Winning Your Case: 5 Common Mistakes Personal Injury Lawyers Make So You Can Avoid Them
Many people think personal injury cases result in a big payday but this is often far from the truth. While victims of catastrophic injuries can sometimes get a large amount of compensation, most personal injury cases result in smaller settlements. Sometimes, it’s because the injury really wasn’t that severe. Other times, it’s due to the skill of the attorney. While personal injury lawyers play a significant role in helping victims to seek compensation, they are human and sometimes they make mistakes. Learn more about some of the factors which are key to personal injury cases so you can nip any issues in the bud. If you’ve hired a lawyer to handle your personal injury case, here are some of the things they may get wrong
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Not fully understanding the medical issues
In a personal injury case, the medical specifics are very important. Your lawyer needs to have a sufficient understanding of your condition and how it affects your daily life so that they can successfully fight for you. If you will never be able to work, they need to take this into account when they ask for damages. The same applies if you will need years of expensive therapy or treatment. You can only win your case if your lawyer understands the crux of the matter. They can’t convince a judge if they are not themselves convinced.
Taking cases they don’t have the financial resources to handle
Many lawyers will tell you no case is too big for them but that’s not always the case. Look into their track record of securing large settlements before you hire them. It takes a lot of money and resources to investigate a personal injury case and prove negligence. Qualified experts often need to be hired in major cases and they charge a pretty penny for their testimony. Doctors, accident reconstruction professionals, and psychologists may be needed. If your lawyer can’t afford them, your case will be in jeopardy.
Pushing you to accept a quick settlement
This may result from a lack of understanding about your medical situation. You may not know the full extent of your injuries in the early stages. This is exactly when you may get a settlement offer from an insurance company. They are hoping you accept it and relieve the at-fault party of any further liability. Some personal injury victims jump at the opportunity to get quick cash. However, they are left holding the bill if their injuries turn out to be more severe than they initially thought. A lawyer shouldn’t advise you to accept the first settlement you get if your injuries haven’t been fully revealed or they haven’t thoroughly investigated your case.
Accepting too many cases and not being able to devote enough time to each case
Personal injury cases require a lot of a lawyer’s time and attention. Lawyers often take on lots of cases so they improve their chances of winning and getting paid. However, they can stretch themselves too thin and then clients suffer. If your lawyer misses your court date, never answers the phone or doesn’t have the time to explain your case to you, you may need to look elsewhere.
Not conferring with other attorneys on difficult cases
No matter how experienced your lawyer is, they may encounter something in your case that they have never seen before. If this happens, they should consult with their colleagues to help them understand the situation and find a solution. If they don’t do this, they may overlook key factors and fail to give you the best advice and representation. If your case is unique and your lawyer seems out of their depth, urge them to seek advice.
Personal injury lawyers, like any other professional, can make mistakes. Now that you know some of the common errors, you can advocate for yourself or find a new lawyer if you think your case is being handled incorrectly.
