When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

When you’re involved in an accident or have suffered an injury due to no fault of your own, you will find that one of the most time-intensive activities that you will do afterward is to work with an insurance company on your claim.  It is a fact that most insurance companies want to handle any claims for personal injury as quickly and cheaply as possible.  The faster that they can settle your claim, the cheaper it is for them in terms of money and resources, and it helps them to avoid going to court on your claim.

But getting a claim processed this fast may not always be in your best interest, and you could find that you end up with a settlement that is way too low to even cover the entirety of your damages or your medical bills.  How much time you will want to put into your claim altogether will ultimately depend on you, the extent of your injuries and/or damage, the type of injury, and the treatments that were/are required to treat those injuries.

When working with an insurance company on a personal injury claim, it is always a good idea to take a stance of caution.  You will want to do everything in your power to make sure that you understand the situation, and the insurance company’s position on the matter.  If you get frustrated, it may be time to find some help in the form of a personal injury attorney.  Portland residents will find that with this kind of assistance, much of the grief and frustration can be avoided.

When it’s Alright to Not Retain a Personal Injury Lawyer…

In many claim situations, you may not need to hire a personal injury attorney.  Portland residents may find that their claims are fairly straight-forward, and that the insurance company is willing and able to cooperate entirely with the claim.  If you were involved in a minor car accident or simple fender bender, there’s a good chance that you can still receive a fair settlement from the insurance company without the assistance of a personal injury attorney.

When You Need to Retain a Personal Injury Lawyer…

There are still a greater portion of personal injury claims that may require the assistance of a personal injury attorney.  Portland residents who find that there may be some confusion or contention about who is at fault for the accident or for the injuries may need to consult with an attorney before moving forward with a demand.  If someone has been seriously injured due to negligent actions, then they will certainly need to retain a personal injury lawyer.  Also, if you’ve been injured in a car accident that was directly caused by someone who is uninsured or underinsured, it is good idea to seek counsel.

At the end of the day, the choice of hiring a personal injury attorney is your own.  Before making any final decisions, ask yourself a couple of questions.  First, do you think that you can obtain a settlement on your own that you will be happy with?  Second, do you think that you will do better with a personal injury attorney?  Portland residents may find that the answers to these questions surprise them.