To Hire or Not To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer: A Connecticut Personal Injury Claim Guide

After suffering an injury in Connecticut, you may want to look into your chances of recovering compensation from the at-fault party. The claims process involves quite a lot, from gathering evidence to making contact with the at-fault party and their insurer to filing a lawsuit where needed. 

It is possible to handle the entire process independently. Still, in most cases, your outcomes may not be as favorable as you may expect if you do not have legal representation. If you are caught between involving or not involving a lawyer in your claim, this guide highlights situations where you may need to have a lawyer.

You Are Clueless About Connecticut Personal Injury Laws

“If you do not know how Connecticut's personal injury law works, you should seriously consider involving a lawyer in your case,” says Attorney Russell Berkowitz of Berkowitz Hanna Malpractice & Injury Lawyers. 

Having a clue doesn't mean having read several articles on the internet. Online guides only scratch the surface of personal injury law, and you will be quite surprised to learn how intricate personal injury law can be once you are in. 

Having been through a personal injury claim before or being a legal enthusiast can help a little, but none of these gives you as good a chance as working with a trained personal injury lawyer.

You Suffer Significant Damages

The value of damages suffered in an accident has a huge bearing on the complexity of the claim. As a layperson, you may have problems estimating the value of your damages, but the severity of your injuries can be a good guide. 

If your injuries are nothing more than a few scrapes, the resulting economic and non-economic damages may not be as significant, so you may not need to hire a lawyer. Anything more than that warrants getting one. 

However it is important to consider that physical damages, while a huge factor, are not the only factor in determining the damages, so always consult with a lawyer before ruling out your damages as insignificant.

You Are Getting a Low Offer From the Opposing Side's Insurer

You do not need to be an expert to know when you get a ridiculous offer from the opposing side. Insurance companies are in the business of making and keeping money, so they will do everything they can to pay the lowest amount possible. 

If they can't find a way to delegitimize your claim, they will approach you with a lowball offer if you are unrepresented because they understand your naivety on legal matters. So, if you didn't initially intend to get a lawyer but feel the opposing side wants to take advantage of you, get one. After involving a lawyer, they will be more likely to make a better offer or come to the negotiation table.

Fault Is Not as Clear

You can only recover compensation if you can prove that the other party was at fault in the incident leading to the injury. In some cases, fault can be disputed, or the opposing side can claim that you were partially at fault in the accident. 

Connecticut has a comparative negligence approach, which means being partly at fault will impact recoverable damages, and you will want to have a lawyer looking out for your rights and ensuring that you only carry your fair share of fault and ultimately recover fair compensation. 

The decision to involve or not involve a lawyer lies with you. However, even as you choose, it is important to consider that involving one could improve your case's chances of a fair outcome, even when considering legal fees.