Involving a lawyer in your personal injury case significantly bolsters your chances of recovering fair compensation. However, there are limitations to what a lawyer can or cannot do.
Understanding these limitations helps manage your expectations when working with one and know when your lawyer may not be offering what you deserve.
This guide highlights some of the most critical roles of a lawyer in a personal injury case and can help you understand what to expect from a personal injury lawyer, so keep reading to learn more.
Gathering Evidence and Building a Strong Case on Your Behalf
Ideally, you should have some evidence when contacting a lawyer. This evidence can be in the form of pictures, video footage, witness testimonies, contact details, medical records, etc. Still, you will need more than this evidence to build a compelling case.
Lawyers know what evidence works in each situation and can help you identify that evidence. Some evidence requires legal procedures, like preservation demands or subpoenas, to protect from destruction and to obtain.
Additionally, lawyers can identify and hire qualified, reliable expert witnesses to help explain difficult concepts, like the cause of an accident or injury, or explain necessary medical treatment and procedures after an accident. Their input and expertise can make a huge difference in a case.
With the right evidence, a lawyer can build a strong case on your behalf so you do not have to worry about the legalities of your case as you focus on healing.
Negotiating on Your Behalf
In most cases, arriving at the settlement figure involves give-and-take from all parties involved. However, it’s important to ensure that you do not give so much that you lose what you rightfully deserve and that you don’t hold on in such a way as to create unnecessary contention.
With years of handling cases like yours, personal injury lawyers approach negotiations from the position of knowledge. They know when to cede ground and when to hold it and demand more.
Negotiations create an opportunity for the parties in a personal injury case to reach a consensus without going to trial. If negotiations don’t work and your lawyer isn’t satisfied with the offer of the opposing side, they may decide to take the case to trial, where the judge or the jury decides your case.
Representation in Court
Most personal injury cases in California don’t make it to trial. If your case goes to trial, your lawyer steps in to provide legal guidance and ensures you do not make critical mistakes that could jeopardize the outcome of your case.
The quality of a lawyer comes to the test in the trial stage. So, before you pick a lawyer, you have to be sure about their ability to perform well in court. One way to do this is by looking at the number of cases they have taken to trial and their win-loss ratio.
Besides representation in the courtroom, the lawyer will keep you updated on everything happening throughout the process, which helps manage your expectations.
Emotional Support
Not many people see a lawyer as a possible source of emotional support. While you may have supportive friends, family, and colleagues, your lawyer may provide the most emotional support during the claims process.
“Lawyers have experience working with people like you and know what to expect in the future. So, even as they comfort you, they can help you prepare for what to expect, which can significantly reduce the stress and anxiety you may have about the process of bringing a personal injury claim,” says Emily L. Dahm of Mirador Law, California personal injury lawyer.
Choosing a lawyer goes beyond their academic and professional qualifications. The lawyer’s interpersonal skills during your initial consultation can tell you a lot about how well that lawyer will be able to provide you clarity, guidance, and support throughout your case.
Source: Bonjour & Thorman Law, California
