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When should you contact a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey?

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If you have filed a claim after sustaining a personal injury, a personal injury lawyer can help you proceed with it. Some cases almost always require a legal representative to give you the best shot at acquiring the maximum claim. In these cases, only an experienced and qualified personal injury lawyer can bring you the compensation that you deserve for your losses and injuries.

If you’ve been involved in a severe accident that caused you serious, life-altering injuries, you must contact an experienced legal representative in New Jersey immediately. It may be challenging to realize the importance of the legal action while you’re hurt, but the sooner you do it, the better.

All insurance companies have experienced teams of lawyers and other associates, that begin working on the evaluation of your claim immediately. To match their level of competence, you need to have someone equally competitive and experienced on your side to fight for your best interests.

However, it’s not a legal requirement to hire a lawyer. You do have the option of proceeding with the claim on your own. Still, to ensure success in your best interest, it’s better to leave this to a professional. It’s especially important to hire a lawyer when you have sustained life-altering injuries that leave you with a life-long disability. 

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the decision of hiring or not hiring a lawyer because no two cases are the same. Each case has its unique peculiarities. You must remember that the insurance company will actively work to deny you any claim or minimize it as much as possible. In that case, only a lawyer can go head to head with them.

If you’re confident that the accident that caused you physical and monetary damage was not your fault, you might be wondering how to proceed. If you’re confused about calling an attorney, we are here to help. Check out the following scenarios in which you should call a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey.

Situations in which you should call a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey

1.      Severe injury or life-long disability

You need to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately if the accident left you with serious injuries or illnesses. You can’t compromise on your claim, especially if the accident has serious life-altering implications for you. Injuries of this degree leave the sufferer with life-long suffering, pain, and monetary cost.

The injuries that will have an impact on your life for at least a year are considered as long-term injuries. On the other hand, the injuries that leave you with a partial or forever disability are called permanent injuries. The common examples of permanent or life-long injuries include traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

Some of these injuries may lead to employment loss, in the unfortunate event of not being able to perform the tasks normally. Some may require additional extensive medical treatment like surgery, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy. Some injuries leave the victim dependent on someone else, like a caretaker or a nurse, for their care. That’s why it’s essential that you seek a lawyer’s help who can help you recover these loses and prevent you from long-term financial instability. 

Law firms provide free legal consultancy in personal injury cases, so you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for advice even if you suffer an injury of a less severe nature or have doubts about your claim. 

2.      You’re unsure who’s the responsible party for the accident

If you’re in a situation where it’s not clear who was at fault for the accident, then you should contact a personal injury lawyer right away. It’s common for the insurance company of the opposite party to try to put all the blame on you. An experienced personal injury lawyer will ensure the protection of your rights and will have competitive counterarguments and cross-claims.

In the cases where the liability hasn’t been established yet, it’s best if you hire an attorney to proceed with it. There are instances when the insurance company of the other party denies any harm caused due to the fault of their policy-holder. This implies that they do not want to compensate you at all, and reaching out to a lawyer would make it easier for you to fight for what you rightfully deserve.

Personal injury attorneys have experience in gathering all the evidence required to assert the liability on the other party by questioning the witnesses, analyzing the photos of the accident scene, studying the accident report, and seeking advice from car reconstruction workers.

3.      Involvement of multiple parties

If you’re in a situation where the accident involved multiple parties, consulting with an attorney will ensure that you aren’t made responsible for the damages or all the bills. Personal injury lawyers are well-versed in protecting their clients and dealing with multiple parties and their insurance companies simultaneously.

If you have suffered damage due to the ignorance of multiple parties, then a lawyer can ensure that you receive the compensation of the highest degree to help your situation financially. 

4.      If the insurance company denies your claim

Insurance companies of the opposite party always rely on the lack of the claimant’s understanding of complicated laws and legal procedures. They try to leverage this against the claimant to deny them their rightful injury claim.

Insurance companies use the tactic of denying the claim to pressure the injured party to step back and fall into submission.

They try to exploit the injured party in their time of vulnerability and need. They only offer a small percentage of what the claim is originally worth. To prevent getting stuck in such a situation, you must consult with a personal injury attorney, or hire one to fight your claim on your behalf.

