Can I Be My Own Lawyer?

Most accident cases are settled out of court, without having to present a case to a jury, however, you may or may not benefit from trying to self-represent depending on a variety of factors. If your case is minor, you may not need an attorney to reach a fair resolution. But, before you decide to represent yourself in an accident case, you should carefully consider the answers to these four questions.

How Serious Are Your Injuries?

If you were involved in a minor fender bender and went to the doctor just one time, the insurance company is likely to offer a quick settlement to cover your medical expenses, property damage, and a little extra for your inconvenience. Anything more than this and you may start to receive pushback.

A more severe injury that involves extensive medical treatment, lost wages, and potential pain and suffering increases the stakes. In these cases, damages have the potential to skyrocket, and an insurance company may be reluctant to make a fair settlement offer. At this point, you should consider speaking with someone who has experience dealing with serious accident cases and their settlements.

Do You Have Sufficient Proof of Fault?

You may believe that another party is clearly at fault in the accident, but there is a good chance you will face resistance if you have significant damages. Alabama is a contributory negligence state, meaning that your contribution to the accident of just 1 percent can completely bar you from collecting damages.

Knowing this, a defendant, their insurance company, or their attorney will do everything possible to show that you somehow contributed to your own injuries. The possibility of this alone makes having skilled legal counsel working on your behalf invaluable.

Do You Have Time to Devote to Your Case?

If you want to be your own lawyer after an accident, you’re going to need to devote some time and resources to the job. Assuming your accident was relatively serious, you are probably already overwhelmed with medical appointments and taking care of a damaged vehicle. Most of us don’t have free time in our schedules for these unexpected events.

An insurance company is likely going to throw their lingo and other legal jargon at you. It will be your responsibility to learn what those terms mean and figure out how to get the best possible outcome for your case. If you don’t have the time to handle these matters or would rather forgo the additional stress, you’d probably benefit from speaking with an accident attorney.

Are You Aggressive Enough to Fight the Insurance Companies?

Even if you learn the lingo, there is much more to handling your own accident case than defining terms. The truth is that insurance companies and their lawyers want nothing more than to settle their case with you for much less than it is worth. Achieving a fair settlement can take aggressive negotiations which isn’t something most people excel at or enjoy.

An insurance company’s representative is probably going to try to get you to sign releases, admit fault, and settle for pennies on the dollar. Unless you are a shrewd negotiator with years of experience in dealing with these types of situations, you will likely be happier with your results when you work with a qualified accident attorney.

How an Experienced Alabama Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If your car accident was someone else’s fault and involves anything other than minor damages, you may benefit from having your case reviewed by an experienced Alabama car crash attorney. Fortunately, most reputable firms provide free consultations, so you lose nothing by going through this process and have everything to gain.

Even if you already have a settlement offer in hand, you can ask an attorney to look over your case and determine whether that amount is fair. At Chip Nix, Attorney at Law, we handle a wide range of Alabama car accident cases and would be happy to review your case to make sure your rights are being protected.

If you decide to retain us, we will do everything possible to get you the settlement you deserve, which may be much higher than an insurance company’s first offer. We encourage you to contact us now at 334-203-6669 or online to schedule your free consultation.