The Need for a Qualified Lawyer
It is a statistical fact that personal injury claims argued by a lawyer result in more positive outcomes than claims made by ordinary citizens alone. The legal expertise required to argue a case does not disappear because a claim is considered civil rather than criminal. However, a lawyer should possess the right qualifications.
Personal injury law is different from criminal law, and even within the category, there are specific niches or specializations. Before seeking legal representation, you need to ask yourself about your claim. What are the specifics of the case? Who is involved?
If you are filing a workers’ compensation claim against your employer and their insurer, you do not want to hire a personal injury lawyer specializing in dog bite injuries. Instead, you want a lawyer with experience arguing your type of claim.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
The field of personal injury law is vast. You want to narrow your claim down to a specific subset or category to help you identify professionals with the expertise to help.
There are several subsets of personal injury law. You may have grounds for a personal injury suit if you experienced any of the following:
- An injury on someone else’s property. Property owners must take steps to keep their grounds safe under premises liability law.
- An injury resulting from using a defective product. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers each have certain responsibilities when it comes to creating, marketing and selling products.
- A car or truck accident. Motorists and commercial vehicle operators must follow the rules of the road and exercise caution around one another.
- Medical malpractice. Doctors have a responsibility to provide treatment in accordance with a standard of care. Deviating from this standard is tantamount to negligence if it leads to injury.
- Injuries that result from exposure to harmful or dangerous chemicals. This may occur in a work setting, in a rental home, or under other circumstances.
- Injuries from a dog bite or animal attack.
Don’t Mistake Hubris for Knowledge or Skill
Most often, people choose to argue a personal injury claim alone because they want to save money. After all, lawyers can charge upwards of 30% of your winnings, depending on the complexity and length of the case.
In most instances, a lawyer is worth their fee. While you might think you will save money and come out ahead going it alone, you will not. Lawyers provide a distinct advantage in that they understand the intricacies of the law.
Sure, an individual can study hard until the settlement negotiations start or the beginning of a trial. Still, their brief experience with law books and legal terminology does not compare to the years a lawyer spends honing their craft and narrowing their specialization. Do not underestimate the value of a legal, educated mind.
Are you considering filing a personal injury lawsuit? If so, contact our personal injury lawyer at Yearin Law Office and schedule a consultation.
