Imagine that you’re stopped at a red light. From your rearview mirror you see a large SUV approaching that doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Suddenly, you’re hit from behind. The first thing you do is make sure you still are in one piece. You seem to be, but when you attempt to move, everything hurts.
The driver who hit you also is traumatized. He is apologetic, so you assume he will be cooperative if your injuries require compensation. You are taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital where doctors discover you’ve suffered several fractures, and begin scheduling tests to rule out traumatic brain injury. There could be permanent damage. This happens every day.
The unfortunate fact is that when you are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, it can be difficult to obtain the compensation you deserve. Too often, the individual responsible for your injuries ultimately will not admit culpability. You simply cannot count on insurance companies to fulfill their obligations – insurance companies are not in business to compensate you for your suffering; they are in business to make money and save it whenever and wherever they can.
That leaves you with the burden of proving that you
were injured due to someone else’s negligence. Facing this situation without legal counsel puts you at a tremendous disadvantage. You can be certain that the insurance company you seek compensation from has their own attorneys, and their goal is to get away with paying you as little as possible, if at all.
Level The Playing Field
The only way to level the playing field is to find yourself a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. First, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney knows whether you actually have a case. He or she will help you to sort through the details of your accident or injury to determine whether:
- you have a serious injury;
- your injury or condition was a result of some- one else’s negligence or your own negli- gence;
- you have medical substantiation;
- the responsible party has adequate liability insurance.
Your attorney prosecutes injury cases and negotiates with insurance carriers on a daily basis – that is the nature of this area of law. He or she is in a much better position to obtain a favorable settlement, and guide you through the difficult process of litigation and try your case to verdict, if necessary.
There Are Different Kinds Of PI Attorneys
All personal injury attorneys do not focus on the same areas of the law. For instance, some focus
exclusively on auto and motorcycle accidents; some focus on product liability or construction accidents. Other personal injury attorneys focus solely on medical malpractice, and within that category, there are sub-categories.
Make sure to interview your prospective attorney, obtain references, if possible, and make sure that he or she has experience with your type of injury or condition. After you’ve made your decision, make sure to be absolutely forthright with your attorney, as the details of your case can mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful resolution.
