From car accident cases to medical malpractice, and from intentional offenses to dog bites, one typically has the legal right to compensation when one is injured due to someone else’s negligence. Compensation can come from an out-of-court settlement or through litigation. If one finds themselves in a situation where one needs to file a personal injury suit, hiring a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque, NM, is one of the most important decisions to make.
When Can a Victim Handle His or Her Own Case?
There are certain instances in which a person may be able to handle a personal injury matter without an attorney’s help. Some of those instances are described in the bullet points below.
* The victim lives in a no-fault jurisdiction. No-fault rules bar victims from suing unless their injuries meet a certain cost severity. Because victims are limited to recovery of damages from their own coverage in these claims, hiring an attorney for a minor injury may not be sensible. However, if the injuries are serious enough to put one outside the no-fault rules, hiring a lawyer may prove beneficial.
* The victim is already receiving the maximum payment. If a defendant’s insurance policy has a $50,000 limit, a larger verdict might be worthless. Anything over the coverage limit must be collected from the defendant, and accepting the settlement offer may be the best option if the defendant has few assets.
Minor Injuries
Many victims don’t want to the browse through websites to hire a lawyer for minor injuries. For instance, if one gets into an auto accident and only has minor bruises, they may not deem it necessary to hire an attorney with The Carter & Valle Law Firm. Moreover, if the other motorist’s insurer offers to pay one’s medical bills and provide a small cash settlement, it may not be sensible to find legal counsel. However, some injuries worsen over time, and those who accept the settlement offer waive future claims. A personal injury attorney in Albuquerque, NM, can advise a client to wait until the injuries fully manifest themselves, and they can tell the client when to take a settlement offer.
