Crash!!! In an instant, your life changes. One of the first questions you may ask yourself is: Do I need an attorney? The answer depends on several things, including the extent of your injuries, the issue of fault, and the difficulty of your case. Some minor accidents don’t require representation. Despite what those guys on TV say, if the other guy is clearly at fault and you required no medical care beyond being checked at the ER, a lawyer cannot add much to your claim value. On the other hand, if you suffered a significant injury or fault is an issue, an experienced lawyer may be able to help you tremendously.
When You May NOT Need A Personal Injury Attorney
In some cases, you honestly don’t need an attorney. Here are a few situations where you may not need an attorney:
1. You suffered only minor property damage with no injuries
If the car crash caused only minor damage to your vehicle and nobody suffered injuries, you may be able to resolve the claim directly with the insurance company. For example, someone rear-ended you at a low speed and caused just some bumper damage to your car. In that situation, the process should be straightforward.
2. You went to the ER to get checked but required no additional care
The other driver was at-fault and caused the crash. At the scene, maybe you were shaken and unsure about any injuries. So, you go to the ER and get checked-out. You should do that. Afterwards, you are fine and need no additional care. While some television lawyers may try to convince you to call, the truth is that a lawyer cannot add much value to such a claim. If fault is clear and you really are not injured, you likely do not need a lawyer.
When You May Need A Personal Injury Attorney
For many car accident victims, consulting an attorney is essential. Even straightforward cases can become complicated and an experienced attorney can protect your rights. Here are some common reasons you need to consult an attorney:
1. You suffered serious injuries
If you suffered significant injuries, the stakes are much higher. These injuries may include broken bones, head trauma, back / spine injuries, or even the need for physical therapy and care beyond the emergency room. If you are injured, medical bills or lost wages can add-up quickly. If you need care beyond the emergency room, a skilled personal injury attorney can often help get the full compensation you deserve. In these cases, insurance adjusters typically discount bills or discount injuries. You should consult an attorney who can help. At the Blackwell Law Firm, we focus on the medical evidence. Our lawyers have a long track record of working closely with clients and physicians to build the medical evidence in order to obtain the maximum available compensation.
2. Your loved one suffered a fatal injury
When someone is killed as the result of an at-fault or negligent driver, their loved ones may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Alabama law related to wrongful death claims is unique. Wrongful death cases often require skilled and experienced counsel.
3. The insurance company disputed liability
In Alabama, our law follows a contributory negligence rule. That means you cannot recover against another negligent driver if you are even 1% at fault for the accident. Many insurance company adjusters simply deny or dispute every claim, arguing you are 1% at fault. Don’t take the insurance adjuster’s word. Consult with an experienced personal injury trial lawyer. We receive calls every week from individuals who have valid claims but were simply denied by an insurance company. I cannot stress enough — We see wrongful insurance company denials every single week. In many of those situations, we are able to build strong cases for our clients to get them compensated. If the insurance company denied your car accident claim, your workers’ compensation claim, or any other injury claim, call us. We are happy to listen and provide legal advice that can help you.
4. The insurance company is playing games with you
If you are frustrated because an insurance adjuster is pressuring you to sign medical releases or pressuring you to accept pennies for your claim, you are not alone. If you are frustrated because the adjuster never answers and never returns your calls, you are not alone. Some adjusters are available when they want things but disappear quickly when you need them. We’ve heard and seen all their games.
An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to best handle adjusters. An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to build the best case for you. At the Blackwell Law Firm, we believe every case is personal and deserves hands-on hard work for the best result.
5. Your damages are unclear or complicated
When we initially consult with clients, many of them are experiencing serious injuries that the physicians are still trying to fully diagnose and treat. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, lung injuries from toxic exposures, and complex spinal injuries, require substantial treatment from medical experts. We understand that in many cases, we need to develop the medical evidence to fully build the case for compensation.
We also understand, from years of helping people with work-related injuries, that many people struggle to work following a serious injury. Maybe you are trying to continue working despite ongoing or increasing pain. Maybe you are trying to work with accommodations but are unsure if your employer will continue them. A lot of issues impact damages, especially in the areas of long-term medical care and long-term employment. We approach each case as unique. We work to build each and every aspect of your case and damages for the maximum recovery.
