                      WHEN DO YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY?
                                     By Gary Bryce Holder
     No, you do not always need to hire an attorney. In cases where you only have property damage to your auto or other property and no personal injuries, then a lawyer may not be necessary for you to recover a fair value for your damaged property.
     However, if you have incurred personal injury, then it is probably best to hire an attorney. In these cases, an experienced attorney can analyze your damages, collect the evidence necessary to prove your damages, determine whether there are circumstances that warrant additional damages and contribute his experience in negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance company. Additionally, when you hire an attorney, the threat of a lawsuit becomes more real to an insurance company. Thus, the insurance company may be more willing to make a fair settlement offer prior to spending the money to hire their own attorney. Finally, in the event that a fair offer cannot be obtained from the insurance company, then your attorney is in position to file and pursue a lawsuit.
     Remember that most injury attorneys will work on a contingency fee basis. This typically means that you will not need to pay the attorney anything up front and if you do not recover, then there is no fee. HOME