Have you sustained injuries in an accident because of another person’s negligence? If so, you may want to tackle the personal injury claim process on your own to avoid paying legal fees. However, this can put you at a disadvantage, especially if the party responsible for your accident and injury has their own lawyer. Often, if you want to seek compensation from a negligent party, you will be directed to their insurance company.
Insurance companies are notorious for devaluing and denying injury claims. They want to do everything to reduce your payout or avoid paying you at all. Their insurance adjusters know the tactics to use to get you to accept a settlement offer from them. Without a Bellevue personal injury attorney on your side, you might know if an offer is enough to cover your medical needs and other damages. Tackling your claim without an attorney may not be beneficial to you because of the following reasons:
You May not be Able to Calculate your Damages Accurately
Calculating your total damage after sustaining an injury in an accident due to somebody else’s negligence is complicated. You don’t just provide any amount for the compensation without bases. You must consider some points like present costs and the possible impact of your injury on your life in the future. If you work with an attorney, you can pursue maximum compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and others. Your attorney will calculate your total damages by adding both your economic and non-economic damages.
You May Not be Able to Collect All Important Evidence
For you to prevail in your injury claim, you need strong evidence that provides the negligence of a party, the severity of your injuries, and the future implications of your injuries. Also, time isn’t on your side. Some pieces of evidence may disappear over time and witnesses may no longer recall what occurred during your accident before they can give statements. Also, the other party might cover up or steal some evidence without your knowledge.
You probably have no idea of the evidence you must get to strengthen your claim. The majority of attorneys have a network of investigators and experts. They can conduct proper investigations and obtain the necessary information for you. Apart from police reports, medical reports, and witness statements, you need to secure more documents. Not complying with important paperwork might lead to your loss.