Nobody wants to get hurt. But accidents happen all the time. If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering if you need a lawyer. The answer is not always clear-cut, but insurance companies have an entire legal team and are experts at insurance defense.

What is a Personal Injury Case?

A personal injury case arises when you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness or intentional wrongdoing. Carelessness - also known as negligence -  is the failure to use reasonable care, resulting in an accident. For example, if a driver runs a red light and hits your car, that driver has been negligent. If a company sells you a defective product that causes you harm, the company may also be liable for your injuries.

The first step in any personal injury claim is to determine whether there is liability—in other words, whether someone else can be held responsible for your injuries. Once liability has been established, the next step is to determine damages. Damages are the monetary compensation that you are entitled to receive as a result of your injuries. They can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. What you can recover varies from state to state and there are nuances, such asthird parties that can be held liable for damages. Without knowing all of the rules and understanding the different types of negligence, you may very well miss out on monetary damages that are owed to you.

In some cases, it may be clear that you need a lawyer right away. For example, if you’ve been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and you’ve suffered serious injuries, it’s in your best interest to hire an attorney early on.  The same is true if your injuries were caused by a defective product or premises liability accident, such as a slip-and-fall. In these types of cases, insurance companies will often try to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out, so it’s important to have an experienced advocate on your side who will fight for the full compensation you deserve.

If you’re unsure whether you need an attorney, it’s always best to consult with one of our intake specialists who will review the details of your particular case, free of charge.  If they agree that you potentially have a case, they will take down the information and select the right partner attorney to review the details and potentially represent you. You do not pay anything until your case is settled or closed. If you do not win, you do not have to pay anything.

The law firms we partner with go through a rigorous review process. We evaluate each one according to strict criteria, and only those that meet all requirements will be considered for partnership. These factors include:  years practicing personal injury law, practice areas handled,  average settlement values, and reviews from previous clients.