When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

By Aghabegian & Associates on January 18, 2022

If you were recently injured in an incident caused by someone else’s reckless, negligent, or intentional act, then you may have a personal injury case on your hands. But before you file a personal injury claim, you’ll need to decide whether to hire a personal injury attorney to represent you or manage the case on your own.

To help you make this important decision, we’re breaking down some of the key facts around hiring a personal injury attorney, including when it’s worth hiring one and when you might be better off handling your own case.

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney or Managing Your Own Case

Every person has the right to represent themselves in any kind of legal matter, and that includes personal injury cases. However, doing so isn’t always the best idea. There are some types of personal injury cases that can be successfully handled on their own, but many require the legal expertise of a personal injury attorney. 

One instance in which a personal injury attorney may not be worth hiring is if your injuries were extremely minor. For example, if you were in a minor car accident, such as a fender bender where no one was hurt, then filing a claim with your insurance company or the other party’s insurance party may be an adequate solution. Similarly, if you live in a no-fault state, then you are not legally allowed to sue unless your injuries meet a certain level. Thus, if your injuries aren’t deemed serious enough to be exempt from the no-fault system, then a personal injury attorney may not be required to handle your case. 

On the other hand, there are some personal injury cases in which the expertise and knowledge of an attorney are strongly recommended. One type of case is when the injured party suffered serious injuries following an accident (whether it began as a major injury or started out as a minor injury and turned into a serious one over time). Further, there are several reasons claimants may wish to hire a personal injury attorney to represent them rather than representing themselves. First, unless you have a strong legal background, an attorney will almost always have a better understanding of your state’s laws. Navigating your home state’s legal system without the help of an experienced attorney can be extremely overwhelming. In addition, a personal injury attorney understands the rules of civil procedure and evidence, knows the deadlines that must be met for your claim to be valid, and has experience calculating damages and negotiating with at-fault parties and/or insurance companies. Finally, personal injury attorneys understand that personal injury law was designed to make victims feel “whole” again and thus will seek to recover all kinds of damages. Overall, hiring a personal injury attorney often gives claimants the best chances of their claims being successful.

Which Personal Injury Attorney is the Right Fit for my Case?

If you’ve decided to hire a personal injury attorney, then you’ll want to make sure you choose one that’s the right fit for you. We recommend finding an attorney who offers free consultations, has impeccable legal expertise and a proven track record, and is ultimately someone you can trust. First, you’ll want to choose someone with years of experience in personal injury law. When meeting with them, ask about their experience trying cases similar to yours (this can include the number of clients they’ve represented as well as their success rate). As an example, the AAESQ Law team has over 40 years of combined experience in personal injury law and has helped deserving plaintiffs recover over $125 million in damages. This is the kind of track record to be on the lookout for. You may also wish to work with an attorney who focuses on the specific type of personal injury law relevant to your case. For example, though there are plenty of capable attorneys that handle a variety of personal injury claims, some focus on specific niches like medical malpractice attorneys, auto accident attorneys, or dog bite attorneys. 

Next, you’ll want to choose an attorney that offers free consultations to all prospective clients and operates on a contingency fee basis. This ensures you can meet with an attorney free of charge to decide whether they’re the right fit. Further, should you decide to hire them, an attorney that operates on a contingency fee basis guarantees you won’t have to pay a dime unless they win your case. (This is exactly how AAESQ Law operates – no upfront or hidden costs.) 

Lastly, we urge all injured parties to hire an attorney they can trust. If possible, meet with potential candidates in person so you can get a better feel for them. At the end of the day, finding someone you can trust and rely on throughout the entire lawsuit is critical.

Agreements & Expenses

Before hiring a personal injury attorney, it’s important to understand the costs associated with doing so. In personal injury law, most attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that their legal fees are not paid upfront. Instead, their fees only need to be paid if they win your case, and in most instances, the fees they are owed will be a percentage of the damages awarded. When hiring a personal injury attorney, the attorney will enter into a representation agreement with the client that has a contingency fee. Contingency fees vary from attorney to attorney, typically falling between 25% and 40% of the compensation won. Given how wide-ranging contingency fees can be, we recommend asking all prospective attorneys about costs during your initial consultation.

Conclusion

If you aren’t sure whether to hire a personal injury attorney for your lawsuit, consider how seriously you were injured and how prepared you are to go up against the at-fault party and their insurance company without an attorney by your side. Should you choose to hire an attorney to represent you, look for one with a proven track record of success, several years of experience in personal injury law, and who offers free consultations to all clients. These are the telltale signs of a quality personal injury attorney who cares about their clients and will fight for their rights until the end. AAESQ Law is one of the leading personal injury law firms in Southern California. If you were recently injured and wish to speak with one of our attorneys, get in touch to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.