Of all the reasons to file a lawsuit after being injured, the best reason is to get compensated. Hiring an attorney to file a lawsuit on your behalf is the best way to avoid taking the financial hit for an injury that wasn’t your fault.
If you’re on the fence about pursuing a lawsuit, even though you know the financial compensation would be helpful, here are some reasons to reconsider.
1. A lawsuit settlement won’t compare to an insurance payout
Although insurance settlements are guaranteed, there’s a good chance it won’t be enough to pay your bills, and an even greater chance that it won’t be enough to cover lost wages or household bills. The problem with accepting an insurance payout is that it won’t typically be anywhere near what you could get with a lawsuit. Even if your case never goes to trial, and it settles out of court, a good attorney can negotiate a generous amount of financial compensation on your behalf.
If you’re thinking you won’t file a lawsuit because it’s easier to take what you can get from an insurance policy, at least consult with an attorney before you make any decisions to find out what your case is worth.
2. You might change your mind when it’s too late
After a serious injury, certain actions are time-sensitive, like getting medical care and talking to a lawyer. Even if you have a couple of years to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations ends, without an attorney, there’s a chance you might make a mistake that can hinder a favorable outcome for your case. If you’re not currently convinced you should file a lawsuit, and you don’t seek advice from a lawyer immediately, there’s a good chance you’ll change your mind later, and it will be too late to win your case.
Just because the statute of limitations hasn’t run out doesn’t mean you’ll win if you file a lawsuit. There are several key mistakes you might make between now and then. For instance, not seeing a doctor to get your injuries properly documented can cause your case to be dropped. Without medical documentation, you can’t prove you were injured. You also risk collecting a lot of social media posts that can be used as evidence against you during your lawsuit. Countless people lose their personal injury cases because of what they post to social media, and it’s not always something big. For example, judges have significantly dropped awards for something as simple as seeing photos of the injured party enjoying themselves and smiling.
To avoid losing a lawsuit later down the road, it’s better to consult with an attorney and file a lawsuit right away.
3. Medical bills aren’t cheap
If you’ve never had to treat a serious injury before, you might not realize just how high your medical bills can get in a short amount of time. If you add up the cost of your visit to the ER (if you went there), an ambulance ride, routine visits to your primary doctor, inpatient and outpatient hospital stays, medication, surgery, physical therapy, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and any other treatment you need, your bill will be quite high. If you’re lucky, your healthcare insurance will cover part of it, but it’s unlikely to be fully covered.
It’s not fair for you to have to foot the bill for treatment when the injury wasn’t your fault, and that’s a good reason you shouldn’t hesitate to file a lawsuit. Don’t allow yourself to go into debt just to avoid pursuing legal action. If you get a good lawyer, you won’t have to do any of the legal work, and all you’ll be expected to do is follow directions and show up for your scheduled court dates.
4. Your compensation won’t come out of the other person’s pocket
One of the most common reasons people avoid filing a lawsuit after a serious injury is they fear the other party will have to pay out of pocket. Thankfully, most of the time, it will be covered by the person’s homeowners’ insurance or other policy. It’s very rare that an individual would have to pay out of pocket.
Don’t hesitate to file your personal injury lawsuit
Regardless of why you’re hesitant to pursue your claim in court, talk to an attorney to learn more about your options. Most offer free consultations, so there’s no risk on your end. At the very least, you’ll have enough information to make your decision, and you can still choose not to bring your case to court.
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