According to a survey conducted by Patino Law Firm of McAllen and San Antonio, Texas, a significant number of Americans believe that a personal injury lawyer can help them get more money after an accident. This view was further echoed by a report by Google Surveys, with 42.7% of respondents stating that a personal injury attorney is crucial to getting more compensation in the aftermath of an injury or property damage.

Personal injury law encompasses a wide area of expertise, with a few areas covered being slips and trips in public places and automobile accidents. Numerous Texas personal injury attorneys are also tasked with tackling oilfield accidents, a factor likely linked to the region’s high number of oil wells.

With the use of a contingency fee plan, it is no wonder that most clients prefer hiring a personal injury lawyer to tackle their case, given that payment only happens when the lawyer wins the settlement. The survey conducted in Texas and neighboring southern states shows that a whopping 40.9% of respondents are confident that they would hire a lawyer. Only 12.5% of respondents state that they would consider handling their own case, with the remainder 46.6% being indecisive about whether or not they would consider getting a lawyer. In hindsight, the latter group is likely not to have found themselves in any situation requiring the services of a lawyer, hence the hesitance to get one.

With insurance companies often making quick settlements in the hope that the injured parties will accept any offer to allow them to get back to their lives, personal injury lawyers are the solution to helping such parties get better compensation. When asked if they would fight for a better deal or settle for a quick offer, 17.3% of respondents said they would likely take the second option, with 19.8% stating they would fight to get more. In contrast, 8.4% would be willing to take any offer put forward even if it was low, with 54.5% stating they had no opinion on the matter.

When the same respondents were asked to give their view of personal injury attorneys, 21% believed that the attorneys were only after the money, while 59.9% did not have an opinion. Only 15.3% said that the attorneys represented their victims to help them get justice and 3.8% believed that the services of a personal injury attorney were essential after an accident.

You work hard day in and day out to create the life you can be proud of. Don’t let someone else’s negligence destroy your hard work and derail your vision. If you’ve been injured, you owe it to yourself, your family, and those you care about to be justly compensated for your losses. And here are a few quick tips you can use to optimize your settlement and not sell yourself short.

See the Big Picture

It’s vital you see the bigger picture, consider all current damages and future damages you’ll incur because of the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney will help you step back and take a holistic view of the entire event. Of course, the insurance adjuster will do their best to close the case for as little as possible. However, it’s up to you to have a clear indication of what you need and what you’re willing to accept.

Types of Potential Damages

Your personal injury claim will hinge on a variety of factors that can directly impact the amount you receive. Some of the most common factors can include:

• Current medical visits
• The medications required following the injury
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent alteration of mobility and life, such as severe scarring, paralyzation, amputations, and reduced range of motion.
• Current and future wages lost
• Impact on potential earnings
• Severe injuries, such as bone spinal cord, neck/head/brain, and internal organ injuries

A Picture Is Worth a 1,000 Words

Sometimes, an image can speak volumes. When you have images of the road conditions, images of your injuries, or images of any illicit substances in the vehicle of the driver who is at fault, you significantly strengthen your case. In these instances, images can lead to higher settlements.

It’s Not Just About You

When you are injured, you’re not the only one who hurts: your loved ones suffer as well. At the same time, your company or business could suffer. The stress an injury has on your marriage, ability to parent, or ability to grow or manage a business can all be emphasized to highlight the butterfly effect of the negligent actions of the individual at fault.

Contact An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been hurt in a personal injury incident, it’s critical you understand the other party’s insurance company doesn’t work for you. On the contrary, their goal is to offer you as little as possible, which is often in direct conflict to your best interest. In fact, they have teams of adjusters and attorneys working around the clock to minimize their losses.

With this in mind, it only makes sense to have an experienced ally in your corner. A personal injury attorney will go to bat for you, defending your rights and working in your best interest. So when it comes to getting the best personal injury settlement, it starts and ends with finding the right personal injury attorney.