Is My Injury Serious Enough to Get a Lawyer?

Being involved in an accident of any kind is stressful and overwhelming, especially if you have been injured. Accidents happen every single day and range from minor fender benders to catastrophic construction site injuries. So how do you know when it’s time to contact a lawyer? This is probably one of the most frequent questions we field, and for good reason. If you’ve never been involved in a serious accident before or are unsure when retaining a lawyer is a good idea, you’ve come to the right place. Your decision to hire an attorney following an accident that left you or anyone else with injuries should be based on a handful of factors and considerations. Once you’ve talked through them and given them some thought, you should have a much better idea as to whether or not your injury requires legal representation.

Here are a few questions to ask and factors to take into consideration following an accident:

● How bad is your injury? The first thing you should do before deciding whether or not to hire an attorney is take a realistic look at how serious your injury is. While not all injuries require a lawyer, there are many instances where an attorney can help you. For example, if your injury lasts longer than a few days and requires medical care, it may be in your best interest to bring a lawyer into the mix. If your injury is going to require rehabilitation or surgery and missed work, you should most definitely retain an attorney. More often than not the costs following an accident are much greater than anticipated, which is where a lawyer will come in.

● Was your injury caused by another person’s negligence? If your injury happened as a result of another person’s negligence or actions, you should most definitely hire an attorney. Proving legal fault isn’t easy, and a lawyer will know what needs to be done in order to get you the compensation you deserve. If your injury is lingering and you believe – or know – it was caused by someone else, it’s time to retain an attorney.

● Your suffered long-term or disabling injuries – One good way to determine whether or not your injury is serious enough to hire an attorney is by looking at whether the injury will require long-term care or resulted in permanent disabilities. You should also look into how your injuries will impact your ability to work and earn an income.

● Your injuries were very severe – While this can be subjective, if your injuries were severe and you are facing mounting medical bills, you should hire a personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies usually measure the severity of your injuries by what type of injuries you sustained, what kind of medical care you require, and the expected length of recovery time.

Determining whether you should hire an attorney or not following an accident can be difficult. If you are unsure whether your injuries are serious enough to retain a lawyer or if you would like to learn more about how bringing a personal injury lawsuit can help you, please contact your Dallas personal injury law firm today!