Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer to Make a Claim?

The aftermath of a personal injury can be extremely difficult to navigate. In some cases, the severity of your injury could mean that you have been forced to change your life plans and adapt to a new quality of life. With the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can make a claim that can fund these changes and your new needs, helping you to get back on track.

We appreciate that the prospect of making a personal injury claim after sustaining an injury can be intimidating and present extra stress during a time of hardship. The personal injury claims process is unfamiliar to most people and notorious for having a reputational impact on the parties involved. 

In this blog, we aim to provide valuable insight into how working with a specialist personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference if you are considering a compensation claim.

Please note that this blog is for information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.

What does a personal injury lawyer do?

In essence, a personal injury lawyer can be by your side to invoke the correct legal procedures and represent you at any stage of the personal injury claims process.

The benefits of a personal injury lawyer include their ability to:

Assess the feasibility of your claim and advise on the process

Your professional injury lawyer will be transparent with you from the start of your contact with them as to whether you have a viable claim and the potential setbacks and opportunities you may face.

The legal process can be in its own way demanding, and with their experience, your solicitor can guide and advise you at each stage and help you to decide, with confidence, if committing to this route is what’s right for you.

They can also review funding opportunities and alternatives to court and help you join a community of people with similar experiences who may have been in your shoes.

Liaise between you and other parties

We understand if you are apprehensive about notifying others about your injury. Your personal injury lawyer can contact your employer and inform them of your injury, report to the defendant that you intend to pursue a claim, notify their insurer, speak on your behalf to the courts, and notify any other parties involved.

Collect evidence and build a case

Part of the personal injury claims process involves turning your story and experiences into a legally sound case that can be fiercely defended.

A personal injury lawyer knows exactly what makes a strong case and will spare no expense in collecting medical records and witness statements and, where necessary, contacting trusted third-party experts in the field who can provide medical assessments in light of your injuries.

Pursue an out of court solution

Wherever possible, particularly in highly sensitive cases like personal injury lawsuits, your solicitor will try and reach a settlement with the defendant outside of court. Typically, this is less expensive and takes less time.

A personal injury solicitor will be trained in effective methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and negotiation, and will strive to settle things on favourable terms insofar as is made possible by the defendant and their own legal representation.

Represent you in Court

If the defendant in a personal injury case does not admit liability, or agree to settlement terms, it may become necessary to take the case to Court. Should this happen, you will be represented by an expert advocate who knows exactly how to present in the litigation environment and navigate the technicalities of legal proceedings.

At no stage of working with a personal injury lawyer will you be left to face the claims process alone. Lyons particularly specialises in taking on risky cases that have been rejected by other firms, so rest assured that there is no complexity to your condition or needs that we are not prepared to represent with fierce determination.

Can I represent myself in a personal injury claim?

You are not prohibited from self-representing a personal injury claim. This is known as being a ‘litigant in person’. It is important to point out that this can be a disadvantaged position with a track record of struggle and confusion.

Amidst already complex legal procedures and formalities, it is much more likely for a claim to be unsuccessful, compared to if it is prepared and presented by a specialist personal injury lawyer.

With Lyons Solicitors, you have the power to determine the degree to which your solicitor is involved in the personal injury claim process. Our service is tailored to empower you at each stage and ensure that you are included at every step.

Do I need a personal injury lawyer?

There are various steps involved in making a claim for personal injury that renders the process notoriously complicated.

For starters, your lawyer can advise you from the outset whether your case is likely to be successful and exactly what will be needed to give it the best possible chance. This eliminates most of the uncertainty from the process.

They will be entirely committed to addressing your needs and securing the most appropriate form of compensation.

If you are making a claim against a business, such as your place of employment or a roadside company, then they will certainly have implemented legal teams. Without a personal injury lawyer, you are at risk of being intimidated or offered complicated solutions that may obscure other potential opportunities of higher value.

Furthermore, for many people who have suffered an injury, having the support of a lawyer on their side is a reassurance. At Lyons Solicitors, we are a friendly team of sympathetic and professional people who will take care to be a part of your journey and account for your health circumstances and limitations.

Speak to our personal injury solicitors in Bristol

To book a free initial consultation with our specialist personal injury solicitors in Chew Magna, Kingswood or Westbury-on-Trym and the wider Bristol area, please get in touch today.

You can use the contact details for each office or, alternatively, fill in the enquiry form on the right-hand side of the page to request a call back.