Someone who was injured at work, in a car accident, or as a result of someone else’s negligence in Pennsylvania can file a claim or lawsuit to pursue compensation for such losses as their medical bills, lost wages, and more. Research indicates it is advisable that they hire a personal injury attorney to provide them with representation when doing so.
The Insurance Research Council conducted a study which involved the review of numerous insurance claims. The study revealed that claimants who hire personal injury attorneys settle for an average of 3.5 times more money than claimants who do not have legal representation.
Luckily, other surveys indicate it appears that most Americans understand the value of hiring a personal injury attorney when seeking compensation after accidents. A Google survey reveals that approximately 43% of people believe a personal injury attorney plays a “vital” role in maximizing the amount of compensation a victim receives when they settle the a or are awarded damages in court. Additionally, about 40% of respondents stated that they would “for sure” hire an attorney to represent them if they were to seek compensation after being injured. A mere 12.5% of respondents indicated they would definitely attempt to represent themselves.
There are a number of reasons a claimant is more likely to receive a fair settlement when they hire a personal injury attorney. The following are among the more noteworthy:
A victim seeking compensation in the aftermath of an accident or other such circumstances may not be familiar enough with the applicable laws to understand which types of losses they may be compensated for.
Most accident victims understand they may receive compensation for such economic losses as medical bills and lost wages. However, in some instances, victims can also pursue compensation for noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Personal injury attorneys know which types of losses are and are not compensable. They also know how to thoroughly account for all compensable losses when calculating how much compensation a victim may deserve.
A victim seeking compensation for losses associated with an accident, medical malpractice, or other situation which caused them harm may begin the process by filing a claim to recover compensation from the negligent party’s insurance carrier. If the negligent party is not insured, or if their insurance carrier will not offer a fair settlement, a victim may file a lawsuit and pursue damages in court.
In either case, a victim will typically have to negotiate for an appropriate payout. It is unlikely that an insurance company will offer what a victim is owed as soon as a claim is filed. If the case goes to court, the defendant’s lawyers will probably fight aggressively to minimize how much their client has to pay.
A victim may not be qualified to negotiate for themselves. However, if they have a lawyer representing them, this won’t be necessary.
Pursuing compensation that a victim may deserve can be very challenging, involving a range of tasks. Someone who is recovering from injuries likely does not have the time, resources, energy to put up an aggressive place for the compensation they deserve. An attorney, on the other hand, handles these types of situations for living.
These are all reasons to strongly consider reviewing your case with the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. if you ever have reason to believe you can file a claim to recover compensation. Our assistance will play a critical role in the outcome of your case. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or calling us at 215-929-7216 to schedule a consultation.