America has been labeled a litigious society, but the truth is that our legal system offers the best remedy in the world for righting wrongs. When you’re injured, whether it be in a car accident or as a result of someone’s carelessness, hiring an attorney is the right move to protect your family. But hiring a lawyer doesn’t, necessarily, mean that you’re going to sue anyone, that you’re going to go to court or that there will be a trial. In fact, often times your lawyer can work on your behalf to get your case resolved without having to sue anyone and without having to go to court.
Hiring a Lawyer Doesn’t Necessarily Mean a Lawsuit
When you’re in an accident, particularly in a car accident, the at-fault driver usually has insurance. That insurance company has thousands of lawyers at their disposal. You should have at least one. The insurance company’s goal, after you’re in an accident, is to prevent you from getting full and fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
But hiring your own lawyer doesn’t mean you have to file a lawsuit. You’re hiring a lawyer to be your professional negotiator. Your lawyer collects your medical records, investigates your case, gathers all of the facts, and can even recommend top-notch doctors or facilities where you can get the treatment you need. From there, your lawyer will contact the insurance company and make a demand to settle your case. The lawyer’s job is to negotiate with the insurance company to try to get your medical bills paid, your pain and suffering compensated and to ensure that you are put back in the position you were in before the accident. All of this can be done before a lawsuit is filed.
If the insurance company is unwilling to accept fault or is unwilling to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement, then and only then should your lawyer be filing a lawsuit on your behalf and going to court.