It’s normal to want to focus on your recovery after an injury. It takes a lot of physical and mental effort to go to doctor’s appointments and come to terms with the accident you experienced.

Although you may be tempted to rest and relax, you should really call an attorney after a work or car accident.

Here’s why.

You Could Be Entitled to More Money Than You Think

Every insurance policy has limits for what can be paid out according to the details of your particular accident. However, there are situations when car crash claims surpass insurance coverage.

There are situations when your total injury-related damages are estimated at way above the per-person limit of a car insurance policy, for example. Depending on the nature of the accident and who is at fault, a workers’ compensation case may be awarded more than the maximum listed on the policy too.

Not knowing that you’re entitled to more means most people settle for much less than they should. An attorney knows how much is possible in your case, which means you’re more likely to get more money.

Most Offer Free Consultations

Attorneys have a reputation for exorbitant hourly fees. That’s sometimes true, but when it comes to personal injury cases, almost every one offers free consultations.

You’re able to talk with an attorney about the details of your case completely free of charge. They may be able to provide you with advice, even if they choose not to take your case, and you won’t owe them a dime.

Things you might want to talk about during your free consultation include:

• What kind of experience they have with similar cases?
• Do you see any major issues with my case?
• What will I need to do throughout the process if you take my case?
• How long do you think it will take?

They Want You to Win

A personal injury attorney will not take your case unless they think they can win. That’s because most personal injury lawyers work on a contingent basis.

A contingency fee means that they don’t get paid unless you win. What they are paid is usually a percentage of whatever you’re awarded.

Not only do they want you to win, they want you to win as much as possible. The more money you get, the more they get, so you can bet that they will work hard to get a fair settlement on your behalf.

They Understand Your Policy Better Than You Do

You aren’t alone if you don’t understand your insurance policy, even if you’ve tried to dig into the details. Insurance policies are notoriously difficult to understand. Even if you think you understand your policy, there’s a good chance there’s something you have misunderstood. 

Personal injury attorneys dig through insurance policies all the time. They know how to read between the lines to help you build your case.

They know the law too, especially as it pertains to insurance policies. They know what insurance companies can and can’t get away with, which can be extremely helpful in your particular case.

You can rely on your attorney to know the details on your behalf so you don’t have to try to decode your policy and relevant laws on your own.

They Know Exactly When and How to File a Claim

Did you know there’s a statute of limitations on filing a personal injury claim? If you wait too long to file, you won’t be able to get the money you deserve.

Not only does your attorney know exactly how long you have to file a personal injury claim, they also know exactly how to do it. They know the process for submitting paperwork to both the insurance company and the courts, as well as what language to use to ensure it’s valid.

The sooner you talk to an attorney, the better. They can help you get all of your ducks in a row so you don’t run out of time. Not to mention, they can make sure you make the right appointments and gather the right information, which is way easier to do immediately after an accident.

They Know How to Negotiate

You can technically negotiate with your insurance company on your own, but do you know what to say? Do you know what you’re entitled to? Are you willing to go back and forth as many times as it takes to get exactly what you deserve?

Lawyers know how to negotiate to win. That’s especially true of personal injury attorneys.

They know what you could get, what you’re likely to get, and they know how to maximize your outcome. They also know when it’s time to agree to a settlement so your claim doesn’t drag out longer than necessary.

You’re Still in Control of Your Case

It’s easy to feel like a pawn when dealing with your insurance company after an accident. You might worry that an attorney won’t make you feel any better. They’ll just squabble over what you’re owed until they’re satisfied.

Although it’s true that the insurance company isn’t going to make you feel good by dealing with them directly, that’s not the case when it comes to your attorney. They will go above and beyond to make sure you understand every detail of your case, and they won’t move forward to the next step until they have your approval.

All you have to do is ask and your attorney will answer your questions and provide you with options you may not have considered. They will make sure that you’re still in complete control of your own case.

It can be hard to muster up the energy and the courage to call an attorney after a personal injury, but it’s one of the most important calls you can make. They can maximize the outcome in your case while providing you with much-needed peace of mind every step of the way.