Every person has the right to represent themselves in court. If you have a personal injury lawsuit that you want to file against another person or institution, you are allowed to file it on your own. A question that many plaintiffs have is whether they need a lawyer. Before you choose to represent yourself, ask yourself these questions.
Have You Argued a Personal Injury Law Case Before?
Experience in the legal field does matter. If you have never been a part of a personal injury case before, you may not know what is necessary to make a good case, as a personal injury lawyer, can explain. While you can research tort law, you have to keep in mind that laws are always changing and just because you know the law, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have experience applying the law.
You do not know the types of defenses that the other side will provide. You will not have experience in negotiations with insurance companies, hence you may not know when you’re receiving a good deal or when an insurance company is offering you too low of a settlement. A lawyer has the experience necessary to win your case.
Do You Have Unlimited Time and Resources?
Most people don’t have unlimited time or resources to spend on a personal injury case. You still have other obligations that you have to tend to. You could have doctor’s appointments, physical therapy and more on top of your everyday responsibilities. If you work, you still have to support yourself, if you have children, they still have to be a priority in your life. You can’t put your life on hold to put forth the effort that a personal injury case needs you to.
A personal injury lawyer doesn’t have to worry about time limits. This is your lawyer’s job. He or she will have the time to focus on your case, to do extra research and to ensure that your documents are filed on time. Also, your lawyer will know which resources to use.
After suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence, it might be tempting to file the lawsuit on your own. After all, it is within your rights to represent yourself. This does not mean that it is a good idea, however. Cases, where a person represents him or herself, tend to have a higher rate of failure than those cases defended by lawyers. To find out how to go forward with your case, consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.