Accidents can happen to anyone, and injuries may occur in them. In Philadelphia, road accidents are the most common type of accident, and victims need to follow a process to get a claim for their injuries. This is where they will need a personal injury lawyer who assists accident-injured clients in filing lawsuits and obtaining injury claims.
Personal injury lawyers can help you receive compensation and negotiate with insurance companies for injury claims. Here are some reasons why an accident victim should hire a personal injury lawyer.
Disputed Liability
When the other party is at fault in the event of an accident, their insurance company may dispute that they are liable for your injuries. You need to prove that the accident occurred due to the other party’s negligence to get compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer proves that the other party was at fault and testifies in court if required.
Multiple parties involved
It would be best to have a personal injury lawyer when multiple parties are involved in the accident. Getting a settlement after an accident requires research to identify all the parties involved and responsible for the event. With various parties involved, assessing the liability for injuries gets complicated. Everybody blames other parties to prove they were not at fault. A personal injury lawyer with a team of experts can investigate to find out the parties at fault and help you get the settlement you need.
Severe injuries or permanent disability
Severe accidents that cause life-altering injuries entail settlements of millions of dollars when the claimant suffers from severe injuries or a lifelong handicap; this is especially true if the disability sustained due to the accident can lead to further losses.
An example is when a claimant is hurt because of a defective product, needs intense medical attention, and may never be able to work again.
Especially when the insurance company fights vehemently to reduce the value of claims by the claimant, a personal injury lawyer knows how to document the losses and maximize the worth of pain to get just compensation when the claimant suffers lasting injuries.
The insurer acts in bad faith.
Just like any other business, insurance companies aim to earn a profit. They only profit when premiums are collected, and claims are postponed, underpaid, or denied. This means that when you have been hurt due to the fault of the insured party, the insurance company’s interests are at odds with yours.
On your own, you will likely run into delays in receiving any damage compensation. Giving clients the runaround is one of the insurance company’s strategies to wear them down so that they either give up or eventually accept less than what they are entitled to.
The settlement process involves a government entity
A personal injury lawsuit against the government is more difficult to pursue than most other harm claims. In certain situations, governments are immune from liability. There are, however, certain exceptions.
When a government agency is involved in a personal injury claim, it is preferable to have an expert attorney handle the case. Call an attorney immediately if you are hurt in a train, bus, or subway accident. The window of opportunity for bringing a claim against the government is smaller than for other claims.
To prove your pain and suffering.
Some injuries are so severe that they cause long-term mental pain. This is especially true in wrongful death circumstances where the surviving family members may suffer grief, despair, and enduring psychological repercussions that affect their quality of life. It would be difficult for plaintiffs not conversant with the law to establish their right to pain and suffering damages. However, a personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia knows how to present such justifications.
You suffer the loss of income due to an accident.
Some injuries may cause you to miss work for several weeks or even months. Several criteria will determine the best course of action for your claim for lost pay.
If you have an injury at work, you should first apply for workers’ compensation payments. A successful claim should cover your medical expenses and replace two-thirds of your lost wages. Depending on which portion of your body was impacted, you may be entitled to compensation if you fail to function in that area.
You might be eligible to apply for a personal injury claim if you cannot work due to an injury caused by another party, such as a person, group, or business. Ideally, the insurance of the party at fault will pay for your lost wages. The matter can go to trial if the parties cannot settle.
Summing Up
So if you ever find yourself involved in an accident, do what you can to get your hands on a good personal injury lawyer. They will be the best guides that you can have in navigating this difficult legal process. Hopefully, it will never come to this, but if you are ever in an accident, don’t hesitate to take action and get help as quickly as possible.