Hiring an attorney is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to personal injury cases. But sometimes people think they don’t need an attorney and can handle it on their own. Representing yourself in a court of law is not recommended unless you have the vast knowledge of the law and how it applies to your specific case. Even lawyers hire other lawyers to handle their personal cases if they are not experienced in the specific area of law that relates to their case.
An experienced attorney knows and understands the many avenues and issues that arise in personal injury cases. While you might feel confident in yourself handling your own case, it is only an attorney that can predict and prepare for possible issues that will arise in court. This means if you find yourself surprised by the other party with documentation, proof or other evidence you can be taken off guard and not handle the situation properly. While this might not seem like a big deal, it can be the cause of you losing the case.
Some cases might seem easy and obvious from your point of view. For example, a young teenage girl was hit by a car while walking home from school on a sidewalk. She was thrown 12 feet from where she was walking and woke up afterward only to find the driver of the car trying to reverse the car over her body. She sustained injuries from the accident and was taken by ambulance to the emergency room.
A non-lawyer friend of the family went to the scene of the accident the same day to take pictures of the area. They took excellent photographs of tire marks and evidence of the dirt going in the direction to prove the driver was attempting to run over the girl again. The family of the victim thought it was an easy case. However, the driver quickly transferred all the money out of his bank accounts to other family members and signed the restaurant he owned over to his business partner. He was able to do all of this before a claim was filed.
The victim’s parents hired an experienced personal injury attorney to help with the case. The attorney investigated and found out the information listed above. Due to the knowledge and experience of the attorney, the victim received a settlement that made her family happy.
The law is complex and you never know what scenario you will be surprised with during your case. It is essential to have someone such as an attorney in your corner and by your side to handle the case. If you are trying to handle your own case, stop! Consult with an attorney today to see how they can help you!