6. You received an inadequate settlement offer
We frequently receive calls from people who were injured in a car accident but then received an initial offer from the adjuster that was insulting. Maybe that offer was less than your medical bills. You don’t need to get mad. Instead, you need to consult an attorney who is experienced in building personal injury cases and who is also experienced in going to court when needed for maximum compensation.
Insurance companies often offer insultingly low amounts to people without skilled lawyers as well people who hired a billboard lawyer. Insurance companies know which lawyers never go to court. It makes a big difference.
What should you do? Consult a skilled lawyer. Not a lawyer from a TV ad. A lawyer with the expertise and reputation on going to court for clients in these cases.
The Cost Of Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered a serious injury in a car accident or at work, one of your biggest concerns may be the cost of hiring a lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means several things:
- No Upfront Fees Or Costs. You don’t pay anything upfront to hire the lawyer.
- No Recovery, No Fee. If your attorney does not recover compensation for you, you should not pay anything.
- Percentage Based Fee. In personal injury cases, attorneys charge a percentage of the final settlement.
In recent years, we’ve seen some bad and even unethical practices utilized by some TV and Billboard lawyers. Some of those firms are trying to charge additional fees, calling them document or administrative fees. That’s wrong! It reminds of some car dealerships where you agreed to a price for the car only to have a bunch of extra fees added. It’s wrong. You should not hire any attorney who adds misleading or additional fees. The fee agreement should be simple. You should pay only based upon the settlement recovered for you.
After a serious accident, many people struggle with bills, with work, and with worries over the future. You need an attorney who helps with that stress, who is fully accessible to you, and who works for your maximum damage recovery.
The Benefits Of Hiring A Skilled Personal Injury Attorney
In the prior paragraphs I explained the how and why you might need a skilled personal injury attorney. If you suffered a significant personal injury, the consultation is free. And, the benefits of hiring a skilled personal injury attorney often substantially outweigh any cost. Here’s how a skilled personal injury attorney can help you:
- Maximizing Your Compensation. As I mentioned earlier, the extent of your injuries often determines whether or not you really need an attorney. In cases involving significant injuries, the research shows that accident victims with skilled attorneys recover substantially more compensation than others. A skilled attorney knows how to evaluate claims, value damages, build cases, negotiate offers, and prepare trials.
- Building Your Best Case. An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to advise you every step of the way. An experienced personal injury attorney also knows how to gather evidence, interview witnesses, work with experts, and prepare the best presentations for court.
- Handling The Difficult Insurance Process (Or Difficult Adjusters). Dealing with an adjuster can be very stressful for an accident victim. One minute the adjuster won’t leave you alone. Then, suddenly the adjuster ghosts you when help is really needed. We’ve spent years dealing with adjusters. An experienced lawyer can remove that stress from you. Then you can focus on what’s really important — Getting the medical care you need for your best recovery and rehabilitation.
- Navigating Alabama’s Contributory Negligence Rule. A skilled attorney can help you avoid the mistakes that could ruin your claim. For example, insurance adjusters are very skilled at taking statements that could be misinterpreted as admitting fault. Don’t fall into the traps that could jeopardize your case.
- Working The Complex Rules Of Court. Insurance companies know which attorneys are willing to go to court. And, they know which attorneys are not. It makes a big difference in settlements. Just having a skilled attorney who has tried real car accident claims to real juries, makes a huge difference. When your attorney has real litigation experience in personal injury cases (not other types of cases with different rules), you can see a real benefit in results.
- Reducing Your Stress. If you are hurt, you may have serious worries about your injuries, medical care, rehabilitation, and ability to work. You don’t need to add worries about aggressive or absent insurance adjusters. You need to focus on your recovery and let your lawyer focus on the claim.
Making The Right Choice For Your Claim
At the Blackwell Law Firm, we understand the stresses that come with serious car accidents. We also understand you truly need to focus on your medical care and recovery. Our experienced attorneys do one thing — Prepare personal injury cases for their maximum recovery. We believe you need an attorney who will listen and advise you every step of the way. If you have legal questions, give us a call. We are happy to listen and provide answers. Our consultations are always free and confidential.
(256) 261-1315
