Can I handle an accident injury claim without hiring a lawyer?

You may be able to handle an accident injury claim by yourself. After getting into any sort of accident, you will need to decide whether a claim or lawsuit is something that you can handle by yourself, or if it’s better to hire a personal injury attorney.

As lawyers often say, it depends on your unique situation. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your personal bottom line. At the end of the day, does handling a claim by yourself put more money in your pocket, rather than in the pocket of an attorney you want to hire?

When to hire (and when not to hire) a lawyer to handle your car accident claim

Here’s a general rule of thumb: If you’re in a minor car accident where no one is injured and only cars are damaged, you can likely handle your insurance claim without needing an attorney.

Let’s say your claim only involves between $500 and $10,000 of property damage. The reality is that hiring a car accident attorney may not be worth the cost of paying the lawyer between 30-40 percent of your total recovery.

At this point, you probably have some questions:

• Why are we telling you that some cases or claims can be handled without the assistance of an attorney?
• Aren’t we in the business of bringing claims and lawsuits?
• Shouldn’t we want everyone to hire a lawyer every time they have a potential claim?

How to determine if a car accident attorney brings value to your case

At Shannon Law Group, we only want to become involved in a case if we can add value for the client. Let’s say there is a dispute between an insurance company and an insured regarding whether the repair costs are $1,500 or $2,000.

In this situation, the value any attorney could bring to that claim is finite and limited. Assume an attorney in the above example was able to collect the full $2,000 for the repairs from the insurance company. After attorney’s fees and costs, the client would end up receiving less money in their pocket than if they accepted the $1,500 initially offered by the insurance company. There’s no value added here.

On the other hand, there are times a lawyer adds value to your car accident case. Let’s say someone is seriously injured in an accident. In this case, the difference between hiring an experienced personal injury attorney and attempting to handle the case by yourself can be night and day. Why?

First, no insurance company will offer you what your case is worth if you don’t hire a lawyer. Insurance companies are in the business of making and keeping money. They are not in the business of paying you or anyone else fair compensation if you make a claim.

Heck, most insurance companies never offer what your case is worth even when you hire an attorney. I cannot tell you how many times the lawyers at our firm have turned down lowball offer after lowball offer over a period of years before an insurance company finally offers a fair amount the week before a trial.

If an insurance company never offers a fair amount, your attorney needs to be prepared to try your case and ask a jury to determine the fair value. At our firm, we prepare every one of our serious injury cases for trial on a daily basis.

Injured in a car accident and need help? Turn to Shannon Law Group

As a general rule, if you have lasting injuries following a crash – or if you receive medical treatment immediately after your accident (ambulance, emergency room, etc.) – it is worth it to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer.

The lawyers at Shannon Law Group are very candid. We will tell you directly if we think we can add significant value to your case – and we will tell you if we cannot.

If you’re not sure whether you need an attorney, there’s absolutely no downside in calling our office to discuss your options. Call us today at (312) 78-9501 or fill out the form at the bottom of the page to get started.