Why DIY Legal Advice Could Cost You More After an Injury
Many people wonder if they could save some money by handling their own personal injury claims. While this is understandable, it’s a bad move because one wrong move could be the end of your case.
What may seem like an open-and-shut case to you won’t be that simple in the courtroom. For example, being able to prove your injuries isn’t enough to win compensation. Judges consider a host of factors that can lower or eliminate your payout.
Here’s why you should never try to represent yourself in a personal injury case.
Tight deadlines can’t be missed
Each state has a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit or claim through insurance, and if you wait too long, you’ll be out of luck. Trusting non-lawyers to tell you what your timelines are is a gamble. And it’s not just that initial deadline you’ll need to meet – there will be more than one.
For instance, you’ll need to meet constant legal deadlines while following court procedure for filing paperwork, and if at any time you miss a filing or don’t do it correctly, your case could get pushed back or dismissed altogether.
It’s inherently risky to rely on other people who are not attorneys to help you navigate the complexity of legal deadlines. Since errors and oversights can get your case dismissed, it’s not worth taking that chance.
You risk undervaluing your claim
Without the help of an experienced attorney, you won’t be able to accurately access the full extent of your claim. Even when looking at other, similar injury cases as a guide, there are nuances to every case that alter the value, and only a lawyer can interpret these.
The biggest danger is accepting a low settlement that doesn’t cover all the current damages. An experienced attorney will ensure you not only get compensated for current damages, but future losses as well. For instance, they know how to get their clients additional compensation for future medical expenses, lost future wages, loss of earning potential, pain and suffering, and more.
The court system is extremely complex
Throw out everything you believe about how the court system works. If you’ve never been involved in a court case, you’ll be in for a major shock if you try to represent yourself. If you think about how many years attorneys spend learning their craft and gaining experience in the courtroom, it should become clear that it’s not an entry-level job. To be effective, you need to know the law inside and out, and how it’s been applied in past similar cases. You also need to know proper courtroom procedure. None of this can be learned from YouTube.
Insurance companies are fierce
Make no mistake – if you represent yourself, you’ll be facing an insurance company whose only mission is to discredit your case. Insurance adjusters prioritize company profits over everything else, and not only will you get a low settlement offer, but they’ll actively try to prove that you don’t deserve the compensation you’re seeking.
When an insurance company knows they’re up against someone without a lawyer, they’ll engage in manipulative tactics, like exploiting legal loopholes and selective disclosure of evidence. It’s hard for an inexperienced individual to counter these tactics.
There are a variety of ways an insurance company might try to discredit your claim, and if you don’t know all of their tricks ahead of time to prepare, there’s a good chance you’ll be caught off guard, and things won’t go in your favor.
Errors can ruin your case
Self-representation increases your risk of making mistakes that can hurt your case or get it dismissed. For example, you might not understand the law fully (it’s highly complex and memorizing statutes won’t work), or you could mishandle evidence unintentionally. These and similar errors are a fast way to lose your case.
Professional legal representation has value
Wanting to save money is understandable, but representing yourself will come at a huge price. Instead of trying to save money, consider your attorney a necessary expense in the process of handling your personal injury claim. A lawyer will be with you every step of the way, handling the difficult nature of your lawsuit. You won’t have to do anything but follow their instructions and show up to court on time.
In the end, the potential risks of self-representation often lead to less favorable outcomes. To get fair compensation and avoid the burden of managing the complexities of your own case, invest in professional legal assistance before pursuing your case.
