Most lawyers will tell you to get a lawyer no matter what. I’m a lawyer and there are some cases where it doesn’t make sense to hire a lawyer. Other cases you 10000% percent need a lawyer or the insurnance company is going to run roughshod all over you. No offense to the person that wants to handle their claim, but lawyers do this every single day and know how insurance operates. I’ve turned zero offers into seven figure numbers. No non-lawyer is doing that.
This post discusses the kinds of cases where you don’t need a lawyer and when they are absoultely necessary.
Small Cases Probably Don’t Need A Lawyer
Lets say your car gets a minimial amount of damage and you go to the doctor one time. Probably don’t need a lawyer. I get calls on food contamination cases pretty regularly. It is usually a hospital visit and a recovery within hours. You don’t need a lawyer for that absent an exception. You also don’t need a lawyer for cases where you aren’t hurt. It doesn’t make sense to hire a lawyer to pursue your property damage unless you are driving a really, really expensive car. The theme here is is you have a small case you don’t need a lawyer. The way to figure out if you have a small case is to consult with a lawyer. Some of us are honest!
Big and Medium Cases Do Need A Lawyer
If you are significantly hurt you need a lawyer. You also need a lawyer if you are medium hurt. Nobody wants to pay a lawyer. I get that. We are a necessary evil in my opinion. The good thing is that personal injury lawyer consultations are free. You can talk to a lawyer and see if they would be a good fit.
Disputed Liability Cases Need A Lawyer
If the other side is telling you that you are at fault it does not mean they are right. It means their insured is telling them somethign you disagree with. That said, they will likely deny liability. The only way to change this is to sue them. Lawyers that file a lot of lawsuits know how to do this. Pro Se litigants (even with a bunch of AI) aren’t better than the worst litigation lawyers. If the other side is disputing it is time to lawyer up.
Complicated Medical History Cases Need A Lawyer
If your medical history is complicated the other side will make a big deal about it. Plaintiff lawyers like me call this an exacerbation of a pre-existing condition. The fancy legal term for this is “eggshell” plaintiff. Sometimes the defendant hits an NFL linebacker and they aren’t that hurt. Other times the defendant hits a nice little old lady. The defendant is responsible for the damages they cause either way.
Tire Kicking Will Bite You
I have tire kickers pick my brain every once in a while. I can tell if and when they are going to hire me. The real problem occurs when someone decides not to hire a lawyer and then does damage to their case. About once a quarter someone who consulted for free calls me asking to pick up their case because insurance did something they don’t like or don’t think is fair. I RARELY pick up the case as the damage is already done.
Sometimes I’m an additional couple thousand (and a lot of avoided headaches). Other times I’m the difference between six and seven figure sums. I’m happy to tell a potential client they don’t need my help because the case is small or the injuries are minimial.
Call or email me anytime for a free consultation. I’ll tell you if you need a lawyer, or not. Brian Dettman of Dettman Law in Louisville, Kentucky.
