Following a car accident in Bellevue or a freak slip & fall accident, you may find yourself in a precarious situation. While you need to take time off work to concentrate on your recovery, you also have financial losses and expenses that need your immediate attention. Filing an injury claim may sound like an easy task, but as you work with the insurance adjuster and try to negotiate the settlement, you may discover the complex aspects. Your best bet is to have an attorney who can fight aggressively for your rights. In this post, you can learn more about hiring a qualified injury lawyer in Bellevue.
Ask the right questions
Almost all law firms in the city offer free consultations, and you can meet an injury lawyer to know their profile better. This is also a great chance to find out more about the worth of your claim. Here are some questions you need to ask –
- What factors could affect my case adversely?
- What is your initial assessment of the claim? What is it worth?
- Do you have experience working on similar subjects?
- What is your profile with regard to specific expertise in personal injury law?
- Will you help me with out-of-pocket expenses?
While an injury lawyer will have to investigate the accident to give you specific details, they can certainly provide an assessment based on the facts available at the time of consultation. You may have to deal with additional expenses, such as the cost of investigation, which the lawyer should share in advance.
The cost of hiring an injury lawyer
An injury lawyer will not charge the client immediately. In exchange, they get a fixed percentage of the financial settlement. Typically, lawyers charge 33% of the final compensation, but if yours is a complicated case that requires more work or the matter is expected to go to trial, you may have to pay more. The best part is you don’t need immediate resources to afford a lawyer.
Negotiating the settlement
Once you have engaged an injury lawyer, you don’t have to deal with insurance aspects directly. Also, the insurance company is unlikely to take your claim lightly as they know you have an advocate. Your lawyer may decide to negotiate more if there is evidence to support the case. Also, they will file a lawsuit if discussions don’t go as planned or when there is no agreement on the settlement.
Call an injury lawyer immediately after your injury in Bellevue.
