Knowing When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

Some of the biggest stressors a personal injury victim may face might include dealing with the negligent party, talking with insurance companies and attorneys, doctor appointments and scheduling medical treatments around work and family schedules, or in the most common personal injury scenario – a car accident – a person may be without access to transportation. These struggles quickly add up and can leave a personal injury victim in a bad situation, often with excessive financial demands due to growing bills. When a person finds himself or herself facing these struggles alone, they may need to evaluate the value of hiring a personal injury lawyer so the process to receive adequate compensation for losses can begin. The decision may not be easy but if the victim can prove another person was negligent and responsible for their injuries, the Kentucky courts may award compensation to help make life with a personal injury a bit more comfortable.

WATCH Attorney Jerry Rhoads answers the question: “Should I hire a lawyer to handle my injury case?” He also discusses why not having a lawyer on your side creates an unfair advantage for the insurance company.

How Serious Are Injuries

When someone is deciding if they should take legal action because of their personal injury incident, it is important to take a full review of the total impact or harm the accident has caused. This harm includes economic losses, like:

• Property Damage
• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages

It also may include non-economic losses, such as:

• Emotional Distress
• Pain and Suffering
• Punitive Damages

Going through the standard insurance claim process alone can be costly in more ways than just money and in the end a recovery for medical bills and other damages may not happen. A personal injury lawyer can assist in estimating total damages and help decide if a personal injury case is relevant and worthy.

Insurance Companies Have Professionals On Their Side

Insurance companies have to represent in the interest of their customers so it is more than likely that once carriers receive an accident report, the person negligent will already have an attorney lined up and preparing to represent them. This works against a personal injury victim who is quickly accruing medical bills and expenses related to the accident, even if they were not at-fault. Personal injury victims may also be presented with a settlement claim or legal paperwork before being able to consult with an attorney of his or her own. Insurance carriers like to settle claims early to avoid paying out any additional dollars when really the negligent driver’s insurance company should compensate for all damages the victim has faced as result of the accident. However, insurance companies rarely compensate without a fight. This is when an attorney can help.

Hiring an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t try to take on the insurance company alone. We are here to help review your case at no cost and tell you how you can maximize your injury claim.

Rhoads & Rhoads is one of Kentucky’s leading and most experienced personal injury firm with offices in Owensboro and Madisonville, representing clients throughout Western Kentucky. We offer free initial consultations, and we get paid only if we win or settle your case, so there is NO RISK involved. Don’t risk everything by dealing with your personal injury case on your own. Call us at 888-709-9329 or contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment.

Video Transcript

When someone has been injured in a car wreck or a slip-and-fall or in any other situation where injuries occur, the first question that naturally may come is, “Do I need a lawyer?” And there are several factors that should be considered in determining whether you need an attorney.

How serious are your injuries? If your injuries are going to be serious you are going to have a lot of medical bills, especially if you might have a permanent injury as a result of someone else’s negligence. It certainly is very important that you have legal representation. Because the folks on the other side – the insurance company – their claim will be handled by a trained professional. And they’ll be working for a company whose business is to make a profit. And the less they pay an injured person, the greater their profits are going to be.

So the playing field is not really level when you have a trained professional on the other side. So I think it’s very important for you to have competent legal representation – that is, an attorney who is experienced in handling negligence cases – in order for you to know what your claim is worth and in order for you to make a successful recovery.