Handling a Personal Injury Claim on Your Own vs. Hiring a Lawyer

A personal injury claim is an opportunity for an injured accident victim to collect financial compensation for the medical bills, property repairs and other losses associated with a preventable accident in Las Vegas. If another person’s negligence, or failure to act with proper care, gives you an injury, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim. Find out when it is in your best interests to hire a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer to represent you.

When Can You Handle Your Own Personal Injury Claim?

No law requires you to hire an attorney to file a personal injury claim in Nevada. You retain the right to represent yourself, or handle your case “pro se.” You may be able to take care of your personal injury case without legal representation if it is a simple matter, such as a small claim (under $10,000) that only involves minor injuries. In this scenario, you can most likely proceed to file your insurance claim and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance claims adjuster without counsel.

If you have minor injuries from a car accident, for example, the car insurance claims process may be fairly simple. Most insurance companies have websites and apps to file your car accident claim. An insurance claims representative can give you the steps necessary to submit your claim and collect financial benefits. It is important to realize, however, that an insurance company does not have your best interests in mind. If you don’t think you can combat insurance claim tactics to undervalue your losses on your own, you may wish to hire an attorney.

When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer can help your case in many different ways. If you are dealing with more than a minor injury, such as broken bones, a brain injury or a spinal cord injury, consider working with an attorney. Handing over your case to an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can make an important difference to its outcome. Rather than accepting an inadequate settlement from an insurance company for your serious injuries, your lawyer will use aggressive negotiations to fight for the true value of your claim.

An attorney representing you will mean having a skilled legal professional handling every aspect of your case, including:

  • Investigating your accident for signs of fault or liability.
  • Determining the defendant and finding insurance coverage.
  • Preserving and collecting any evidence available.
  • Answering your legal questions and providing tailored advice.
  • Dealing with the confusing and tiresome claims process.
  • Hiring qualified experts to support your case and properly calculate its value.
  • Taking over negotiations with an insurance company to recover a fair settlement.
  • Bringing your personal injury case to trial, if necessary.

If you wish to maximize your financial recovery after a serious accident in Las Vegas or you simply want to focus on healing while an experienced professional handles the rest, hire a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can strengthen your claim using special resources, knowledge and personnel. If you encounter any problems while trying to handle a case on your own, such as the insurance company rejecting your claim, you always have the option of hiring a lawyer.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

The main reason accident victims hesitate to hire attorneys is the cost. At Koch & Brim, LLP, however, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t pay any attorney’s fees upfront. In fact, you won’t pay at all unless we win your case. If we do win, you will pay us a percentage of the settlement or jury verdict achieved. We will not bill you directly. To find out if you need a personal injury lawyer, contact us to request a free consultation.