Do I need to hire an attorney or can I handle my case by myself?
If you suffered an injury after an accident, you may be wondering if you can handle the case yourself. There is no requirement that you hire an attorney if you wish to file a claim or pursue a civil case after an accident or injury in Tennessee. However, if you have experienced an injury or property damage through no fault of your own, hiring an attorney to represent you will give you the best chance of getting the full compensation you deserve.
If you are suffering because of an injury in the Knoxville area that was someone else’s fault, the decision to hire an attorney is just one of several questions that are probably on your mind. You might also be wondering:
- Who will pay my medical bills?
- How can I receive compensation for wages I am losing by missing work?
- How can I prove the injury was not my fault?
- How can I get an insurance company to offer me a fair settlement?
- Who can help me?
Actually, several of these questions have the same answer. Getting the help of an experienced attorney is the best way to prove you deserve compensation for your injuries or damaged property.
If you suffered injuries in an accident that someone else caused, the attorneys at OEB Law, PLLC, can help. Call 865-546-1111 for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer.
Can I represent myself in my case?
Civil tort law is difficult to grasp. Plaintiffs without legal experience will likely feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the system and the process of handling a case on their own. Even if you think you understand the law and the details of your case, unexpected developments can make things very challenging for anyone without legal experience.
On top of that, you will probably be dealing with people who do understand the law and will use your status as a layperson against you. If, for example, you are trying to get another person’s insurance company to compensate you for a car accident injury, the defendant’s attorneys will have an easier time poking holes in your case if you do not have a lawyer fighting for you.
What will an attorney do for me?
An attorney is your representative and advocate through every step of the legal system. At OEB Law, PLLC, we handle injury cases in a variety of categories, including:
- Car accidents;
- Slip and Fall
- Truck accidents;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Brain injuries; and
- Injuries from defective drugs and medical devices.
We have experience fighting for our clients’ interests in a variety of ways. We can find the best approach for recovering your compensation based on the facts of your case. Here is how we handle the most common methods of pursuing civil actions.
An Insurance Claim
It may seem like a straightforward process to receive compensation from the at-fault party’s insurer, but if you do not know your way through this system, your interactions with insurers and claims adjusters can damage your right to compensation. One of our attorneys can guide you through the process and make sure you receive the full amount you deserve.
Settlements
An experienced lawyer from our firm will be able to determine whether an out-of-court settlement offer is fair. Insurance companies sometimes try to settle for much less than a victim deserves. They often offer a settlement up front to avoid dealing with an attorney later on. We can protect you from these tactics and make sure you receive the maximum compensation possible in your case.
Litigation in Court
The purpose of a settlement is to resolve a case before it goes to trial, but sometimes this is not possible. If your case goes that far, having an attorney on your side will greatly increase your chances of winning a case in court.
Will an attorney make my case stronger?
A personal injury attorney will not rest until they have shored up your case with hard evidence. Every situation is unique, but building a strong case for a client usually involves some of the same steps. Our attorneys have experience following the steps necessary to win your claim.
We will prove you were not at fault for your accident.
Civil law in Tennessee uses a system called modified comparative fault, which means the amount of damages a person may receive or pay depends on the percentage of fault they share for the injury. So it is in an insurance company’s interest to say an accident was partly or fully your fault, even if it was not.
If you were partially at fault, you are still eligible for damages, as long as you were less than 50 percent to blame for the accident. We can find witnesses to your injury and even reconstruct the scene of an accident in order to demonstrate the amount of compensation you deserve.
We will demonstrate that you suffered damages.
You are eligible for compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. You may even be eligible for punitive damages in more severe cases. We will find proof of the medical costs, lost wages, and future costs associated with your injury. We know how to use this information to hold the at-fault party accountable.
What if I cannot afford an attorney?
The attorneys at OEB Law, PLLC, handle cases on a contingency basis. This means that rather than collecting a retainer fee or billing you by the hour, we will agree to take a percentage of any payout after the case concludes. In other words, we do not take a penny from you unless we win the case.
This system is mutually beneficial to clients and attorneys. It means you do not risk losing any of your own money on legal fees and it provides an incentive for a law firm to work its absolute hardest to successfully handle your case.
To show how serious we are about this, we offer free, no-obligation consultations to our prospective clients. Call 865-546-1111 and let us put our years of experience to work fighting for you.
