paid for similar claims with no representation. The average person does not really understand how much could be needed to pay for long-term medical expenses, for example, or the legal implications of the case.
For over 20 years, the Law Office of Bruce S. Raphel, PC has been protecting the rights of people injured by another’s negligence. Don’t be intimidated by the insurance company, contact this knowledgeable injury lawyer in Raynham for a free consultation.
