It's More To Us, It's Personal

Key Takeaways

Personal injury law is complex, and it is not beneficial to represent yourself in a claim. Legal procedures and rules must be followed, insurance companies and opposing attorneys are not on your side, and you lack the legal knowledge required to win a case.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure that your right to receive compensation is protected. Representing yourself is hard due to a lack of legal knowledge, an emotional attachment to the incident, and your limited resources in comparison to those of attorneys.
If you represent yourself, you'll probably get less compensation than you're entitled to for your damages, and an attorney knows how to maximize the compensation you receive.
Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket. Any legal fees and associated costs will be collected from your winnings.
Wettermark Keith has two decades of experience winning client’s cases in Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. We have a diverse range of practice areas, including personal injury.

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Can I Represent Myself in a Personal Injury Case?

Key Takeaways

Personal injury law is complex, and it is not beneficial to represent yourself in a claim. Legal procedures and rules must be followed, insurance companies and opposing attorneys are not on your side, and you lack the legal knowledge required to win a case.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure that your right to receive compensation is protected. Representing yourself is hard due to a lack of legal knowledge, an emotional attachment to the incident, and your limited resources in comparison to those of attorneys.
If you represent yourself, you'll probably get less compensation than you're entitled to for your damages, and an attorney knows how to maximize the compensation you receive.
Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket. Any legal fees and associated costs will be collected from your winnings.
Wettermark Keith has two decades of experience winning client’s cases in Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. We have a diverse range of practice areas, including personal injury.

Can I represent myself in a personal injury case?

If you have a personal injury claim, it is important to know what goes into working your case.

Suffering an injury due to someone else's negligence or recklessness can be a traumatic experience. In addition to the physical pain and emotional distress, you may face financial difficulties due to medical bills and lost income. In this situation, it's natural to wonder if you need a personal injury lawyer to handle your case. You may believe that your case is straightforward and that the other party is clearly at fault; however, it's important to understand that personal injury law is complex, and there are many legal procedures and rules that must be followed. Even if liability seems clear, there may be disputes about the extent of damages or the appropriate compensation.
Insurance companies and opposing attorneys are not on your side. Dealing with insurance companies and legal proceedings can be overwhelming, especially when you are already dealing with the physical and emotional effects of your injury.
If you think you should act as your own representative in a personal injury case, it's important to consider a few things; do you have a good understanding of personal injury law; do you know rules of evidence, the statute of limitations, and other legal principles that can impact your case; do you have the time?
While it may be tempting to represent yourself in a personal injury case, it's important to consider the complexities of personal injury law, as well as how risky it can be to represent yourself. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure that your right to receive the compensation that you deserve.

What are the cons of representing myself in a personal injury case?

Lack of Legal Knowledge

Personal injury law is complex due to its numerous rules, procedures, and legal principles that must be understood and applied properly. Ideas that need to be understood include:

The statute of limitations for cases

This is the time limit within which you must file your personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, you may lose your right to sue for damages.

Burden of proof of injury

You have the burden of proving that the other person’s negligence caused your injuries. This can be challenging, and you must present evidence to support your claim.

Damages

There are various damages that you may be entitled to, such as economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. You need to understand the type of damages you can legally claim and how to calculate them.

Insurance laws

There are many laws and regulations that govern how insurance claims are handled. Understanding these laws and regulations is crucial to obtaining a fair settlement.
Without a good grasp on these legal principles, you may make mistakes that could harm your case, like failing to present important evidence or missing a deadline. A personal injury lawyer has the legal knowledge and experience to help you navigate the legal system and ensure that you get justice. They can provide valuable advice and guidance throughout the process, from filing your claim to negotiating a settlement or representing you in court. By working with a lawyer, you can increase your chances of obtaining a fair settlement for your case.

