Regardless of the circumstances, suffering an injury because of someone’s mistake can be a traumatizing experience. If you have sustained catastrophic or serious injuries in an accident in Ontario that was not your fault, you must consider filing an injury lawsuit. California’s laws allow you to recover money from the party liable for your losses and damages. The question is whether you need legal advice. In this post, we have enlisted a few reasons why you need an Ontario, CA personal injury lawyer.
Negotiations can be complicated
Most personal injury claims are settled without a trial. While a trial is necessary for selected cases, it is an expensive option for all parties concerned. In case of auto accident claims, the insurance company will try and offer a settlement at the earliest. The same is true for workers’ compensation claims. If you have sustained injuries in a slip & fall accident in a store, the management will want to avoid the court. Negotiations are necessary for most injury claims, and without a lawyer working on your side, you could end up with a much lower amount.
Insurance companies are rarely fair
When we pay for insurance or file a third-party claim after an accident, we expect the insurance company to be fair and honest. Unfortunately, these companies are not here to pay for claims. Insurance companies train their claims adjusters to minimize the financial burden by reducing what they pay for personal injury claims. If you are not smart enough, the claims adjuster will do their best to reduce your settlement. This is one of the key reasons why you need an attorney to talk on your behalf.
The race against time
If you want to file a civil lawsuit, you have to do so within two years from the date of the accident or injury. This is the deadline for most personal injury and wrongful death cases. If you miss that deadline, the other side will do their best to deny their role, and more importantly, the court wouldn’t entertain your case. At the same time, two years seems like a long time on paper, if you have to start working on your injury case at the earliest. Get an attorney to gather evidence and focus better on your legal strategy.
Not all law firms in Ontario have the same kind of experience. Don’t shy away from asking questions related to the work profile of a personal injury lawyer and ensure that they have trial experience.