How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Maximize Your Settlement

If you're looking into ways to get financially compensated for injuries you've sustained because of someone else's negligence, you have two options: file a claim with an insurance company or file a personal injury lawsuit. There are pros and cons to each of these, but in the end, filing a lawsuit is the better option. 

For instance, you can usually get an insurance company to pay you out much faster than it takes to reach a settlement agreement in a lawsuit, but the amount of money you'll get will be significantly less than what you deserve. An attorney will get you better compensation, hands down.

Since filing a personal injury lawsuit is the best way to get compensated for your injuries, it makes sense to hire a skilled attorney to fight for you in court. Some people choose to pursue a lawsuit on their own, but that's a bad idea. Those without legal representation usually don't win their cases, and in the rare situation where they do win, they receive limited compensation. On the other hand, those who do retain legal representation win more often and receive much higher compensation. If you have a solid case, here's how a personal injury attorney can maximize your payout.

Attorneys know how to negotiate

Negotiating with an insurance company is challenging, whether it takes place out of court or during a lawsuit. Insurance companies exist to make a profit and will do anything to pay as little as possible, even for valid claims. If you attempt to negotiate on your own, you'll quickly realize you're in over your head. The main roadblock you'll have is not knowing what your case is worth, and your whole negotiation strategy will be based on factors that won't make much of a difference in terms of how much you'll get paid.

That's because insurance companies don't pay out large settlements based on how well you can convince them you're suffering. They pay when attorneys remind them that going to trial will be expensive and it will cost them less to settle, even for a large amount, before the case goes to trial. For instance, if an insurance company can save $10,000 by settling, they'll provide a generous settlement, even if it's far more than they offered you before you got a lawyer.

A skilled attorney will know exactly how to negotiate generous settlements with insurance companies based on knowing how much it costs to go to trial, and work with the insurance company until they make a fair offer.

An attorney won't take shortcuts

Some insurance companies try to settle car insurance claims faster by using tools that estimate damage and cut you a check immediately, but this process is often highly inaccurate. If you take this route instead of getting a lawyer, you'll likely end up with a check that won't even cover the actual cost of repairs. If you were injured in a car accident, go straight to an attorney to avoid this problem.

Defending yourself isn't easy

Another reason an attorney can maximize your settlement amount is the fact that it is hard to defend yourself in court. The insurance company will aggressively try to discredit you and invalidate your claim, and if you're not prepared to push all of your emotions aside, their tactics will break you down.

It's also risky to defend yourself because you will be held to the same standards and legal requirements as attorneys. You'll be required to follow all courtroom procedures, even if you don't know what you're doing. If you make a mistake, the judge isn't required to let it slide. 

For example, if you don't file motions properly or on time, your case might get dropped. Judges are not legally obligated to help you just because you don't know how to proceed with your case.

Chances are, if you represent yourself in a personal injury lawsuit, your lack of knowledge will slow things down and frustrate the judge and everyone else involved. You really need experience in the courtroom to make your case and win.

Most cases settle before going to trial

Perhaps the best part of hiring an attorney is the fact that most personal injury cases settle before going to trial. A skilled attorney can reach a settlement agreement fairly quickly, which means you'll avoid the lengthy process of a trial and you'll get paid much faster. You won't get paid immediately, but if you don't settle and your case goes to trial, it could extend your timeline by several months, if not longer. 

In the end, hiring an attorney will give you the best chance at getting the compensation you deserve.