Because most people don’t have a lot of familiarity with the personal injury claim process, they don’t know when it’s in their best interest to connect with a lawyer to begin a claim and to protect their self interests. It’s never too early to consult with a lawyer about taking your case, but it can certainly be too late. In today’s blog, we talk more about the best time to hire an injury lawyer for your personal injury case.
When To Talk To An Injury Lawyer
As we alluded to in the introduction, it is never too early to talk with a lawyer about your legal options if you have been involved in a situation in which you may legally be able to pursue compensation. You don’t have to wait until you receive your medical bills or until you talk to the insurance company to decide whether it’s in your best interest to talk to a lawyer. In fact, it’s almost always a better idea to talk to a lawyer prior to both of these aspects of your case.
The main reason why it’s so important to connect with a personal injury lawyer very early on in the process is because you need someone in your corner protecting your self interests. You may assume that your insurance company is on your side, but your interests and their interests are not aligned. Even though you may pay a monthly premium as part of your automobile insurance, their goal is to limit the amount of compensation they pay you, whereas you are attempting to maximize what you’re rightly entitled to receive. The insurance company is not your friend, and you’d be wise to remember that.
You may contact your insurance company or be contacted by an insurance representative as early as the same day of your accident, so the sooner you connect with a lawyer and understand what to avoid saying during this phone call, the better you’ll be at protecting your interests. The insurance company may try to get you to admit to certain things that could reduce their liability and limit your payout, so hire representation that can explain the pitfalls or even handle some of the conversation on your behalf.
Now, you might be thinking that a personal injury lawyer is just looking out for their own best interests during the process, and that’s partly true. However, unlike the insurance company, you and your lawyer have the same self interests. Personal injury and workers’ compensation law in Minnesota are set up such that attorneys receive a percentage of the award they are able to achieve for their clients. In other words, the more money they get their clients, the more money a lawyer takes home for themselves. A lawyer has a vested interest in getting you as much money as possible for your injury case. It’s a win-win.
Not only is it helpful to have a professional in your corner who has a legitimate interest in helping you win the largest award possible, they can also ensure you aren’t taken advantage of during the process. Never sign anything or agree to any settlements without first running everything past your lawyer. A five-figure settlement may look enticing to the untrained eye, but if a lawyer could get your six-figures or more, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table because you didn’t connect with a lawyer.
Worst case scenario, you contact a personal injury lawyer and they say that they aren’t a good fit for your case. Again, a lawyer has no interest in taking on a case that has no shot of winning, because then they won’t receive an award, so you know that they’ll be honest with you during this first consultation. We offer free consultations so that you can figure out what you’re up against, plan your next steps and move forward with representation if you want to increase your chances of maximizing an award.
So if we had to put a specific timetable to it, it’s a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer within 24-48 hours of your accident to start going over the basics of your claim and to avoid being taken advantage of by other players involved in the incident. Protect your interests and your family’s interests by talking with a lawyer soon after your personal injury accident. For more information, or to set up one of those free injury consultations, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
