No one ever expects to be involved in an accident. The aftermath of an accident can be hard to deal with. There are medical bills and possibly lost wages. Possibly there are letters and phone calls from insurance companies coming your way. You may be in this situation and wondering when do you need a personal injury lawyer? Here are some factors to consider when you make this very important decision:

Were You At Fault?

If you were not at fault for the accident you likely do not need an injury lawyer. For example, if you were a pedestrian and darted out into traffic without looking, and you were struck by a car, you will not need a lawyer. That is because there is no one to hold legally responsible for your injuries. You in that situation was the one responsible for causing the accident. But, if you had a car accident and got negligently hit from behind by another car, you may have a case worth filing.

Were You Injured?

Hopefully you were not injured in the accident. But if you were injured, it may make sense to hire a personal injury lawyer. For example, if you had a slip and fall accident, and the property owner who owns the property where you fell is at fault, and you sustained a serious injury such as a broken wrist, or a dislocation, then it may make sense to hire a personal injury lawyer.

But, if for example, you had an accident at work, but you did not sustain injuries from the accident, then you will not need a personal injury lawyer. Similarly, if you were riding your bicycle and got negligently hit by a car, but you were not injured, then you will not need an injury attorney. That is because there is no case to pursue if there are no injuries caused from the accident.

Is There Insurance To Pursue?

Assuming fault can be established against the responsible party, and injuries were suffered, then we look to see if there is available insurance to pursue. That is because personal injury claims are filed with insurance companies. Most people do not have sufficient money to pay for liability claims that they are responsible for. That is of course why people purchase insurance. But what if the person that caused the accident does not have any liability insurance?

If for example you were bitten by a dog, and the dog owner does not have homeowners insurance, you must look to him personally to pay for the damages that were caused. As the saying goes, you can’t bleed a stone. If the dog owner has no homeowners insurance, and no money to pay the claim out of his own pocket, then the case is likely not going to anywhere.

Therefore, when considering when do you need a personal injury lawyer, if you were injured in an accident that was not your fault and there is available insurance to pursue, then it may make sense to hire an attorney.