If you have been involved in a car accident, you might assume that it is time to contact a personal injury attorney. That is often the case – but not always. Keep reading to learn about three scenarios in which it might not be worth hiring an attorney. If you are in doubt, or if you think your case does warrant working with an attorney, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
- There Were No Injuries If the accident involved only property damage and there were no injuries, then it is not likely you will need to hire an attorney. That said, do not assume that you have not been injured just because you did not immediately feel pain. You should seek medical care because some injuries do not show up immediately. Do not approve a settlement offer from the insurance company until you have seen a doctor.
- Insurance is Offering a Reasonable Settlement In most cases, an insurance company is not going to immediately offer the best possible offer. However, if the insurance company of the at-fault party immediately offers you the full value of your medical bills (both past and future), property damages, pain and suffering, and any other damages, then it might be easier to simply settle the claim. Once again, it is still likely worth talking to a personal injury attorney. It could seem on the surface that they are making a fair offer, but perhaps there is a significant cost you are not considering, such as long-term rehab costs. A personal injury attorney can offer advice on the best way to proceed.
- It is Likely Your Case is Going to Small Claim’s Court If your recovery is going to be just a few hundred dollars, then it is likely not worth working with a personal injury attorney. You can have legal counsel at your small claim’s court case, but most people do not. Some personal injury attorneys might work with you for a small claim’s court case on a fee basis, instead of the typical contingency agreement, but if the potential recovery is only a few hundred dollars, you are likely to spend as much (or perhaps more) on an attorney than you will recover.
Are You Still Not Sure? Call for a Free Legal Consultation
Personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency basis, which means that we do not get paid unless we win your case, and our fee is based on a percentage of your recovery. As a result, we can only afford to take cases that we are likely to win, and if we are likely to recover a substantial recovery for our clients. If you think your case might fill that bill, then we invite you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.