If you were injured in a car accident in Washington, you have the right to file a personal injury claim. While you might think it’s better and cheaper to represent yourself, you should avoid doing that for a few reasons.
You’re directly and emotionally involved
When you’re directly and emotionally involved in a personal injury case, it’s difficult to objectively handle things. Victims of car accidents who represent themselves in their cases have to deal with a whirlwind of emotions and may not always think with a clear head. A personal injury attorney is objective in order to handle the case the way it should be dealt with.
It takes too much time
Personal injury claims stemming from motor vehicle accidents can take some time if a settlement is not quickly reached. Whether the at-fault driver or their insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, the case can drag on. This means if you handle the case yourself, a lot of time is required where you might otherwise be able to return to work and do other important things. You’ll be stuck trying to gather all the documentation and evidence for your case. It’s not worth going it alone.
You lack the right experience
While you don’t have the right experience and knowledge to effectively deal with an insurance company or the other party’s attorney, a lawyer is well-equipped to do so. You also shouldn’t have to worry about a low-ball offer for a settlement from the defendant or their insurance company with an attorney preventing you from falling for such tactics.
You’ll waste money
When you choose to represent yourself in your claim, you might think you’ll save money compared with paying for an attorney. Unfortunately, the opposite is true, and you’ll likely end up wasting money. Attorneys often only charge a fee when your personal injury claim is successful. Usually, if you don’t win your case, you don’t pay at all. Going it alone means you have to pay your own expenses to work the case.
These reasons show why you shouldn’t handle your personal injury claim under the table. You may get more peace of mind knowing that it’s being handled by a professional.