You’ll Probably Get Less Compensation for Your Injury

Insurance companies do everything they can to avoid paying out. That means that when it comes to your settlement, they may offer you only a fraction of what you are actually entitled to. You may be tempted to accept it, thinking that anything is better than nothing, but accepting the insurance company’s offer could result in you having to pay medical bills and other expenses out of pocket. You also never know what health problems could show up in the future as a result of your injury, so if you accept a lower settlement, the treatments you’ll need for those won’t be covered.
On the other hand, when you have an experienced personal injury lawyer representing you, it’s far more likely that you’ll receive all the compensation you deserve -- and maybe even more. Your attorney will make sure that all the bases have been covered and all your bills are accounted for, and they may even be able to obtain reimbursement for pain and suffering. This is something that you’re not likely to get on your own.

Emotional Attachment to the Case Due to Injuries

Personal injury cases are emotionally charged, especially when you suffered a tragic injury. If you were injured by another person, you might be angry, frustrated, or anxious about the situation, which makes it very hard to think objectively about the case. If you have a personal relationship with the negligent person, such as a friend or family member, it can make the situation even more complex and emotional.
More often than not, emotions cloud your judgment, making it hard to make rational decisions about the case. After experiencing long emotional turmoil, you may be tempted to settle quickly to avoid a long legal battle. This would cause the settlement to be lower than you deserve. Even worse, you may be so focused on getting revenge against the negligent person that you lose sight of the legal issues at hand.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you maintain a level head and make informed decisions about your case that you do not know how to make. They can do so by providing guidance and legal advice. In addition, hiring a lawyer can focus on your recovery and other important matters, which is very important if you have suffered a serious injury that requires treatments and rehabilitation.

You Have Limited Resources to Represent Yourself

These cases often require the expertise of various professionals, like medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and economists. Industry professionals provide critical testimony that can be used as evidence to support your case. If you represent yourself, you will not have access to these resources and experts, since you do not know how to locate and hire qualified experts; furthermore, you may not have the financial resources to pay for their services upfront.
An experienced personal injury lawyer has a network of experts that they can call upon to help build your case. Additionally, a lawyer has access to other resources that can help support your case, such as legal databases, research materials, and court reporters. Access to resources and experts is critical in a personal injury case. Without these resources, you cannot build a strong case. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer who has the resources and expertise necessary to build your case.

A Lack of Negotiating Skills

Negotiating a fair settlement requires skill and experience. Insurance companies will attempt to minimize your compensation or deny your claim. They protect their interests and know how to leverage their position to their advantage. If you represent yourself, you probably don't have the negotiation skills necessary to effectively advocate for your interests. Without experience, you may struggle to understand the value of your case, which disadvantages you when negotiating a settlement.
When it comes to insurance companies, dealing with a settlement is just one of their many tasks that they check off their list. It means a lot less to them than it does for an injured victim. They have a ton of experience minimizing the maximum amount they have to pay out to a victim, as well as doing so as efficiently as possible. Unlike the insurance company or attorneys, you do not handle personal injury cases on a daily basis, which means that you do not have the knowledge you need to have strong negotiating power. You do not know the law, the insurance company's tactics, or personal injury settlement negotiation like a trained personal injury attorney does.
An experienced personal injury lawyer has extensive experience negotiating. They understand the tactics that insurance companies use, knowing how to counter them effectively. Additionally, a lawyer can save you from accepting a low settlement offer that may not cover all of your damages. Without these necessary experiences and skills, you may not be able to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

No Trial Experience

If you have no trial experience, representing yourself in a personal injury case can be a significant challenge. A few reasons why this can be risky include:

Courtroom Procedures

There are a variety of courtroom procedures that must be followed in a trial. If you are not familiar with these, you may miss deadlines or fail to submit the necessary documents, which can negatively impact your case.

Legal Knowledge

Personal injury cases can be extremely complex, making it hard for you to understand and apply the law without legal training. An experienced personal injury lawyer has the legal knowledge and expertise necessary to build a strong case and effectively advocate for your rights and interests.

Presentation Skills

Effective trial advocacy requires strong presentation skills, including public speaking and the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. If you lack this experience, you will struggle to present your case in a clear way, which can negatively impact its outcome.

