A physical injury from an accident is bad enough. But things can get out of hand if, in the aftermath of a mishap, you have to deal with doctor’s appointments, lost time at work, insurer phone calls every day, and all the responsibilities of life in general.
According to the National Safety Council, 62 million people in 2023 pursued medical attention for an injury. That worked out to one in five people. Unfortunately, many people deal with personal injury issues without hiring lawyers — perhaps thinking they’ll save money. The truth of the matter, however, is that going it alone is the wrong move.
Hiring the right personal injury lawyer can be good for your mental, emotional, and physical health. It can also increase the odds of a successful personal injury claim.
Below are four ways a personal injury attorney can be beneficial for your health.
1. A Lawyer Will Allow You to Concentrate on Recovery
Doing everything by yourself in a personal injury case can be emotionally draining. Even matters concerning insurance claims, statements, timelines, documents, and compensation offers can consume every waking hour if you’re not careful.
Stress can’t be entirely eradicated. But too much of it is a bad thing and should be avoided. Being overstressed can lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, and other issues. Dealing with insurers independently is one way to skyrocket your stress. Remember that insurance companies will look for any excuse to deny your claim or reduce the amount they pay out — so getting legal assistance is always wise.
You can rest a bit better knowing that a legal professional is working on your behalf.
2. A Lawyer Will Ensure You Receive Needed Care
Having access to healthcare after an accident is important. Unfortunately, some people miss tests because they can’t afford them. But that can come back to hurt them since an insurer might argue that you would have gone for treatment if you were really hurt.
A personal injury attorney can point you in the right direction to find competent doctors as well as help to ensure that your injuries and treatment are properly documented. Furthermore, an attorney may also be able to connect you to specialists, testing, or therapy so you get the right treatment and get on with your life.
Without an attorney, most people suffering from injuries find themselves receiving inappropriate healthcare, which leads to health complications that could otherwise have been avoided.
3. A Lawyer Will Protect You from Being Coerced into a Low Settlement
Insurers want to pay claims as quickly as possible for as little money as possible. And if they can get away with paying nothing, all the better. If you try to negotiate with insurers on your own, you’ll be at a significant disadvantage.
You might not know what constitutes a fair offer. And if you’re stressed out, the odds are you’ll end up accepting a lower-than-fair compensation offer that can’t meet your present needs or future needs for things like treatments, medications, and pain and suffering.
This may lead to financial issues and a poor quality of life that hits your health hard.
Meanwhile, a personal injury lawyer will ensure you’re not taken advantage of. The legal professional will calculate what constitutes a fair offer so you get what you deserve.
4. Your Lawyer Will Handle Communication
Insurers may try to turn your words against you, even to deny benefits for an injury. That’s one reason to retain the services of a personal injury lawyer to represent you.
An attorney will communicate with insurance companies and avoid making the mistakes you might have made. By sparing you from enduring any stressful interactions, you’ll get to focus your attention on going in for treatment and getting better.
While hiring an attorney for a personal injury case is a legal issue, it is also a health issue. Recovery from injury only happens after taking time off, resting, and getting medical attention. It’s hard to juggle everything without delegating.
An attorney will defend you to lower your stress level. You won’t have to go toe-to-toe with insurers, for instance. Having someone represent you during your personal injury case means you’ll have more time to focus on recovering. You’ll also get a fair compensation offer, which will cover your needs now and in the future.
It’s about finding the right lawyer so you don’t have to pursue a claim on your own.