The vast majority of personal injury cases settle out of court. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from hiring legal counsel. It frequently proves beneficial to have an Indiana personal injury attorney on your team when negotiating with insurance companies.
Five Reasons To Hire an Indiana Personal Injury Attorney
The following are just some ways in which an experienced attorney can help your claim.
1. They Can Help You Prove Negligence
To be eligible for compensation in a personal injury case, it needs to be proven that:
- Another party was negligent and failed to exercise reasonable care
- You sustained injuries
- The other person’s negligence caused your injuries
Establishing these elements isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem. The insurance company may try to shift the blame onto you or dispute your injuries or the cause of them.
An experienced attorney can help you identify the liable parties, gather evidence to establish negligence, and protect you from attempts to dispute or minimize your claim.
2. They Can Calculate Your Damages
Proving negligence isn’t enough. If you want a fair settlement, you also need to show the type and extent of your injuries and any other losses. This can be easier said than done. Many people don’t know what damages they can claim in a personal injury case.
In addition to bodily injuries, you may seek compensation for property damage, lost wages, travel expenses, pain and suffering, and even loss of intimacy with your spouse.
Without professional legal help, you may be unable to identify, calculate, and properly document your losses.
3. They Have a Comprehensive Understanding of the Law
Personal injury cases are rarely just about personal injury. Your claim may involve one or more additional practice areas, such as:
- Premises liability
- Government liability
- Product liability
- Comparative fault
- Medical malpractice
- Workers’ compensation
- Wrongful death
It can be hard to make sense of all these laws and the associated statutes of limitations and rules of evidence and procedure on your own. An Indiana personal injury attorney can help you navigate the legal system.
4. Your Own Personal Injury Attorney Will Level the Playing Field
Insurance companies rarely agree to a high settlement amount without putting up a fight. They employ large teams of investigators, adjusters, and lawyers whose job is to limit the company’s liability by denying or undervaluing your claim.
When you have a legal team, even if it’s just one person, you have someone looking out for your interests. Hiring an attorney levels the playing field and increases your chances of walking away with reasonable compensation.
5. They Can Ensure That You Avoid Costly Mistakes
Insurance companies will often try to take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge and vulnerable position. One common tactic is requesting a recorded statement and tricking you into saying things that undermine your claim.
Remember, you’re only under a duty to talk to your insurance company, not that of the other party. While it’s generally in your interest to speak to the other insurance company to inform them of the value of your claim and all the damages you’ll be seeking, you have a right to decline to have the statement recorded.
An experienced attorney will know the tricks insurers use and how to counteract them so that you avoid making costly mistakes.
Injured in an Accident? Hire an Indiana Personal Injury Attorney
At Stewart & Stewart Attorneys, we help accident victims seek fair compensation for their losses. One of our litigation attorneys is a former insurance adjuster, so we know how to handle insurers.
We operate out of Carmel, IN, and serve clients statewide. Call (317) 846-8999 or contact us online for a free initial consultation.