Washington State is one of the most glorious states in the country. Unfortunately, however, it’s not immune to roadside accidents, workplace injuries, construction site accidents, and wrongful death claims.
This is where a Vancouver injury attorney steps onto the scene. As you embark upon the mountain of paperwork that’s involved in your claim and the sea of legal hurdles, you can instantly start to feel like you’re drowning.
The legal system is multi-faceted and insurance companies are a tangle of confusion. Yet, when you hire an ethical attorney who has your best interests in mind, they can see your injury claim in Vancouver through to the end.
This takes a tremendous amount of weight off your injured shoulders and brings about waves of reassurance. But, don’t take our word for it. Together, let’s explore the most poignant reasons for hiring a personal injury attorney.
Knowledge of the Law
This may sound intuitive, but we decided to include it anyway. The legal system is a complex matter and personal injury cases are even more nuanced.
If you’ve never been involved in an accident before, then you may not know the full value of your claim; compensation goes beyond replacing a vehicle or recovering lost wages.
Value
The value of your claim also includes economic damages like travel expenses, in-home health care, or the hiring out of household chores.
The damage that comes from pain and suffering is a more difficult matter, but a Vancouver personal injury attorney will be able to help you navigate those choppy waters, as well.
Length
On another note, the length of a personal injury claim in Vancouver is difficult to gauge. It can take a week or several years.
Typically, settlements are advantageous to the injured party. But, that’s not always the case. In other instances, a lawsuit may be required to receive the compensation that’s owed.
Pain
Personal injury lawyers in Vancouver, WA are able to take a lot of the burden off your shoulders when you’re already dealing with a tremendous amount of physical pain from your accident.
That alone is worth its weight in gold. Having to jump through the hoops of the legal system when you’re at an unfortunate low is less than favorable for anyone.
Knowledge of Insurance Companies
We hate to say it, but we’ll say it anyway. Insurance companies sometimes get a bad rap for a reason. Unfortunately, they can act in bad faith in order to avoid a payout.
The first thing an insurance company will likely do is try to blame the injured party for the accident. At this point, it’s best to clam up and hire a Vancouver, WA injury attorney because anything you say will be used against you.
Then, their tactics can devolve from there. They might fail to fully investigate the claim, cause unnecessary delays, or provide misleading information.
Someone with knowledge of the law can be a great protector against these unethical practices.
Help With Documentation
This is another arduous task in light of ongoing pain. From the moment your injury occurs, you must document all your damages. Again, this includes lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses like travel and help on the home front.
It’s helpful to have a legal team on your side who can help you maintain the robust amount of documentation that’s coming your way. The court may also require you to go see other medical experts to verify your claim. Right there, you’ll incur more expenses and more documentation.
A Vancouver, Washington personal injury lawyer will have community connections to help you bridge this gap. They can bring in their own expert witnesses to bolster your claim.
If your case goes into litigation, they’ll likely know the judge, opposing counsel, and other relevant players. Having their “insider knowledge” will be a great help as you cross each hurdle in the process.
Contingency Fees
Some attorneys work on an hourly basis. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This is advantageous for several reasons.
First, you only pay your attorney if you win your case. Second, it pushes your attorney to work on your behalf and his/her behalf because the larger your settlement is the more the attorney will be paid for his or her services. Pursuing personal injury claims involve a tremendous amount of work and attorneys will want to see a reward for that amount of diligence.
While you’re researching to see if the attorney you’re interested in works on a contingency fee basis, also inquire about their ability to advance costs. Medical records, police reports, and court costs can add up to hundreds of dollars. Add expert witness fees and the costs can skyrocket to the tens of thousands of dollars.
A competent law firm will advance all necessary out-of-pocket costs on your behalf. This is a sign of goodwill and a law firm’s confidence that they can win your case.
Free Consultations
We understand that this is a lot to process. But remember to take things one step at a time. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the mountain of documents you need to acquire and the level of negotiations you need to undertake.
However, we encourage you to, again, take things one step at a time. It all begins with a free consultation. Set appointments with the firms that pique your interest. Even though this is a fairly common practice, make sure the consultation is, indeed, free.
Then, you can go from there. This opens up the door to legal options and proposed avenues that will put your mind at ease and guide you down the pathway to a successful outcome.
A Vancouver Injury Attorney for You
We can’t overstate this. Having a knowledgeable Vancouver injury attorney during a tenuous time is invaluable.
And, if you hire the right firm, you won’t even have to place a value on their services. Remember that contingency fee; you only have to pay for all this support if you win your case.
Here at Etengoff Pak Law Group, we navigate our clients down the road to recovery. We understand that a personal injury case isn’t just another legal matter; it greatly impacts the individual and their family.
That’s why we work hard for you and maintain regular and consistent contact throughout the entirety of your case.
Feel free to reach out to us today for a free case evaluation. We’ll put your mind at ease while you focus on returning your body to a state of ease.
The post Why Should You Hire a Vancouver Injury Attorney for Your Claim? appeared first on Personal Injury Lawyer Vancouver WA.