Can You Handle a Personal Injury Claim Without a Lawyer?

With the amount of legal information available online, many people who file a personal injury claim may assume that they can represent themselves. Although you may think that successful recovery simply involves common sense, this is not usually the case. Attorneys are trained in much more than gathering evidence; they are also skilled negotiators. Their negotiation skills can mean the difference between accepting a low settlement and receiving maximum compensation.

If you or a loved one has recently fallen victim to a personal injury, the legal team at HGSK Injury Lawyers is here to help. With decades of experience helping those impacted by personal injuries or accidents, our Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers place the same level of care into each and every case, big or small.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Establish Fault

The strength of your personal injury case will depend on the availability of evidence. Typical evidence in a personal injury case often includes photographs, video footage, medical records, witness testimony, and sometimes a police report. Even if your injuries are minor or the property damage is minimal, you still need to prove the other party’s accountability and your lack thereof.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Will Calculate Damages

Besides proving liability, a personal injury attorney will calculate any losses you sustained due to your accident or injury. This can be challenging, given that certain damages have no financial component. Many personal injury victims are not aware of the damages to which they are entitled to receive, often doing themselves a disservice in choosing to self-represent. Working with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney will give you the best chance of recovering maximum damages.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Will Track Important Deadlines

An important aspect of personal injury claims is tracking deadlines. Under Pennsylvania insurance law, insurance companies have 30 days after receiving notification of your claim to complete an investigation. Insurance companies can extend the timeline, but they must provide written notice explaining the reason for needing more time and when you can expect to hear a final decision. In some cases, an insurer may attempt to wear you down by repeatedly asking for extra time to investigate (insurers must provide written notice to claimants every 45 days thereafter regarding the status of your claim). Claims adjusters have various tactics to avoid paying on a claim, which is why you need a personal injury lawyer working by your side.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Assist with the Admissibility of Evidence

In any personal injury case, receiving an adequate settlement or award requires presenting evidence that establishes the other party’s fault. Just as in criminal cases, you must prove that each piece of evidence is authentic (has not been altered or fabricated). To do so, you will need to provide a paper trail, demonstrating each time the evidence exchanged hands, from the moment it was retrieved to when it is presented in court. This chronological documentation will show who had access to the information and where it was stored on specific dates. This is known as a chain of custody. Evidence is only admissible if the chain of custody remains unbroken.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Has Experience Negotiating with Insurance

Pennsylvania personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the incident. The insurance company knows that, and they may attempt to stall your claim in order to run out the statute of limitations. Our personal injury team is not interested in playing games. At HGSK Injury Lawyers, we have successfully negotiated settlements for thousands of personal injury victims, allowing us to resolve cases in a timely fashion.

Speak with Our Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys Today

If you have recently been affected by a personal injury, do not forgo representation in an attempt to pocket a few extra dollars. At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers have successfully assisted thousands of individuals in obtaining maximum compensation. Our legal team takes under advisement all accident-related expenses, including future medical costs and lost earning capacity. To learn the true worth of your personal injury case, our office can be reached online or by calling (267) 551-8782.