In the aftermath of a serious accident, it is common to have questions about your rights and legal options. If someone else’s negligence forced you to endure serious physical pain and incur unexpected expenses like medical bills and lost wages, you have the right to seek fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
While you might be aware that you can hire an attorney to represent you for your personal injury claim, you may not be sure of how to choose the right lawyer to handle your case or how personal injury law works. With your health and financial future on the line, it is crucial to choose an attorney who has a track record of successfully handling cases similar to yours, and who knows how to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Below, we’ll discuss why experience matters and how to choose the right personal injury attorney to make sure that you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Protecting You and Your Claim, Right from the Start
If you’ve been severely hurt in an accident, the insurance company for the other party will likely be working immediately to protect their own interests. You should have a strong advocate on your side as well. All too often, accident victims find themselves pressured by insurance company representatives who will be looking to deny, delay, or underpay their injury claim.
Insurance adjusters might try to convince you not to hire an attorney to represent you. They might tell you that they’ll take care of you, and they may even offer a quick settlement right away. These tactics are designed to get you to settle for less than what your claim is truly worth.
An experienced lawyer will step in and protect your rights and your case. They will handle all communication with insurance company representatives and will not be bullied into accepting a lowball settlement offer. Your lawyer will also advise you on what to say and how to act while your case is in progress. For example, a seasoned injury attorney will likely advise you to refrain from posting anything on social media that the other side could potentially use against you.
Building a Strong Case on Your Behalf
It will be vital to have an attorney with specific experience investigating injury accidents like yours. You’ll want a lawyer who has the right skills and resources necessary to gather crucial evidence, review medical records, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
You’ll also want to make sure that your lawyer knows how to evaluate your injuries. The nature and extent of your injuries will heavily influence the amount of compensation and other damages you could recover. For example, if your lawyer understands how to evaluate and calculate the long term impact of soft tissue injuries, but doesn’t have much experience with injury to the spinal cord, you might miss out on compensation that could be vital to your treatment and life moving forward.
Negotiating a Fair Settlement or Taking Your Case to Trial
Most injury claims settle long before they ever see the inside of a courtroom. You’ll still want to hire an attorney who has experience with negotiating fair settlements and winning cases in court. Not every lawyer has a successful trial experience, and you’ll want to avoid hiring an attorney who has never secured a successful verdict on behalf of a client. Insurance companies will likely know who they’re dealing with and will be more likely to offer a fair settlement to a lawyer who is not afraid to take your case all the way to trial.
You Deserve Experience that Counts
If you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, be sure to hire a lawyer who has the right experience and skills to handle your case correctly. You only have one opportunity to secure the fair compensation you’re owed, so this decision is not one to be taken lightly.
There is a reason why so many people in Jacksonville have chosen the trial attorneys at Harrell and Harrell, P.A., to represent them after an accident has turned their life upside down. Our team provides compassionate, aggressive representation for those who’ve been hurt, and our track record of successful verdicts and settlements speaks for itself.
Call our Jacksonville office at (904) 251-1111 or reach out to us online to speak with one of our knowledgeable injury attorneys during a free consultation. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you, so call us today.