personal injury lawyer and client

Why Is Having a Personal Injury Lawyer Important?

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By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

Being injured in an accident or other situation can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might require one or more surgeries, physical therapy, and other medical treatment to recover from the injuries. Your recovery could be lengthy, requiring you to miss time from work. The loss of income could result in a financial crisis for your family.

A California personal injury attorney cannot undo what has happened to you. However, having an experienced legal advocate on your side to provide guidance and support can reduce the stress of dealing with a personal injury claim after an injury. 

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me After an Injury?

When you hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case, your attorney takes numerous steps to protect your best interest. Steps a personal injury attorney takes for you include:

  • Conducts a thorough investigation to determine how you were injured and gather evidence
  • Identify all parties liable for your damages
  • File insurance claims and handle all communication and negotiations with the insurance companies
  • Retain accident reconstructionists, investigators, and other experts, when necessary
  • Work with you and your physicians to document the extent of your injuries and damages
  • Calculate the correct value for your injury claim and negotiate a settlement for that value
  • Prepare and file a personal injury lawsuit, if the other party refuses to negotiate a fair settlement

While you focus on healing from your injuries, your accident lawyer focuses on recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages. 

Should I Work Directly with the Insurance Company?

Working directly with an insurance company to resolve a personal injury claim can be tricky. The insurance company has one goal. It wants to pay as little as possible to resolve your injury claim, if it cannot deny the claim outright. 

Therefore, the insurance company will never tell you if you accept a lower amount than your claim is worth. It will not tell you if you are entitled to additional damages that you do not know about because you did not consult with a personal injury attorney.

Insurance adjusters are highly-trained, experienced professionals. They work to protect the best interests of the insurance company. 

Claims adjusters search for information the insurance company can use to deny or undervalue your claim. They may tell you they need a written or recorded statement to process your claim or that you need to sign a medical records release form. These tactics are designed to get information the company can use to avoid paying the actual value of your claim.

A personal injury attorney protects you from these tactics. Your lawyer handles everything for you so that you are not tricked or pressured into accepting a settlement offer that does not compensate you fully for your damages.

Contact Our California Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation 

Once you sign a settlement agreement, your case is closed. You cannot demand more money, even if you discover additional damages or injuries. You give up your right to file a lawsuit too. Before you accept a settlement offer, talk with our California personal injury attorney. We provide a free case review so you can get the information you need to make an informed decision about your case. Contact our office today.

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About the Author
Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.