The time following your car accident is critical to your recovery. Without a qualified personal injury lawyer, or the right injury lawyer on your side, you can make crucial mistakes that can prevent your from recovering the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
Why You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
The importance of consulting with a personal injury attorney following a serious car accident seems self-evident, yet, many people think they can handle these complicated legal proceedings on their own. The 4 most common reasons people don't hire lawyers immediately following an accident are:
o They don't know if they need a lawyer;
o They don't know one personally;
o They don't know if they can trust a lawyer; and
o They believe the insurance companies that tell them lawyers will get them less money.
Most of the time, personal injury lawyers will take a percentage of your recovered compensation, but at the same time, that lawyer will also usually increase the amount of your recovered damages.
Given the mental, physical, and financial stresses that follow car accidents, hiring a personal injury lawyer is usually the last thing you want to do. Having your legal rights protected is definitely worth the effort and much less of a hassle than going after insurance companies on your own. A prior bad experience with an attorney is no reason to let an insurance company or negligent driver rob you of the compensation you are entitled to in order to pay for the expenses related to your car accident.
Not hiring an attorney in an effort to avoid legal fees is also a very bad idea. People representing themselves usually end up contacting an attorney when they realize they are in over their heads in paperwork and legal processes they don't understand. By that time, it is generally too late. There are many mistakes an uninformed person can make that could irreparably damage their case.
Insurance adjusters are only looking out for their bottom line and it is their job to get you to accept a settlement offer for the least amount of money possible. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is usually necessary to level the playing field because of the complexities of the legal system.
Hiring the Right Personal Injury Attorney
Every personal injury lawyer is different. Some take cases with the sole intention of settling the claim as quickly as possible and never taking it to court. Other firms will ask you to sign a contract with them - even if you have never even met the attorney.
Make sure to hire an attorney who will make your case a priority and who will take a personal interest in your claim by treating you with the respect, attention, and the dignity you deserve. The best way to find the right personal injury lawyer for you is to contact several in your area and set up a consultation (the best personal injury lawyers offer free consultations), where you can learn more about the lawyer and they can learn more about your case.
You must have confidence in the personal injury lawyer you hire to represent you. Hiring the right attorney will make all the difference in how you are treated and how your case is handled.
If you have been seriously injured as a result of someone else's negligence in Massachusetts, visit http://www.tomkileylaw.com/swat/index.cfm to learn about your rights and options under the law. Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, has been representing individuals against insurance companies since 1976. He was referred to as the "Million Dollar Man" in a featured article by the Boston Herald Sunday Magazine in it's "Personal Best Series." This was based on his record of obtaining million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex cases in which he represented injured victims against insurance companies.
Mr. Kiley is a respected member of numerous professional organizations including the American Association for Justice, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He has achieved the highest possible rating (AV) for both legal ethics and ability by Martindale-Hubbell, the definitive guide to America's leading lawyers and law firms.
