Should I handle my own personal injury claims?
There are some instances where an injured party can handle their own claim, but you should always speak with a personal injury lawyer before you contact the insurance company.
Here is a great post from the Texas Injury Law Blog.
Potential clients involved in an accident or injury claim that seek legal help or free advice from my law firm frequently ask this question--If I hire a lawyer and have to pay attorneys' fees, won't I end up getting less money in the end?
Nothing is guaranteed--however, I cannot remember a time when I had a client who, at first, was handling a claim on their own or was just about to settle with the insurance when they came to me with many questions and reservations about hiring a lawyer. They trusted our law firm, and it proved to be worth it in the end.
A couple of questions should come to your mind (1) if you were in need of surgery, would you try to do the surgery yourself ? , (2) do you really have what it takes to take on Big Insurance and an insurance claims adjuster who handles thousands of claims a year?
Remember, the insurance adjuster is not under oath when they are dealing with you and they are frequently trained to do absolutely everything in their power to deny your injury claim or pay you as little as possible. If you are thinking if it does not work out, I can always hire a lawyer later--think again. Commonly, people come in after trying to handle their injury claim with the "do it yourself" approach by giving the insurance company a statement unfavorable to their claim and missing crucial damages they are entitled to under the law.
If you have an injury lawyer or law firm who works your claim diligently and aggressively, your decision to hire a lawyer is more often than not worth the time. While most people are concerned about their property damage, I remind potential clients that vehicles can always be replaced, but you only get one body during your lifetime, if you do not look out for your health, who will?
Abraham Lincoln once said, "A man who represents himself has a fool for a client."
If you have legal questions with your personal injury claim give me a call for a free consultation.