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5.      Other situations

Other situations in which you should contact a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey include:

  • If you have a broken bone, or you’ve been admitted to the hospital for long term treatment
  • Someone dies in the accident
  • When medical treatment costs you in thousands
  • If you have to miss work, school, or other scheduled activities
  • If you go through emotional trauma, suffering, chronic pain
  • If you lose a companion in the accident
  • If a dispute happens with the other party
  • If multiple people are harmed
  • If the accident happens in a construction zone
  • If the police report or any other conversation doesn’t seem accurate
  • If you don’t understand the legal proceedings
  • If the insurance refuses to pay

When should you not contact a personal injury lawyer?

You may believe that you always have to hire an attorney if you’ve been in an accident. This is a common belief because of the lack of trust in insurance companies to cover the damages. However, that’s not always the case, and sometimes companies don’t drag the claims.

Although it’s never a bad idea to get legal advice, there are times when hiring an attorney for a small claim becomes necessary. 

Check out the following scenarios in which legal representation may not be necessary.

1.      You sustain no injuries

It’s highly unlikely that you get in a car accident and only suffer damage to property. Butit happens when no one was present in the vehicle at the time of the accident or the occupants didn’t sustain any injuries.

Typically, if humans sustain no harm, then a personal injury claim may not be worthwhile. If the persons involved in the accident don’t suffer lingering injuries that prevent them from performing their regular activities, then there can’t be a substantial claim.

However, do not rush to this conclusion right after the accident. You may think something is harmless until it proves to be dangerous in the future. Make sure you still seek medical attention and get checked properly. If your doctor clears you after inspection, only then you should consider yourself free of injuries.

2.      When the cost doesn’t make sense

In some cases, the recovery claim is so minor that it’s not worth hiring a personal injury lawyer over. For instance, if only your car sustains damage and it’s a used car with high-mileage and low market value, then your case doesn’t weigh enough for legal action.

However, there are a few attorneys who take on cases of smaller claims in exchange for a higher fee. But we would advise against it.

3.      If the case could go to small claims court

If you pursue a case that has the possibility of going to the small claims court eventually, then it’s not a worthy battle to hire an attorney for.

Although you have the right to legal representation in a small court, most law firms don’t offer contingency payment method for these cases. This means that regardless of the claim you win or lose, the lawyer will collect a fee. This could put you in a disadvantaged position.

4.      When the insurance company is being fair

If you’re in a scenario, in which the insurance company is open to settling your claim, then there may not be a need for a lawyer. However, you must be sure that you’re getting a fair deal and there is no sneaky underlying text to it.

If you’re satisfied with what the company offers, and if you believe its fair, then can just proceed with it. However, if the company is not showing any flexibility, or is completely denying your claim, then it’s best if you hire a personal injury lawyer.

It’s usually recommended to settle with the insurance company if there’s no probability of receiving a higher claim with an attorney.

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How long do you have to file a claim?

After you run into an accident and suffer damages, your priority needs to be your safety.After you have received proper treatment and doctors clear you of imminent danger, then you must contact a personal injury lawyer.

It’s important to talk to an attorney right away because the other party would most likely have informed their insurance company of the accident. The lawyers and adjusters of the company will then gather evidence and evaluate the cost of a settlement.

The insurance company will try to contact you as soon as possible to take your statement. You mustn’t make this statement before consulting with a lawyer. Insurance companies usually want to push for the minimum settlement, and a lawyer will prove critical in getting you your fair claim.

Personal injury lawyers are experts at negotiating these settlements and reaching an agreement in your best possible interest.

You also need to contact a lawyer immediately because some states have limitations on the timeframe for filing a personal injury claim. Usually, you have two years to file a claim. It may seem like a long time, but you need to keep in mind the injuries you’ve sustained. Therefore, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

How is a personal injury lawyer paid?

Personal injury lawyers only receive payment once they settle the case. They get a percentage from the claim that you receive.

Personal injury lawyers follow a contingency fee structure, which means that they only get paid if they win the claim.

Conclusion

If you were involved in an accident in New Jersey, and want to file a personal injury claim, then you have a good chance of succeeding. With an experienced lawyer by your side, you’re sure to win your claim.

Contact our firm Keith Zaid Law for the best legal consultancy and representation in personal injury cases. We have experience of practicing law for 38 years in New Jersey. We have successfully recovered over $50 million in settlements and claims for our clients.

We offer free case consultation and second opinion. Contact us today!

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