Wondering if you need a personal injury lawyer? If you were hurt and it was someone else’s fault — or a company’s fault — you could be due monetary compensation.
Unfortunately, you can’t rely on insurance companies to be fair with you. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not giving it to you. They make a profit by low-balling you. Be careful when you give them a statement, because part of their motivation is to keep you from filing a lawsuit later. It’s like the cops say when they read your Miranda rights: “Everything you say can and will be used against you.” (Don’t sign anything either — you may be signing away your rights.) 
Insurance company adjusters are trained to frustrate you. They want you to feel like your claim is hopeless so that you will take less money from them. They will initially treat you like gold, but then they will not return your calls, tell you they will not cover your bills, or try to imply you have done something wrong. This frustration is a strategic move on their part to see if you will simply go away.
That’s where a personal injury lawyer comes in. We know how to obtain top dollar from the insurance companies because we deal with them every single day. Whether you were in a car wreck that wasn’t your fault or you were just hurt by someone else, we know the law and how to make insurance companies pay. We will help you obtain the most possible money for your claim settlement or we take your case to court.
Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Real talk: A tiny claim with low to no injuries isn’t worth hiring a personal injury attorney. You don’t want to waste your time or money. But, here are examples of when you should hire a Missoula personal injury lawyer:
- You or someone else in your car is seriously injured (whiplash, back pain, burns, brain or spinal injuries, broken bones, severe animal bite, etc.)
- A death resulted from the negligence of another
- The insurance company is frustrating you or not being fair
- The other driver didn’t have insurance (or enough insurance)
- A physician made a mistake (medical malpractice)
- Nursing home staff neglected or abused you or a loved one
- You were hurt at work and the workers’ compensation doesn’t seem fair
- You slipped and fell on someone else’s property and you’ll miss work or need expensive medical care
Although minor injuries usually aren’t worth hiring an attorney for, you should still have your doctor examine you after an accident. You may have sustained damage that will only get worse (and more costly) over time. Get any injuries assessed, whether you decide to work with a personal injury attorney or not. If you aren’t sure, you can always get a free consultation with us at the Judnich Law Office about your case. We’d be happy to talk you through your options.
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Personal injury lawyers specialize in what’s called “tort law.” Tort law involves negligence, carelessness, and accidents. If someone intentionally hurts you, that’s typically covered under criminal law, not tort law. You don’t have to be physically hurt, either — a personal injury lawyer will defend you if someone infringed on your rights or damaged your reputation.
We personal injury lawy
ers give you advice about your case, thoroughly investigate it, research case law, file complaints, negotiate a settlement, and/or argue your case in court. We work with expert witnesses, obtain medical records, examine police reports, and prepare you for the deposition. Our goal is to get you justice. Our experience with claims helps us achieve top dollar settlements with the insurance companies.
Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, which means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Personal injury attorneys usually charge 33% to 40% of your total award. So you don’t pay an hourly rate up front for an attorney — we both work hard to get the most possible money for your claim. We’re often able to get you a much higher award than you could by yourself.
What’s the Time Frame for Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as you’re hurt. That way we can start investigating right away and prevent you from saying anything to your insurance company that they could use against you. There is something called a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, so if you wait too long, it could hurt your chances at getting fairly compensated.
Personal injury cases aren’t settled overnight. Typically it takes several months or more for a settlement, and longer if we decide to go to trial. Don’t let your insurance company discourage you from talking to a personal injury lawyer by saying the process will be long and drawn out. You deserve the medical care you need to get better and be fully and fairly compensated for all of your losses.
Talk To a Missoula Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one were hurt, first know that we’re sorry. You shouldn’t have to suffer because someone else was careless. Call or email us for a free, no-obligation consultation with our Missoula personal injury attorney. We’ll explain if you have grounds for a personal injury case and what your choices are. You will get through this.
Call now: 406-721-3354 or toll-free: 855-853-1482
Marty is a former criminal prosecutor in the Cascade County Attorney’s Office and now uses that experience to defend those accused of crimes. A University of Montana School of Law graduate, Marty focuses his practice on personal injury and criminal defense and is a premier DUI defense attorney. He is also well versed in the insurance claims industry and has negotiated significant settlements with nearly every major insurance company.