After an accident or injury, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is whether you need the services of a personal injury attorney. Perhaps you were in a car accident and the other driver was obviously at fault or admitted fault at the scene. Maybe you suffered a minor injury that did not require any treatment. Maybe you tripped and fell in a public place and blamed your own clumsiness. You may think it is unnecessary or overly expensive to seek advice from an attorney or believe that you have no recourse. However, read below to understand how a personal injury attorney may help, even when you don’t believe you need it.
Make Sure You Know All the Facts
When it comes to any accident, things are not always what they seem to be. You may believe you were being careless when you failed to see the other vehicle before a collision, but there may have been other factors that you don’t know about.
For example:
- The other driver may have been speeding or under the influence of alcohol or other substances. There may even have been mechanical problems with your vehicle.
- The driver who tearfully admitted running a red light at the scene may have an entirely different story later on.
- You might have thought you were just clumsy when you fell in the grocery store, but you may not have seen the water or debris that made you fall.
- Perhaps, you thought you startled the dog that bit you. When in fact, the dog may have bitten or injured others in the past.
One of the jobs of a personal injury attorney is to help determine exactly what caused an accident, and who was at fault.
A Fast Settlement May Not Be Best
When an insurance company acknowledges that their client was at fault for an accident, it is in their best interests to offer a quick cash settlement. This may not be best for you, however. If you accept a settlement and find out later that you have lingering or even permanent injuries, you are not entitled to additional compensation. You must be sure that the extent of any injuries is completely known before reaching any final settlement. Your attorney will be able to accurately determine the amount of compensation that you should receive, even if the insurance company offers much less. Your attorney will also be able to work with insurers to get payment for medical expenses and possibly lost wages while your case is still pending, so you are not forced to accept a quick, inadequate settlement.
Cost
You may be worried about how you will pay for an attorney or if attorney’s fees will reduce the amount of your settlement. Since personal injury attorneys do not get paid unless they win or settle your case, you do not have to worry about paying any fees.
If you do not win, you do not owe any attorney’s fees. Personal injury attorneys handle cases like yours every day and know how to negotiate for the maximum compensation. Their experience can mean more compensation for you, even after fees are subtracted.
Consultations are Free
Your first consultation with one of the personal injury attorneys at O’Brien & Ford is always free. We are available whenever you need us, at 716-907-7777, or you may visit our website at https://obrienfoldprd.wpenginepowered.com/. COVID-19 UPDATE: Although we are working from alternate locations, we remain fully functional and look forward to helping you.