When Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

Injuries happen all the time, but, just because injuries are common and are something that we can all related to does not mean that every injury warrants a personal injury claim. Indeed, how does one know when they should file a personal injury claim, and for that matter, when they should hire a personal injury attorney?

If You’re Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim, You Should Work with a Personal Injury Lawyer

One simple way to decide on hiring an attorney is this: if you are filing a personal injury claim, you need a personal injury lawyer. In fact, a personal injury claim should rarely be pursued without legal counsel, even if you think your case is straightforward. Insurance adjusters, while appearing to work on your side, are skilled at shortchanging claimants’ settlements, and getting claimants to admit fault or say other things that can be used against them. If you want to maximize your settlement amount, working with an attorney is one of the best ways of doing so.

A Personal Injury Attorney Is a Must for Complex Claims

The insight of a personal injury attorney can be helpful for all claims, even those where fault and damages are very apparent. For personal injury cases that are more complex, hiring a personal injury attorney in Virginia is a must. These include claims where:

  • Fault is disputed;
  • There are disagreements about the expiration of the statute of limitations;
  • Damages and injuries are severe;
  • The claim has been denied; or
  • You have been offered far less than what you believe you deserve.

Keep in mind that two of Virginia’s laws: the two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims; and the pure contributory negligence rule can often be used against those who have been injured. The first to prevent a claimant from pursuing damages after more than two years’ time has passed, and the second to prevent a claimant from recovering damages if they contributed to their injuries in the slightest. If either of these two rules are relevant in your case and may prevent you from recovering the compensation you deserve, do not wait any longer to hire an attorney.

Do You Have a Case?

Some factors to consider in determining whether you have a personal injury case include:

  • Location of accident – If the accident occured on another person’s property, there is a strong chance that that party could be held partially responsible;
  • Degree of damages – If you have suffered minor injuries that do not demand any medical care or cause any serious harm, you need to weigh whether or not the time and cost expenses of pursuing a legal action are worth what you will possibly be able to recover; and
  • Fault – If you were to blame for your accident (and you know this), then you cannot pursue a personal injury suit. Personal injury lawsuits are designed to hold another, negligent party responsible for damages.

Get a Consultation

If you’re not sure whether you have a case, or if hiring a personal injury attorney is a smart move, the easiest way to find out is to schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Virginia. At the law offices of Olmstead & Olmstead, P.C., we will review your case, and give you sound legal advice regarding what your next move should be. To learn more, please call our law offices today at 703-361-1555. You can also get in touch with us by email, or visit our Manassas location in person at your convenience.

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