Cross-Examination

Cross-examination requires skill and experience to effectively question witnesses and challenge evidence. If you lack experience in cross-examination, you may struggle to effectively challenge the other side's evidence or witnesses, which can hurt your case.
Representing yourself in a personal injury case without trial experience can be risky. An experienced personal injury lawyer has the trial experience and legal knowledge necessary to build a strong case and effectively advocate for your rights and interests in court.

Representing Yourself Can Be Time Consuming

Representing yourself in a personal injury case can be very time-consuming for several reasons:

Legal Research

Personal injury cases involve complex legal issues, and it can be time-consuming to research and understand the relevant laws and precedents. As a non-lawyer, you may not know where to find the relevant legal information or how to interpret it.

Document Preparation

Personal injury cases require a significant amount of documentation, including medical records, police reports, witness statements, and other evidence. As a non-lawyer, you may not know how to gather and organize this information effectively.

Court Appearances

Personal injury cases may involve multiple court appearances, such as motion hearings, depositions, and trial. These appearances can be time-consuming, and if you are representing yourself, you may need to take time off work or other obligations to attend.

Communication

Personal injury cases require ongoing communication with the other party, their attorney, and the court. If you are representing yourself, you will need to handle all of these communications yourself, which can be time-consuming and stressful.

Trial Preparation

If your case goes to trial, you will need to prepare your case thoroughly, which can be a time-consuming process. This includes preparing witness testimony, reviewing evidence, and developing legal arguments.
It’s important to consider the potential time commitment of representing yourself and to seek the help of a qualified attorney who can help you achieve a fair outcome efficiently.

Can I represent myself in a personal injury case?

Could hiring an injury lawyer to represent me affect the outcome of my settlement in a personal injury case?

Yes, hiring a personal injury lawyer can potentially affect the outcome of your settlement in a positive way. Personal injury lawyers have a massive amount of knowledge of the law and legal procedures, which allows them to build a strong case on your behalf. They also understand how insurance companies evaluate claims and can negotiate with them to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Attorneys know the value of your claim and can negotiate a settlement that fairly compensates you for your damages. If your case goes to trial, a personal injury lawyer can represent you in court and present your case to a judge and jury.

Attorneys Have the Experience You Need For A Successful Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury lawyer with a strong track record of success has probably seen just about every trick the insurance company has up its sleeve. They can find expert witnesses to support your case, help you negotiate a fair settlement without going to trial, and challenge evidence in ways that help your case. If you want to seek the maximum compensation possible and you want an advocate who understands personal injury law and won’t let an insurance company pull the wool over your eyes, it’s probably best to work with a personal injury lawyer.

Wettermark Keith, with offices located throughout Alabama, Tennessee and now Florida, has an excellent reputation as one of the most accomplished personal injury firms in the country. Wettermark Keith’s reach is not only regional, but it also includes a diverse range of practice areas, including personal injury cases. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket. Any legal fees and associated costs will be collected from your winnings at the conclusion of the case. If your attorney is not able to obtain a verdict or settlement for your injury, you will not be charged any legal fees for their efforts.
At Wettermark Keith, we believe in taking cases personally. Our purpose is to practice with care and compassion - to tell our clients’ stories and make their voices heard. We do this by building strong relationships based on constant communication and an unwavering dedication to truth and trust. Winning cases isn’t our goal - caring for you is. Winning is just how we show it. It's more to us, it’s personal.

Contact us today to set up a free consultation about your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are several disadvantages to representing yourself in a personal injury case. One of the biggest disadvantages is that you may not have a complete understanding of the legal process and the laws surrounding your case. This lack of knowledge can lead to costly mistakes, missed deadlines, and insufficient compensation. Additionally, you may not have the same negotiation skills as an experienced personal injury attorney, which could result in a less favorable settlement or verdict. Finally, representing yourself can be emotionally taxing and time-consuming, especially if you are still recovering from injuries sustained in the accident. In short, the risks of self-representation in a personal injury case often outweigh the potential cost savings.

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If you or a loved one have been injured and think you might have a case, call us now for a free consultation.