Many people dealing with a personal injury accident ask themselves ‘why do I need a personal injury lawyer?’. They ask themselves this as the lawyer-free process of small claims court can be a cost-effective alternative available within the local court system. So, why do you need a personal injury lawyer?
Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’re pursuing your claim in small claims court then it may be best to go it alone to avoid having too much of your compensation being eaten in lawyer fees. The rule of thumb is that if your claim is under $20,000 then small claims court may be your best route—although a quick call to us here at Jane Conte can set you in the right direction. If your personal injury claim or car accident claim is above $20,000 then you will need a personal injury lawyer to defend you in provincial courts—because your insurance company or other party will have competent council. Not only do you need a personal injury lawyer—you need an experienced lawyer…you need the best—Jane Conte.
Apart from the other parties retaining a personal injury lawyer, there are a number of other reasons why you need a personal injury lawyer to ensure that you get the compensation that you’re entitled to—including:
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·To defend yourself against the insurance company—whose business it is to squash claims like yours. A process they do, successfully, on a daily basis.
·You need a lawyer to ensure that you file your claim and follow-up paperwork properly—within the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations in Ontario is two years for most personal injury claims, and after filing your initial claim there are a number of other deadlines you must meet—some of which are as little as a month. Failure to meet these deadlines can result in your claim being rejected.
·Evidentiary support is the backbone of your claim, and preparing the documentation you need to prove your case in a court of law is difficult. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you with the documentation process so that you aren’t penalized in court for being unprepared in terms of documentation (because opposing council will be thoroughly prepared).
·An experienced personal injury lawyer will help you negotiate your case—both in and out of court. Without this professional guidance you won’t know when is the right time to entertain a settlement, when to reject it and propose new terms—and when to take it to court. This practically-choreographed dance is familiar to experienced lawyers—but entirely foreign to the public—which is yet another reason why you need a personal injury lawyer.
If you aren’t sure if you need a personal injury lawyer or not—call Jane Conte today. Our experienced legal team can advise you whether you do need a lawyer, or whether your claim is best served in small claims court. We can also help ensure that you aren’t negatively affected by the statute of limitations and help you prepare all the personal injury documentation that you need to launch a successful claim.
