When to Contact a Lawyer about Your Personal Injury Compensation
Generally speaking, it is best to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able after an accident or injury. This is true whether you were injured in a slip and fall accident on any private or public property, or during a single or multi-vehicle crash in Ontario. The earlier you consult a lawyer, the sooner you can learn about your options for recovering personal injury compensation.
Despite this, it is not unheard of for an injury victim to delay contacting or hiring a personal injury lawyer. This may be due to a belief that the insurance companies will “take care of the problem” or because of the overwhelming nature of the event.
Whatever your circumstances, there are cases that call for promptly reaching out to a lawyer to discuss personal injury compensation. Below are examples of when it’s time to contact a lawyer.
Contact a lawyer when your application for Accident Benefits is denied
The standard/mandatory Ontario auto insurance policy provides statutory Accident Benefits in the event of an accident. These are available regardless of fault and include benefits such as medical and rehabilitation, income replacement benefits, attendant care and more.
Unfortunately, an insurance provider may deny an accident claim based on non-compliance or the findings of an insurer examination. A lawyer can examine your claim to determine any shortcomings and help you to appeal the denial to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario.
Contact a lawyer when your injuries result in substantial medical costs
A lawyer should be contacted in any accident case where a victim’s injuries are substantial. This is especially urgent in cases where injuries exceed available coverage through Ontario Health Insurance or other insurance resources. Any time you are out of pocket any amount, a lawyer can help you get repaid for these amounts.
A lawyer can help pursue sufficient personal injury compensation to cover pain and suffering, lost income both past and future, healthcare costs to be incurred in the future and various other amount: This is especially true for serious injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Torn ligaments
- Amputation
- Scarring
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Whiplash
- And more
Part of a lawyer’s role includes ensuring your injuries are properly categorized; this impacts your available compensation. For instance, a car accident injury categorized as catastrophic may net up to $1 million in medical benefits, whereas a “minor” injury may earn as little as $3,500 in medical benefits.
Contact a lawyer when a settlement offer seems too low
A personal injury lawyer has the experience and training to evaluate the value of your injuries and other losses. This enables a lawyer to assess settlement offers and identify an unfair or insufficient offer. As such, it is wise to ask a lawyer to examine all settlement offers before signing such documents. Failure to do so may jeopardize your right to full financial recovery.
Contact a lawyer when you aren’t sure what compensation is available
A lawyer can examine the facts of your case to determine all available personal injury compensation. This may include often-overlooked damages, such as loss of personal property or housekeeping and other out-of-pocket costs. This also involves identifying all potential defendants in an injury claim or lawsuit.
Visit our personal injury blog to learn more about when to contact a lawyer and what you should expect when hiring a law firm. Call the Preszler Injury Lawyers at 1-800-JUSTICE® if you are ready for a free case evaluation.
