Accidents happen every day. One minute, you’re driving to work, listening to an audiobook on the car radio, the next, you’re disoriented, wondering what you’re doing on the other side of the median. Incidents like these occur frequently. In fact, at roughly 1,949,000 car accidents every year in the USA, we’re talking more than 5,000 crashes daily.
Or it could be a grocery run. Just walking over to the cashier, and then you step on a small patch of water. Next thing you know, you have a lump the size of a golf ball at the back of your head.
In situations like these, it’s completely normal to wonder what your next move is. Do you need a lawyer, or is it something you can just handle by yourself?
The truth is that not every accident requires legal help. If no one is hurt and the damage is minor, you can probably handle things yourself. But when injuries, bills, or insurance headaches start piling up, that’s something else entirely.
So, how do you know when to involve a personal injury lawyer, and when it’s safe to go solo?
Read on to find out.
Sign #1: The Insurance Company Is Giving You a Hard Time
This is one of the biggest red flags to watch for when deciding if you need a personal injury lawyer. If you’ve dealt with insurance adjusters before, you know what I mean. They have a knack for blocking you at every turn. They ignore you, delay your requests, and eventually rush you towards a low offer.
Here’s a real-life example: A Scottish pensioner was struck by an SUV sometime in 2023, in the USA. The accident caused her severe brain injuries, which put her in a coma. But did her insurers come through immediately? No.
Instead, they told her to fly back home to Edinburgh or risk policy cancellation. This is someone undergoing multiple brain surgeries, including a craniectomy. The insurers later backtracked and apologized, but the harm had already been done.
If you’re facing such pushback or want to avoid it entirely, then you may benefit from a personal injury lawyer who knows how to handle the system.
Sign #2: Your Injuries Are Serious or Long-Term
A bruised knee is one thing. Traumatic brain injuries or skull fractures that require surgery? That’s a different story entirely.
You’re most definitely looking at hospital stays, chronic pain, lost wages, and much more. It goes without saying that this kind of scenario requires professional legal representation.
Here’s the thing: hospital stays in the USA can be expensive. Debt.org puts a one-day hospital stay at $3,025, a figure that can go up or down, depending on the state where you get care. In fact, according to the same source, 67% of people who file for bankruptcy cite high medical bills as a major factor.
That’s where having a personal injury lawyer really matters. A good attorney knows how to calculate the long-term cost of your injuries, not just the current bills. They’ll work with medical experts to predict what you’ll need down the road as you get better, and help you get the best settlement for your injuries.
Sign #3: You’re Not Sure Who’s at Fault
Some accidents are pretty straightforward. You were texting while driving and hit a tree. No mystery there. Some are not so clear. You were rear-ended at a stoplight. Was the other driver driving too close, or was your taillight out?
Or maybe you slipped and fell in the local grocery store. Was it because you weren’t looking where you were going, or because there was a faint slick of oil by the refrigerators? Lawyers call this comparative or contributory negligence, which basically means how much each person’s actions contributed to the accident.
Untangling who’s at fault in these scenarios isn’t always easy, but a professional can help.
A personal injury attorney can investigate the scene, talk with witnesses and experts, and build a case that assigns fault properly. You don’t want to accept blame too quickly, for something an investigation might have proven otherwise, and lose some or all of the settlement you might be entitled to. Sometimes, what feels like your fault turns out not to be at all once someone looks closer.
Sign #4: The Settlement Offer Feels Too Low
Have you ever been in an accident where you’re not to blame, and while you’re busy thinking about your next step, the at-fault party’s insurers start calling you? That’s a big, bold red flag and sign to get a lawyer, ASAP.
According to the Freeman Law Firm, a fast settlement is not a generous offer. It’s just a sign that the insurers want to settle up before you understand what the real costs are. Bottom line? Don’t be in a hurry to accept. Get your own lawyer involved.
Of course, there’s the possibility that you’ll eventually end up with a lower number or even nothing at all. Forbes Advisor puts your chances of a favorable personal injury settlement at around a 50-50 chance. But here’s the thing: a good personal injury lawyer will look at the offer, look at the circumstances, and be in a better position to help you decide whether to accept or push for more.
The right lawyer can often help you raise that number to something that’s actually fair.
Knowing When to Act
If you’ve never done so before, anyone who has will tell you that engaging a lawyer for any reason is a big step. But sometimes, you just have to.
The other party probably has a lawyer already. The insurance company definitely does. Even the government has entire teams of them. Reaching out to a personal injury lawyer doesn’t mean you’re geared up for a lawsuit. It’s simply a smart way to understand what your options are.
So, if you find yourself in any of the four scenarios discussed above, don’t hesitate. Better to have a lawyer and not need one than to need one and not have one.
Shikha Negi is a Content Writer at ztudium with expertise in writing and proofreading content. Having created more than 500 articles encompassing a diverse range of educational topics, from breaking news to in-depth analysis and long-form content, Shikha has a deep understanding of emerging trends in business, technology (including AI, blockchain, and the metaverse), and societal shifts, As the author at Sarvgyan News, Shikha has demonstrated expertise in crafting engaging and informative content tailored for various audiences, including students, educators, and professionals.
