Why it pays to hire a lawyer after a car crash
You never expect to get into a car accident. When it happens to you, you may feel like your world has been turned upside down. You may be in the hospital, facing mounting medical bills and long-term physical therapy to get you back to your normal self. You may also be unable to work, and worried about how you’ll provide for your family.
In such a state, filing a personal injury lawsuit may seem like the last thing you want to do. It may seem easier to simply accept the insurance adjuster’s offer for compensation and move on with your life. However, there are several key benefits to hiring a personal injury lawyer that can dramatically benefit your future over the long term:
Higher settlement
When the insurance adjuster makes you an offer of compensation, it’s important to be aware that they work for the insurance company – not for you. Their goal is to save the insurance company as much money as possible, so you can expect the offer to be lower than you deserve.
It may cover your immediate medical expenses and the cost of repairing your vehicle, but it likely won’t cover the cost of other long-term consequences of your injury – such as physical therapy, lost wages while you are unable to work and emotional damages. A personal injury lawyer will advocate on your behalf to get you the highest compensation possible.
Less stress
A serious injury can be all consuming. All of your regular, everyday tasks may be more difficult, and you may be struggling just to go about your life. Under such circumstances, it’s best to be able to focus your attention on your own recovery – and let a lawyer handle all dealings with the insurance company for you.
No fee unless you win
Many people make the false assumption that they can’t afford to hire a lawyer. However, it’s worth understanding that personal injury law works a bit differently than other areas of the law. You don’t have to pay an hourly rate or retainer fee. Instead, personal injury lawyers work on what’s known as a contingency-fee basis. This means that if they win your case for you, they will get a fixed percentage of your settlement – otherwise, they get nothing. With all of the additional compensation you stand to gain from hiring a lawyer in the first place, hiring a lawyer will usually work out strongly in your favor.
Cross-border legal knowledge
If the accident occurred while you were traveling across the U.S.-Canada border, the situation can become more complicated. Having a lawyer on your side with experience handling both Canadian and American cases can be extremely advantageous in resolving your case. This way, you won’t need to hire a lawyer from each country to resolve your case.