Is it always worth hiring a truck accident lawyer for your case? Hiring a lawyer takes time and adds expenses to your case you might not want to pay. After all, if your case is obvious, why would you need a lawyer?
You might think we’re biased because we’re a law firm, but there are some instances where it’s not worth it to hire a lawyer! However, we think it’s always worth speaking with a qualified truck accident lawyer in a free consultation. Here’s why.
Not All Cases Need a Lawyer
When you go to a consultation, the lawyer’s job is to evaluate your case to see if you have one and if it’s worth working on. Your case may not need a lawyer for either reason.
No Case
If you don’t have a case, a lawyer won’t be able to help you. For example, if you’re clearly more than 50% at fault and the truck accident lawyer can’t find a way to reduce that percentage, you’re out of luck. You’re the liable one.
A competent lawyer can sniff out situations where what happened does not rise to the level of legal liability, and they will refuse to take the case because there is no way to win.
Low-Value Case
Cases also have to reach a certain threshold of value to be worth a truck accident lawyer’s time. That threshold depends on the lawyer and the value of your damages. Sometimes, your lawyer might advise you to take it to small claims court instead.
In Texas, the most you can get from a small claims court is $20,000. You don’t need to hire a lawyer, and the procedures are simpler. However, you will have to prepare your own case to present to the judge.
Don’t be quick to presume your case is low-value. You might have injuries that don’t show up for weeks after an accident. Get a doctor’s examination before you decide, and don’t forget that mental illnesses like PTSD could appear later.
It’s Worth It in All Other Cases
If your car was totaled, if you face significant injury, or even if the insurance company is dragging their feet about paying you or wants to give you a law settlement, you need a lawyer on your side to ensure you get the full value of your case.
Even if you think the insurance company is offering you a significant amount of money, enough to cover your needs, it’s still worth it to run it by a truck accident lawyer before you take it. There may be things you could receive compensation for that you don’t know about.
What Services Do I Get if I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Truck accident cases have high settlement values in most cases. There’s a lot of money you can leave on the table if you don’t have a lawyer on your side—money that the insurance company will try to hide or deny.
A truck accident lawyer will identify the responsible parties and gather up evidence that supports your claim. They also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to reach a settlement that matches the proper value of your case.
Why should an insurance company listen to a lawyer? Because lawyers know how to file lawsuits and call the bluff of the insurance company. Insurance companies know they could lose a lot more money than they want to if they’re forced to go to court.
Is It Worth It?
If you know the exact value of your case, and it’s under $20,000, and the insurance company is offering you the proper amount of money, you don’t need a truck accident lawyer. But if not, you definitely need one.
Any lawyer worth your money should be able to get you a better settlement even after taking out their fee. Contact The Buzbee Law Firm for a free consultation to learn more.
