Do I Need a Lawyer for an Injury Case?

Doug Goyen, AttorneyIf you are injured as a result of someone else’s carelessness and failure to share the road safely, you may be able to sue them for compensation. The Dallas law firm of Doug Goyen can assist you in maximizing your recovery. If you require the assistance of a Dallas auto accident attorney, we can assist you.

The Law Office of Doug Goyen has been handling personal injury cases for over 23 years. A personal injury lawyer in Dallas will immediately begin working on your case, providing expertise and tenacious representation. For a free case review, contact us at (972) 599 4100.

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To determine whether or not you require the services of a lawyer, you must first answer a few questions. If your case is straightforward and your bills are small, you probably don’t need a lawyer… in fact, you may be unable to find one if your case is too small.

DETERMINING THE NEED FOR AN INJURY LAWYER

When trying to determine if you need a personal injury lawyer, there are several considerations. Some of the more important considerations are the injury severity, liability, and the time and effort it will take you to try and handle a case on your own.

Injury severity: If you have sustained an injury that requires or has required surgery, broken bones, or disfigurement, you will require the assistance of an attorney to pursue your claim. There are far too many variables that can go wrong if you attempt to “wing it” and handle it on your own. If your injury is severe, the case is likely to be valuable, and you stand to lose a lot by attempting to handle it without the assistance of an attorney.

If your out-of-pocket expenses total between $1000-$2000 (or less), you may feel comfortable negotiating a settlement with the insurance company on your own. If your bills are excessive, you should avoid attempting to handle them yourself. If your bills have gotten so high that you’re unwilling to risk losing due to a technical error, you’ve reached the point where you need to hire a lawyer for assistance.

Liability: If liability is disputed and you require assistance in investigating and gathering evidence to present your side of the story, you will almost certainly require the services of a lawyer. Attorneys will understand what evidence is required to prove your case, and if such evidence exists, they will know where to find it.

Sanity: At times, it’s simply too much trouble to research all the rules and guidelines for presenting a claim on your own. Do you have the ten or twenty hours required to contact the insurance company, conduct research, gather all necessary documentation, figure out how to present your claim, and address all other issues necessary to do it yourself?

Dealing with the insurance adjuster or company creates its own set of complications. Occasionally, adjusters act as if they are unconcerned about your situation, or as if you are doing something wrong by asking them to pay for what their driver did, or as if they are speaking in circles in an attempt to avoid paying you – forcing you to spend countless hours gathering the information they claim they need to evaluate the claim. Preserving your sanity is a valid reason for hiring a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim on your behalf.

MISTAKES ABOUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY’S ACTIONS:

The most prevalent misconception among those who have been injured as a result of another’s negligence is that the insurance company for the person who caused your injury or harm will cover the cost of the damage.

Insurance companies are for-profit enterprises. They intend to profit from their endeavors. Then they intend to compete with their rivals. Economic laws require businesses to maximize profits in order to compete with other businesses in the same industry. This means that insurance companies will pay as little as possible on any injury claim. They will be familiar with the area in which you live and the types of verdicts issued by the courts in your area. They will make offers based on that information but will use cases and examples to justify paying you less.

Among the tactics employed is assuring the injured party that “everything will be taken care of.”

This implies that they will pay the bills. You later discover that they meant that they would “take care of” denying your claims once you present them with the entirety of your claim. Additionally, you learn later that because you delayed contacting an attorney, the insurance company took numerous steps to avoid paying you or your claim while you placed your trust in them, assuming they would do what was right.

What you believe is “correct” and what an insurance company believes is “correct” are not synonymous. You believe it is reasonable for the insurance company to return you to your pre-injury financial situation. The insurance company believes it is ethical to pay as little as possible and, if possible, to deny claims entirely. Your definitions of right action are not identical.

You must retain the services of an attorney who is familiar with personal injury cases and understands how to deal with insurance company tactics. We can assist. Contact the Law Office of Doug Goyen for assistance with personal injury cases. Our Dallas personal injury lawyer has handled litigation and claims since 1997. Doug Goyen worked as a claims adjuster for insurance companies from 1989 to 1997 prior to becoming an attorney.

By Doug Goyen, douggoyen@goyenlaw.com

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