Accidents caused by someone else’s negligence happen in a split second. When they do, and they injure you, your life changes in that moment.
Whether a car accident caused by a negligent driver or a slip and fall accident injures you, knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer could make a big difference in your future.
You may have seen or heard law firm advertisements urging you to call now to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your situation.
But why the urgency? Hiring good legal representation as soon as possible helps safeguard your rights and your future.
When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
In any situation where another party’s negligence or reckless behavior causes you harm, getting medical attention for your injuries and consulting a personal injury lawyer should be two of the first steps you take after an accident.
Many accidents present complex legal processes that accident victims cannot navigate effectively on their own.
Here are some common scenarios where you should hire a personal injury lawyer:
Car Accidents
You might be the safest driver on the road, but that’s not always enough to protect you from the actions of a negligent driver. Distracted driving, speeding, drunk and impaired driving remain serious problems across the United States. Sometimes, a simple driver error, such as running a red light, can have serious consequences.
Whether you suffer painful whiplash from a rear-end accident or life-altering injuries from a head-on crash, you will need to deal with insurance companies. A personal injury lawyer can ensure they don’t cheat you out of fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Truck Accidents
The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks make accidents involving these vehicles especially devastating. Factors such as truck driver fatigue, distracted driving, improper maintenance, or improperly secured cargo can lead to catastrophic crashes.
Victims often suffer severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries or spinal damage, and may face resistance from trucking companies and their insurers.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face unique risks on the road. Other motorists frequently fail to notice motorcycles or give them adequate space, respect, or caution, which can cause serious accidents. Insurance companies often attempt to unfairly blame motorcyclists for the crash, compounding the challenges motorcycle riders face.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Unsafe premises, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting, can cause slip and fall injuries that cause head and neck injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries. These accidents can happen anywhere, but when they are the result of a property owner’s failure to take reasonable safety precautions, you may have grounds for a premises liability claim.
Product Liability Cases
Defective products can range from malfunctioning appliances to defective tires to unsafe toys. When manufacturers fail to ensure the safety of their products, consumers can suffer serious harm. Product liability claims hold companies accountable for design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings that lead to injuries.
Wrongful Death Claims
When a loved one’s life is cut short due to another party’s negligence or recklessness, surviving family members face immense emotional and financial burdens. Wrongful death claims can help families recover compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and the deceased’s lost earnings.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrians and cyclists are extremely vulnerable in collisions with motor vehicles, and these accidents are on the rise throughout the U.S. Bicycling in a bike lane or crossing the street on foot can be a dangerous endeavor when drivers speed, fail to yield the right of way, or fix their attention on a phone instead of the road.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are among the most vulnerable members of our community. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse often lead to injuries, illness, or even death. Families who suspect a nursing home mistreated their loved one can seek justice through legal action.
Some injuries, like whiplash or internal damage, may not become apparent until days or weeks after an accident. Even if your injuries seem minor initially, receiving prompt medical attention and consulting with a personal injury lawyer can protect your right to claim fair compensation.
Why Hiring a Lawyer Quickly Is So Important
Seeking a good, experienced personal injury lawyer immediately after suffering an accidental injury has major benefits that help protect your rights to recover fair compensation. Waiting too long can result in missed opportunities to strengthen your case.
Here are a few ways that hiring a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident can benefit you:
Meeting Legal Deadlines
States impose strict deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, for filing personal injury claims. The clock starts ticking on most personal injury claims the day you suffer an injury.
In Missouri, for example, the statute of limitations on most personal injury claims is five years. However, the deadline for medical malpractice claims and wrongful death claims is much shorter.
Every state has its own deadlines and exceptions that may affect the timeline of your specific claim, so never delay in consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Missing these deadlines almost certainly means losing your ability to recover compensation.
Preserving Evidence
Every successful personal injury case depends on strong evidence. Key materials like surveillance footage, accident scene photographs, medical records, and physical evidence are easiest to obtain immediately after an accident.
Over time, the footage will overwrite, objects can move, and people can forget crucial details. Your attorney will work to gather and preserve evidence while it is still intact and accessible.
Contacting Witnesses
Witnesses play a vital role in many personal injury claims. They can corroborate your version of events and provide essential details about what happened. However, memories fade, and people become harder to locate as time passes.
Hiring a lawyer promptly after your accident helps them to reach out to witnesses quickly, record their statements, and strengthen your case with reliable testimony. However, delaying can mean losing access to witnesses for various reasons, such as illness, death, or relocation.
Insurance Negotiations Start Early
Insurance companies are more focused on their bottom line than on fairly compensating accident victims. Insurance adjusters use many tactics to minimize or deny your claim.
They may pressure you to accept a low settlement, shift fault for the accident onto you, delay your claim unnecessarily or deny it outright.
