When Should You Approach a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Knowing the importance of working with a personal injury attorney is only one piece of the puzzle. When should you speak to a lawyer? At what point should you seek the services of an expert to help you pursue your claim? This blog will give you the answer to this and many other questions.

Immediately After the Incident

There are a lot of things you should do after an accident. For starters, you should see a doctor, and not only when you have visible injuries. “Go to the doctor even if you feel fine because some injuries may take a while to become apparent. Injuries like whiplash, traumatic brain injury, and even internal bleeding can take days to become evident,” says Personal Injury Attorney Frank Tomeny III of Tomeny Best.

After your doctor, the next priority should be your lawyer. Give them all the medical documents, including your lab test results, doctor’s appointment notes, X-rays, receipts, and any other piece of evidence that shows you were treated and to what extent. This gives your attorney the resources they need to chase down your claim and bring the responsible person or entity to book.

When Fault Is Disputed

Personal injury negotiations can sometimes be contentious. The defendant may try to get off the hook using all kinds of counterarguments. And when insurance companies are involved, you absolutely want your lawyer in the room with you. They will fight for your rights, ensuring that all your damages are well accounted for. Even better, they will evaluate your case, collect evidence, and use their understanding of the law to determine the law that will take precedence in your case.

When You Suffer From Severe or Long-Term Injuries

A minor fender bender will likely result in minor injuries that are far easier to calculate damages for. But things tend to get a bit complicated for severe injuries. You may take years to recover, requiring ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive devices. An experienced lawyer will negotiate with opposing counsel for a fair settlement that covers your past, present, and future medical expenses. They’ll enlist doctors and other medical personnel to examine you and determine what level of care you’ll need going forward.

When Your Case Involves Multiple Parties 

Truck accidents are a textbook example of personal injury cases that can be complex because they involve multiple parties. Maybe the truck driver was drowsing at the wheel, but then again, it may be because their boss doesn’t give them enough time to rest. It’s also possible that the truck may have been poorly maintained, a contributor to the accident. A good personal injury attorney will ensure no one gets to walk away clean. They will pursue multiple claims of liability against all possible parties, ensuring you are adequately compensated for your damages.

When You Need the Help of an Expert Witness  

An expert witness is a person with expertise in a particular field. They are called upon to explain aspects that only a person with specialized knowledge can. For example, a doctor can be called upon to explain the nature of your injuries, the treatment you will need, and potential long-term impacts. If you suffer a severe or long-term injury, vocational rehabilitation specialists can explain how it affects your ability to work, whether you can go back to your current job, and whether you will need retraining for new employment. Experienced personal injury attorneys build connections with these experts over time. They can determine the type of professional necessary for your case and leverage their connections to bring them in.

Conclusion

You are well within your rights to file your personal injury suit independently. But you can increase the odds of winning by working with a specialized personal injury attorney. And if you’re worried about attorney fees, most professionals in this field work on a contingency basis. This means their pay is derived from your settlement, should you win the lawsuit.