If you are hurt in downtown Washington, D.C., you may wonder why you should hire a DC pedestrian accident lawyer. Pedestrians face hazardous conditions daily. Unfortunately, the fatality rate per pedestrian accident is higher compared to accidents only involving vehicles. The reasons for this are apparent. Pedestrians lack the advanced safety technology available now in cars. But just because you are injured in a pedestrian accident, does that mean you are entitled to compensation? What about the statute of limitations for your bodily injury or PIP claim? Should you even make a PIP claim in DC? The questions an accident victim may have are limitless. And while you may believe the insurance company is on your side, you must understand the nature of their business.
Their goal is to maximize profit. Meanwhile, your goal is to maximize compensation for your injuries, which may be extensive in a pedestrian accident. Insurance carriers are experts at finding loopholes in policies because they wrote them. But of course, they know if they are on the hook. They may contact you and make a settlement offer before you have had time to speak to an attorney. It may even sound like a lot of money. However, something to note about these early settlement offers is that they are rarely near your case’s actual value. In fact, in the early stages of the case, it is impossible to know the value until you are done treating. They are looking to protect their interests.
Ensure someone is fighting for you.
The benefits of legal representation are vast. Having someone with skill and experience fighting for you cannot be overstated. Pedestrian accident cases can be devastating. In cases where your financial future is at stake, you should ensure you do your research and hire professional and competent legal help.
Our personal injury lawyers increase the likelihood of receiving a fair settlement. This is why you should hire a DC pedestrian accident lawyer. While there are many reasons why this is, perhaps the biggest is we will litigate your case. When a layperson tries to handle his case himself and goes to negotiate with the insurance carrier, he often finds the insurance carrier has no interest in increasing their offer. And there is no reason why they should. While they want to offer you enough that you do not feel the need to hire an attorney, they have no incentive to offer what the case is worth. They know that the only way you will get what your case is worth is by drafting a summon, complaint, and filing suit on your claim. They also know that, without legal representation, this likely will not happen.
We also have decades of experience negotiating settlements for personal injury cases. Our experience lends itself to knowing precisely how to value a case. In personal injury law, no two cases are the same. However, having handled over 10,000 cases since our founding, we can evaluate the facts of your case and determine a proper amount to settle. Explaining this to the insurance adjuster, who may not understand the applicable law well, is vital for maximizing your compensation.
We understand how stressful it can be to go through the pedestrian accident process. Whether it is mounting medical bills, time missed from work due to your injury, inability to watch after young children or the hundred other issues you may encounter during your recovery process, we know how difficult this is. Legal support and guidance through the claims process can help you anticipate and deal with challenges in advance. With such a breadth of experience, we can help you avoid issues before they arise. Based on your case, we will explain the process length so you know what to expect. These are all vital factors when asking yourself, “Why hire a DC pedestrian accident lawyer.”
Any attorney who tells you they have a 100% success rate in pedestrian accident cases either does not have much experience or is lying to you. Even if you have a great case, juries can be unpredictable. This is important when you receive a settlement offer representing your case’s value. Some plaintiffs are tempted to go to court and try to win more. But you never know who is on the jury. You might find someone who hates all pedestrians for whatever reason. Or he is mad that he got jury duty and wants to take his frustration out on you. Whatever the case, it is best to mitigate your risk.
An attorney who can mitigate your risk while maximizing your compensation is essential. The only way to do this is with experience. While no attorney has a perfect record, you can also get an idea of their success rate by the awards and accolades with which they have been recognized.
Additionally, look for an attorney who is communicative. An attorney’s responsiveness is among the most critical attributes in a personal injury case. Related, ensure that the attorney you have your consultation with will be the same person handling your case from start to finish. While this is Gelb & Gelb, P.C.’s policy, many firms pawn cases off to paralegals. While our paralegals are excellent, you want your attorney to be handling your case.
Many personal injury attorneys follow a similar fee structure for most personal injury cases. However, ensuring your fee structure is set before signing your retainer is still prudent. Our DC pedestrian accident lawyers do not charge a fee unless we win. Call today to learn about your case’s merits and next steps.
Working with a DC pedestrian accident attorney, you will receive a personalized case strategy to maximize your compensation. During your initial consultation, which we offer for free to potential clients, we will first evaluate the merits of your case. We ask a series of questions to determine if your case has validity and if it is worth pursuing. We design the attack plan for your case based on the answers to those questions.
Our attorneys ensure you are receiving proper medical treatment. While your life is busy, we know that the value of your case depends greatly on how consistently you treat it. To a jury, if you are hurt, you should receive treatment. And if you do not receive treatment, they find it hard to believe that you were injured. Thus, we ensure you receive as much medical treatment as needed to get better.
Upon completing your treatment, we will commence settlement negotiations and file a suit on your case if necessary.
It is understandable to ask why you should hire a DC pedestrian accident lawyer after your injury. You already have so much to deal with after an accident researching and hiring an attorney may seem like the least of your worries. However, we work to simplify this process for you. While we still need you to go to the doctor for treatment, we contact your medical providers by requesting your bills and records after your case. We also communicate directly with the insurance carrier immediately. They know that you have retained representation, and they cannot speak with you without going through us.
Contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation at (202) 331-7227.