If you don’t have a lot of experience with attorneys, you might feel intimidated by the idea of contacting a lawyer. If so, you aren’t alone.
Like most people, you probably never thought you’d ever need a lawyer.
But if you’ve been injured in a car crash, medical mishap, or other accident, you may find yourself wondering if a personal injury lawyer is right for you.
Three important questions you may have are:
- How do I know if I need a personal injury lawyer?
- Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?
- How do I choose the right lawyer?
Let’s answer each of these questions in turn.
How do you know if you need a personal injury lawyer?
Not every personal injury accident needs an attorney’s attention. While every situation is different, a good rule of thumb is: if there are no physical injuries, no significant financial loss, and only very minimal property damage, then you may be able to resolve your insurance claims without the help of an attorney..
However, if you have suffered injuries — or if the insurance company has already contacted you to make a settlement offer — it is likely that talking to an attorney IS worth your while.
Why Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Here are a few good reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer in Ohio:
Avoiding Pitfalls
Trying to handle an insurance claim or lawsuit on your own is extremely challenging. Personal injury law is complex, and people who attempt to navigate their own claim often make mistakes.
An experienced attorney will be familiar with the various procedural requirements, the deadlines for taking certain actions (e.g. filing documents, providing notices, etc.), and the most effective strategies for maximizing the value of your claim.
One of the biggest mistakes people make in the personal injury process is saying or doing the wrong thing. From accidental “admissions of fault” to social media posts that send the wrong message, insurance adjustors are actively looking for ways to assign a lower value to your claim.
A lawyer will step in to protect you from the adjustors’ tactics, and advise you about what to do (and what not to do).
Trial and the Threat of Trial
Insurance companies do not offer generous settlements because they’re feeling charitable. Their willingness to settle is directly related to how worried they are about the severity of your claim.
Litigation can cost insurance companies a lot of money, and generally speaking, the last thing they want to do is spend a lot of money on defending a claim they may lose at trial.
It is critical the insurance company believe that your claim could succeed at trial and also that you are willing to take it there.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you send a clear message: “I’m serious, and so is my claim.”
However, it isn’t enough to make an “empty threat” of litigation. Insurance companies typically know the difference between law firms that are afraid of trial, and those that are not.
At Colombo Law, we prepare each and every case as though it may go to trial. And while we have been successful in settling the majority of claims without a trial, we frequently try cases in court.
Our firm is comprised of active and experienced trial advocates, and the insurance companies we deal with know this. Our active and experienced team of attorneys have been integral to the success we’ve achieved in settlement and at trial.
Evidence and Investigation
Gathering the right kind of evidence can make all the difference in your case. The right lawyer can help you investigate your accident in a way that might be impossible on your own.
Depending on the nature of the accident, our law firm will often work with outside investigators and expert witnesses to build a case.
From accident reconstruction specialists and technology experts to medical specialists, forensic experts, and beyond, we have built valuable relationships with well-respected professionals in a wide range of fields.
Financial Resources
Personal injury cases can last anywhere from a few months to a few years. Generally speaking, the more complex the claim, the more time the process takes.
Letting the process play out can often work to your advantage. Having said that, it costs money to keep a case going. Like gathering important evidence, financing the case on your own could be difficult or even impossible.
Fortunately, our law firm covers 100% of the costs of litigation. That way, you don’t have to pay for those expenses up front.
Unfortunately, not all law firms are created equal. Some firms have less trial experience and fewer financial resources. If the insurance company knows that a law firm is not prepared to finance the case over a longer period of time, it may use that as leverage.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer with sufficient financial resources, you take a powerful bargaining chip off of the insurance company’s table.
Peace of Mind
When you hire the right personal injury lawyer, you benefit from peace of mind because you’ve made the right decision. You’ve hired a professional to fight for your rights and you’ve chosen to entrust your legal matter to a professional so that you can focus on the rest of your life.
Studies have shown that people who hire a personal injury lawyer tend to recover more money than those who do not.
How to Hire the Right Personal Injury Lawyer in Ohio?
We’ve already covered a few of the most important considerations when hiring a personal injury lawyer in Ohio:
- Trial experience
- Courtroom readiness
- Financial resources
- Relationships with experts
- A record of success
Beyond those critical factors, it’s also important that you feel good about the people who are representing you. The right lawyer will give you the time, attention, and respect you deserve. They’ll fight for your legal and financial interests with the same passion and energy that they would put toward their own interests.
At Colombo Law, we bring decades of experience to the table, and we put all of it to work for you.
We are dedicated to doing what it takes to get our clients the largest amount of money possible.
Schedule a Cost-Free, No-Obligation Legal Consultation Today
We proudly serve auto accident victims all across the state of Ohio. To get started, call 888-860-1414 (614-362-7000 in Columbus) or simply contact us online.
