A car accident often leaves the victim in a personal financial crisis, with high medical bills, lost wages and other expenses they might have during the recovery phase. With all this stress involved, it may seem that hiring a St. Louis auto accident lawyer would only add to the cost of an accident.
Some victims feel confident enough in their own negotiating capabilities to consider representing themselves during the car accident claim trial. However, this decision rarely saves them more money. On the contrary, not having an attorney to represent you can drastically reduce the settlement you will obtain.
Here are the main reasons why you should not represent yourself during a car accident claim:
You Should Invest All Your Time and Effort into Your Recovery
If you got injured, then you will most likely have to visit doctors and specialists, take time from work to rest and recover, and undergo treatment for your injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you are more or less capable of moving around and the discovery period of your trial can be really tiring: gathering evidence, submitting all necessary documents in time, contacting witnesses and experts, and much more.
You May Lack the Experience and Knowledge an Attorney Has
No matter how well you know the law, if you are not a car accident attorney yourself, you may not understand all the legal details that will be relevant to your case. Laws are also updated periodically and they might be interpreted wrongly by an untrained eye. You may also lack the experience related to the court, the judges, the jury, etc. An experienced attorney can navigate smoothly through this process, focused on getting you a fair settlement.
It’s Likely That You Will Settle for Less Than You Should
When you represent yourself, you are more likely to be tempted by the first offer the insurance company will make. Too many times, this offer is lower than you should rightfully get, and the insurer only proposes an amount this low because they also expect negotiations. Taking the first offer might get you money fast and release you from the stress of handling the case, but it’s a loss in the long run.
Time Management
Think about the actual time you will have to spend doing representing yourself in a car accident case. Split between doctor’s appointments and legal documentation, it’s easy to miss a deadline or just make mistakes.
If you have been involved in an accident, it is in your best interest to speak with an experienced car accident attorney. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. we have over 20 years of experience handling these claims. We can evaluate your case FREE of charge and we work on a contingency fee. Simply put, we only get paid and if and when you get compensated.
Call (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.