If you’ve been in an accident, you may consider bringing a lawsuit. Before you hire an attorney, though, you should be aware of both the benefits and the costs. Below are a few factors you should keep in mind as you consider working with a lawyer.
The Timeline
For some, the most important cost to consider is not money but time. If you work with a lawyer, time is money. The longer the case will last, the more the lawyer will cost you. However, if the payout for the case is going to be high, then a longer case may be worth it. Smaller claims, however, are better done with quick settlements rather than lengthy court cases, so consider what kind of lawyer you’ll need to get the best deal on your chosen approach.
Cost of Attorney
It’s always good to look at the cost of a lawyer before you decide to hire him or her. Simply put, you need to decide if you can actually afford an attorney during the process of bringing the personal injury suit to court and whether that cost is going to end up being a significant amount of what you hope to win. This isn’t terribly complex math, but it’s still some of the most important math you’ll do during this process. If you are unable to afford an attorney, many states have their own legal aid societies to help offset the costs of legal counsel.
Potential Payout to Help with Medical Expenses
It’s also a good idea to weigh the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer against the potential payout that you’ll get if you win the case. If you are looking at a mountain for medical expenses, for example, the most fiscally responsible choice you may be able to make is to hire a lawyer. You absolutely want to make sure that you hire a lawyer in those situations in which doing so will give you a chance to get a greater level of compensation.
Holding Companies and Individuals Responsible
There are also non-monetary benefits that you might want to keep in mind. If you have been injured because of the action or inaction of another party, you may want to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen to others in the future. Filing a lawsuit might be the only way to teach a company or individual a lesson, especially if they don’t seem apt to do the right thing on their own.
In the end, deciding whether or not to hire a lawyer is a deeply person decision. There are definitely financial factors in play here, but there are also personal issues for which you will need to account. It’s up to you to decide whether the costs related to hiring an attorney are outweighed by the benefits of having professional legal help.