We live in a world that is unfortunately too divided according to class, race, religion and politics. Tragedy however, cuts through all these artificial barriers and strikes indiscriminately to all walks of life. No matter their background, most of our clients have never had to meet with a lawyer to discuss legal options following an injury and have a long list of questions. The most common being, “Do I need a lawyer?”
You would never choose to be injured and would rather not have to meet with a lawyer. However, if you have been injured and you believe it occurred as a result of another’s negligence, chances are that you could benefit from having an experienced and effective lawyer on your side. Here’s why:
Navigating the legal processes required to make you whole following an injury can be trying for even the most seasoned lawyers. Facing these challenges without effective representation only extends and worsens the tragedy. I have encountered far too many well-intentioned people who unfortunately chose to attempt to “handle their own case” before finally becoming aware of their mistake. When this happens, we are often faced with mistakes that must be corrected which only delays and harms resolution for the client. Having a strong advocate on your side in the immediate wake of a tragedy will lower the risk of harm to your case and only increases your chance of resolving your case favorably.
In the wake of an injury, you will no doubt be under tremendous stress and pressure. You will have doctor’s appointments, transportation issues and financial setbacks due to medical bills and lost income. You should never attempt to deal with an insurance company trained to take advantage of your legal ignorance and desperation. Your time spent stressing about what an insurance company will or will not do only takes away from your recovery. Additional stress is the last thing that you will need as you attempt to get your life back on track. I love to see the relief on my clients’ faces and in their body language when they realize they will no longer have the stress of worrying about an insurance company. When you are injured, your full time focus and efforts should be toward your recovery. If handling your own claim is interfering at all with your recovery, you need an effective advocate on your side.
You may also wonder whether your lawyer will add more value than their cost. Our firm handles the majority of injury cases on a contingency fee basis meaning our fee is contingent on recovering for you. Most firms charge a standard rate of 1/3 of your total settlement prior to litigation and perhaps 40% if a lawsuit must be filed. Our firm is no different in our standard rates. However, there is no question that in the vast majority of cases having effective representation is well worth the legal fee as your experienced lawyer will add tremendous value to your injury claim and avoid common pitfalls that would otherwise destroy your ability to recover what you are owed.
You should never feel alone, intimidated or overwhelmed following an injury. If you are, please call the experienced personal injury team at Schiller & Hamilton today. You will have the opportunity to sit down with our lawyers for a free strategy session to determine how we can help.