If you’ve been injured by someone’s negligence, you may be wondering whether to file a personal injury claim—and if you should hire a lawyer or handle it yourself.
Some examples of personal injury claims include:
- Vehicle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Exposure to toxic gases, chemicals, or other hazardous substances
- Defective products
- Dog bites
- And More
You may be wondering how to protect your rights after an injury and where to even begin. Can you handle a claim on your own, or should you hire a personal injury attorney? The short answer is it depends—but in most cases, the answer is yes, you should hire an attorney. If your injuries are very minor and the claim is low stakes, you might be able to represent yourself, such as in small claims court. However, an experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to navigate the legal process, advocate on your behalf, and maximize the compensation you deserve.
Once you’ve engaged a personal injury attorney, they will handle the details of filing a claim with the negligent party’s insurance company and gather evidence to support your case. This allows you to focus on your health and recovery. One piece of advice is, if you were injured due to another party’s negligence, you should get checked out by a doctor. Even if it doesn’t require a visit to an ER, you should schedule a visit with urgent care or your personal physician to get checked out. You never know when complications from a covert injury will impact you in the future, and you need documentation of your injuries for your personal injury case — whether you work with an injury lawyer or choose to represent yourself.
Facts you or your attorney will need together to file a personal injury claim (not limited to):
- Details about the accident. What happened in your own words.
- Evidence from the scene. Photos, first responder reports, witness statements
- Your medical records documenting presenting injuries, photos, lab tests, and diagnostic imaging reports, etc.
- Whether defective equipment, construction, maintenance, etc., contributed to the accident
- Any other pertinent information
Damages you or your attorney can seek compensation for include (not limited to):
- Lost wages. Time off to recover from the accident, to go to doctors’ appointments, surgery recovery, and rehab
- Medical costs. Reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses you incurred, such as co-pays (physician, facility, drugs, diagnostic, rehab, durable medical equipment, ambulance)
- Pain and suffering. PTSD, anxiety, and depression related to the incident
- Replacement costs. If any of your property (such as a bicycle) was damaged during the incident
- Other/miscellaneous damages
Your injury lawyer will compile all the documentation and present a demand letter to the negligent party’s insurance company to initiate a settlement negotiation. You will need to be patient, as it can be a lengthy process. In the meantime, your attorney will advise you NOT to speak to the negligent party’s insurance company should they contact you directly. Insurance companies are notorious for striving to pay out the lowest possible amount for a personal injury claim. Don’t fall for it. In addition, your attorney may ask you not to discuss your accident or claim on social media. It’s not beneath an insurance company to investigate your SM and use your words, no matter how innocent, against you when defending their claim.
Personal Injury Case Costs
Deciding when to hire a personal injury lawyer and understanding the costs can make a big difference in your case. If your injuries are serious or the situation is complicated, having an experienced lawyer is usually the best choice. Most accident lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless they win. Typically, their fee is 33–40% of your settlement or award. Acting quickly is important—whether you hire a lawyer or handle the case yourself—because in Ohio, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the accident date.
Oliver Law Aggressively Handles Personal Injury Cases
If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, reach out to Oliver Law Office at 614-220-9100 or use our online contact form. We have offices in Columbus and Dublin. Schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys, and we’ll discuss your options. We will do the heavy lifting so you can focus on your recovery.
