After an unexpected injury, you’re faced with physical pain, mounting medical bills, and a lot of uncertainty. One of the biggest questions that may come to mind is, “When should you hire a personal injury lawyer?” The simplest answer is that it is often wise to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident, especially if your injuries are significant, the fault is disputed, or an insurance company is involved.
Seeking legal guidance is often a critical step in protecting your rights and securing the resources you need to recover.
Deciding to contact an attorney can feel like a big step, but certain situations almost always call for professional legal assistance. If you recognize your own experience in any of the scenarios below, it may be the right time to schedule a free consultation.
Not all injuries are the same. A minor bruise that heals in a week is very different from an injury that requires surgery, ongoing physical therapy, or results in a permanent disability. If your injury is severe, you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer.
Serious injuries often lead to complex medical and financial needs. These can include:
An experienced attorney can help calculate the full and fair value of your claim, ensuring that these long-term needs are not overlooked.
Insurance companies are businesses, and their goal is often to pay out as little as possible on claims. An adjuster may seem friendly, but their job is to protect the company’s bottom line. If you encounter resistance, it’s a clear sign you need an advocate on your side.
Common tactics used by insurance companies include:
Having a lawyer handle all communications with the insurance company levels the playing field and signals that you will not accept an unfair outcome.
Sometimes, it’s not immediately clear who caused an accident. The other party might deny responsibility or even try to blame you. In Oklahoma, the concept of comparative negligence is used to determine fault. This legal rule means that your ability to recover compensation can be reduced by the percentage you are found to be at fault. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover anything.
An attorney can conduct a thorough investigation to establish liability—the legal term for fault. This process involves gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, and sometimes hiring accident reconstruction professionals to prove what really happened.
Accidents are not always simple, one-on-one incidents. A multi-car pileup on I-44 or an accident at a construction site near the Blue Dome District can involve several individuals, companies, and insurance policies.
Determining who is responsible in these situations is a complicated task. It could involve:
A personal injury lawyer has the experience to identify all potentially liable parties and navigate the complex web of claims to protect your interests.
Many people are unsure what happens after they hire a personal injury lawyer. A dedicated legal team takes on the burdens of the claims process so you can focus on your health and well-being. From start to finish, they manage every detail of your case.
The foundation of any successful personal injury claim is strong evidence. While you are recovering, your legal team gets to work immediately.
This investigation typically includes:
This diligent, upfront work is designed to establish a clear picture of how the other party’s negligence caused your injuries.
One of the most critical roles an attorney plays is determining what your case is truly worth. It’s far more than just adding up current medical bills. A comprehensive valuation includes both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the tangible financial losses you have incurred, such as:
Non-economic damages are less tangible but just as real. They compensate you for the human cost of the injury, including:
An attorney ensures that both types of damages are carefully documented and pursued to reflect the complete impact the injury has had on your life.
Dealing with phone calls, paperwork, and aggressive adjusters is a heavy burden when you’re trying to heal. Once you hire a lawyer, you no longer have to. Your attorney becomes your official representative and handles all communications with insurance companies, other lawyers, and any other involved parties.
They will manage settlement negotiations, rejecting low offers and fighting for a resolution that fully and fairly compensates you for your losses. This allows you the peace of mind to focus on what matters most—your recovery.
While most personal injury cases are settled out of court, the best way to secure a fair settlement is to prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This shows the insurance company that you are serious and ready to fight for what you deserve. A litigation team with a strong record in the courtroom is often able to achieve better settlements because the opposing side knows they are willing and able to take the case before a judge and jury if necessary.
A major worry for many injured individuals is the cost of legal representation. This is a valid concern, but most personal injury law firms have a fee structure that makes justice accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means:
This arrangement removes the financial risk from your shoulders and allows you to access high-quality legal representation when you need it most.
Reputable personal injury firms also offer free, no-obligation consultations. This is your opportunity to discuss your case, ask questions, and understand your legal options without any financial commitment. It’s a chance to see if the firm is the right fit for you and to get a clear understanding of the path forward.
While it’s important to take the time you need to get medical care, it’s also crucial not to wait too long to explore your legal options. Every state has a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit, known as a statute of limitations.
In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years from the date of the injury. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this two-year window, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation forever, no matter how strong your case is.
There are other practical reasons not to delay, including:
Contacting a lawyer soon after your injury ensures that these deadlines are met and that the investigation can begin while the evidence is still fresh.
Here are answers to some common questions people have when considering whether to hire an attorney.
For your initial consultation, it’s helpful to bring any documents you have related to the incident. This could include a copy of the police report, photos or videos of the scene and your injuries, contact information for any witnesses, and any medical records or bills you have received so far. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything; the most important thing is your own memory of what happened.
It can be risky not to hire a lawyer for your claim. Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators, and you may unknowingly accept a settlement that is far less than you deserve or sign away your rights to future compensation. A free consultation can help you understand the true value of your claim and the potential pitfalls of handling it alone.
If you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you might still have options for recovery. You may be able to file a claim through your own insurance policy’s Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. A lawyer can review your policy and help you pursue a claim through this channel.
If you have been seriously injured because of someone else’s actions, you have the right to seek justice and fair compensation. You don’t have to face the legal process or difficult insurance companies by yourself. The dedicated attorneys at Graves McLain Injury Lawyers are committed to helping injured Oklahomans.
We offer free consultations to listen to your story and explain your options. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you will never pay us anything upfront. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. Contact Graves McLain Injury Lawyers today to learn how we can help.
When injury victims need a law firm with a reputation for excellence, turn to Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. We are a top-rated personal injury firm determined to be the best. With decades of award-winning representation, our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.
