How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help My Case?

Suffering a debilitating injury caused by another person’s negligence can completely uproot your life. You may have a personal injury case and be entitled to compensation, but the time and resources a claim takes can be overwhelming. This isn’t something you want to do alone, and a personal injury attorney can help, and here’s how.

Deal with the Insurance Company

Although there are laws that govern how insurance companies operate, their motives cannot be controlled. Insurance companies are looking out for their best interests and have teams of attorneys to help them find ways to minimize the amount of money they pay out on claims. By hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you, you will protect yourself from being taken advantage of.

Perform a Thorough Investigation

Even when another party is clearly at fault for your accident, that doesn’t mean their insurance company will not attempt to place the blame on you. Because of Pennsylvania’s rule of “modified comparative negligence,” any responsibility placed on you can significantly reduce your compensation. This law allows multiple parties to be liable for an accident and reduces a victim’s compensation by their assigned percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $50,000 and found 40 percent to blame, you will only receive 60 percent of the award or $30,000. However, if you are found 50% or more to blame, you will not be eligible for financial recovery.

An attorney and their resources will be invaluable. They will conduct an in-depth investigation to collect evidence supporting your claim, ensuring liability falls on the appropriate parties. This will involve collecting evidence from the accident scene, gathering police reports and medical records, eyewitness testimony, and hiring experts to testify to the extent of your injuries or perform accident reconstruction if necessary, and more.

Help Secure a Higher Settlement

Research shows that victims who hire a lawyer secure settlements or verdicts three and a half times higher than those without representation. Insurance companies are businesses looking to increase their profit margin and are not trying to pay out fair compensation on claims. An attorney will know how much your case is worth and can make sure your compensation reflects the total extent of your damages. This will involve calculating your future medical expenses, future lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and punitive damages if applicable. Your lawyer will not be intimidated by an insurance adjuster or their attorney, who may pressure you into settling fast and for a less than fair amount.

Handle on Contingency Fee Basis

Most personal injury attorneys in Philadelphia operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t have to pay any money out-of-pocket to hire one, and whether you pay legal fees is contingent on the outcome of your case. You only have to pay if you win and won’t owe anything if you lose. The contingency fee is generally a percentage of the total compensation you are awarded. This percentage can differ by firm, but the standard is around 33%. As an example, if you recover $300,000 in compensation, $100,000 would go towards attorney fees.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a preventable accident, contact Rosenbaum & Associates. Your first visit with us is free, and we will explain how we can help you recover compensation for your specific case. Request a consultation online or call (215) 569-0200 today.