Do I Need To Have Car Insurance To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer?

The decision whether to seek out a personal injury attorney for an accident that was your fault will depend on a number of factors, including the extent of the injuries suffered, extenuating circumstances and your insurance coverage. Typically, attorneys for your insurance company will serve as your defense against personal injury claims made by others involved in the accident. If there are other legal factors, particularly possible traffic court or criminal charges, you should consider hiring a defense attorney who practices in that area.

On the decision whether to hire your own personal injury attorney, one of the key factors is the severity of the injuries you suffered because of the accident. If the injuries were relatively minor and you have insurance coverage, then it is possible that the compensation you receive from your insurance company may be adequate. If your injuries are not severe and do not require costly medical care, then a personal injury attorney likely would not provide a great deal of added value to your case.

However, if the injuries suffered are more severe – and therefore require more expensive medical care – then you should weigh consulting a personal injury attorney. If you believe the compensation your insurance company is offering to pay for that care is inadequate, an attorney can strive to improve the terms of a settlement. You can attempt to challenge the company on your own, but the advantage of having an attorney is that you will have someone well-versed in the realm of personal injury claims who can interact with other parties, including insurance companies and other attorneys, while looking out for your best interests.

A personal injury attorney also may be able to help if there were extenuating circumstances, such as faulty vehicle equipment, in the cause of the accident. If there are other factors, then a personal injury attorney may be able to help you find compensation through an avenue other than your automobile insurance coverage.  Also, personal injury attorneys can be essential in coordinating all of the benefits that you are entitled to and making sure any reimbursement claims, “liens” and other such matters are settled.

One important thing to consider is that many personal injury attorneys, including the Jeff Brooke Team, offer free consultations, either in person, on the phone or through email or online forms. If you are unsure whether a personal injury attorney would help, you can reach out to an attorney to explain the specifics of your case and learn what kind of support they could provide.