By hiring a lawyer early, you have an advocate to handle these negotiations from the start. Your attorney will protect you, counter lowball offers, and fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?
A personal injury lawyer provides invaluable support, handling the legal complexities of your case so you can focus on recovery. Here’s how an attorney can assist:
- Thorough Investigation: Gathering evidence is critical to building a strong case. Your attorney will:
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- Obtain police reports, medical records, and other official documents
- Interview witnesses to gather detailed accounts of the incident
- Work with experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists, to strengthen your case
- Skillful Negotiation: Dealing with insurance companies is one of the most challenging aspects of personal injury cases. Insurers often aim to minimize and deny payouts whenever possible. A personal injury lawyer will:
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- Communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf
- Counter unfair settlement offers with well-supported demands for fair compensation
- Protect you from signing away your rights in unfavorable settlements
- Legal Guidance: Personal injury law can be highly complex in many cases. Your lawyer will:
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- Explain your legal rights and options in plain language
- Keep you informed about the progress of your case
- Advise you on decisions, such as whether to accept a settlement or proceed to trial.
- Trial Representation: While most cases settle out of court, some require litigation to achieve justice. At Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz, we are trial lawyers who aren’t afraid to take on challenging cases. We prepare every case as though it will go to trial, ensuring that we are ready to fight for your rights in court if necessary. A qualified trial lawyer won’t back down from the at-fault party’s insurance company and will be prepared to argue your case before a judge or jury if that’s what it takes to obtain the compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
The compensation available in a personal injury case depends on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.
In SEMO, personal injury claims can include:
- Medical expenses: These include past, present, and future medical costs related to your injury, such as hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and medications.
- Lost income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can recover lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering includes non-economic damages to compensate for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property damage: If your property, such as a vehicle, was damaged in the incident, you can seek repair or replacement costs.
- Out-of-pocket expenses: These include costs such as transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, and other accident-related expenses.
- Wrongful death damages: In cases involving the loss of a loved one, surviving family members can seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and more.
What Happens If You Don’t Hire a Lawyer?
Attempting to handle a personal injury case without legal representation can lead to several challenges:
- Lowball settlements: Insurance companies may offer a settlement that doesn’t cover your expenses, knowing you may lack sufficient legal knowledge to fight back.
- Missed deadlines: Failing to meet the statute of limitations or other critical deadlines can result in your case being dismissed.
- Weakened evidence: Without a lawyer to gather and preserve evidence, your case may lack the strength you need to secure full compensation.
- Increased stress: Managing legal paperwork, negotiations, and court filings while recovering from injuries can be overwhelming.
Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
Selecting a personal injury lawyer is an immensely important decision.
Here are some factors to consider:
- Experience in Personal Injury Law: Look for a law firm with a history of securing top-dollar settlements and verdicts for their clients. A strong track record demonstrates that the firm has successfully handled cases like yours and has the skills to achieve favorable results. While every case is unique, past successes can give you confidence in the firm’s ability to pursue full and fair compensation.
- Trial Ready: Some firms prioritize quick settlements over justice. A good trial lawyer prepares every case as though it will go to court. When insurance companies know they may go to court, they often make higher settlements quicker.
- Communication: A good lawyer will keep you informed and involved in your case. We prioritize clear, open communication, ensuring you always know what to expect.
- Referral-Friendly Approach: Good law firms often collaborate with other law firms, accepting referrals and serving as co-counsel on tough, complex cases. We value our collaborative work with other personal injury law firms and fellow attorneys.
Common Myths About Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Misconceptions about personal injury lawyers can prevent people from seeking the help they need.
Let’s debunk some common myths:
- “Hiring a lawyer is too expensive.” Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless they secure compensation for you.
- “My injuries aren’t severe enough to need a lawyer.” Even minor injuries can result in significant medical bills and long-term effects. Sometimes, seemingly mild injuries turn into major problems over time. Be prepared. A lawyer helps make sure your claim covers all of your damages.
- “I can handle the insurance company myself.” Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Without legal representation, you likely won’t have the leverage to settle for the amount you deserve.
- “Hiring a lawyer will take too long.” Having a lawyer often speeds up the legal process by streamlining negotiations and filings. We know our clients need relief, and we work efficiently to resolve your case as soon as possible.
Contact Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz Today
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Cape Girardeau, Southeastern Missouri, and surrounding areas, contact the experienced SEMO personal injury lawyers at Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz for the help you need fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Whether you’re in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Scott City, or Poplar Bluff, our team of nationally recognized trial lawyers is ready to help you.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Call us at (573) 335-6651 or online. Let us help you get started today to take the first step toward rebuilding your life after an accident. The sooner you take legal action, the stronger your claim for damages.