Why skilled personal injury lawyers offer victims an advantage
The average person does not know how to evaluate damages or whether settlement offers are fair. Lawyers employ experts and draw on their own expertise to arrive at settlements that fairly compensate clients. One of the reasons that most cases can effectively settle outside of court is because insurance companies know that competent attorneys take cases to trial when equitable settlements are not on the table. At trial, sympathetic juries often make large awards for pain and suffering. Expensive court costs and excessive jury awards are incentives for insurance companies to compromise during negotiations and settle rather than have a lawyer take the case to trial.
When you put your personal injuries in the hands of a knowledgeable attorney, you usually receive significantly larger compensation, even with legal fees. Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations to determine whether you have a legitimate case, and take cases on contingency, charging no fees unless they recover money awards or settlements.
An understanding of how insurance companies operate can also help you decide about whether to obtain a lawyer.
