Were you injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, or other personal injury accident? If so, you might be eligible to seek fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Holding the at-fault party accountable isn’t always straightforward, so it is wise to hire an experienced slip and fall attorney to represent you.
The first step in recovering fair compensation is often weighing your options for legal representation. How do you know what to do and who to turn to? Read more here to find out.
Your Options After an Accident
You can choose from several options when deciding whether to seek compensation from the at-fault party for your injuries and who you might retain to help you do so.
Naturally, you could choose not to seek compensation for your injuries. If you weren’t severely injured or didn’t incur many expenses due to the accident, it might not be worth pursuing an injury claim against the other party. But, if you were severely hurt or if you incurred significant expenses that you never prepared for, seeking fair compensation might be the best and only way to get back on your feet.
If you want to seek compensation but don’t want to retain a lawyer, you could choose to represent yourself. This is your right, but it is not always the best course of action. The other party’s insurance company will likely do everything in its power to minimize the value of your claim to protect its bottom line. Remember that the insurance adjusters do this for a living. They have skills and tactics that you likely will not be prepared to counter. Also, trying to handle the claims process while also recovering from severe injuries could put significant and unnecessary stress and strain on your life.
If you choose to retain a slip and fall accident lawyer, you could retain one that focuses solely on personal injury law or a lawyer that operates a more general practice handling different legal matters. If you retain a lawyer who does not focus exclusively on personal injury cases, they might not be as experienced in representing injured victims as dedicated slip and fall attorneys are.
Is it Worth Trying to Represent Yourself?
While some individuals think they can save money by handling their injury claims themselves, many find that doing so is a mistake.
Colorado injury law is incredibly complex. Negotiating with insurance companies on your own can be challenging. Insurance companies use a wide range of tactics to deny injury claims or substantially reduce your potential compensation. If the insurance company sees that you are representing yourself, they will surely take advantage of your inexperience. They may attempt to offer you a low-ball settlement for much less than your claim is worth. They may even drag out the negotiation process to try to wear you down and get you to accept a lowball settlement or give up your pursuit of compensation entirely.
What a Personal Injury Lawyer Does
A Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer’s goal will be to get you the full and fair compensation you need and deserve. This means considering not just the cost of your injuries and losses now, but how your injuries will impact your life in the future. Your attorney will thoroughly investigate the accident, gather evidence to support your claim, negotiate for a fair settlement, and file a lawsuit to take your case to court, if necessary.
While most injury cases settle long before a trial is necessary, a personal injury lawyer with litigation experience will prepare your case as if it will go to trial. If insurance companies are unwilling to pay you the fair compensation you are owed, your lawyer might recommend filing a lawsuit and fighting for fair compensation in court.
How I Can Help
I founded Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, P.C. to help those in my community get justice and compensation after injury accidents. I have close to 20 years of experience helping people just like you get their lives back on track after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. I’m ready to fight for you, so call me or reach out to me online for a free and confidential consultation.
For 18 years, I have helped injury victims in Southern Colorado. I handle plaintiffs’ personal injury cases, such as slip and fall accidents and car crashes. My focus on civil litigation and personal injury works to my clients’ advantage, as there is a lot to know and a lot of subtleties in the law. Take slip and fall accidents, for example. There are different categories of how victims are classified when it comes to being hurt on someone else’s property. I know what facts are important and how to prove what is needed to be successful with your case.