While you are guaranteed legal counsel when you are the defendant in a criminal case, the same does not apply to civil cases. While an attorney will be assigned to you if you are in a criminal case, those who do not think they can afford a personal injury attorney will not be assigned one.
This can complicate matters, of course. Should this influence your decision to pursue a civil case? Should you represent yourself? This is what you need to know.
Contingency Basis Payments
First, you should consider that many personal injury attorneys will take your case on a contingency fee basis, which means they get paid only if you get paid. Even if you think you cannot afford an attorney, it pays to talk to a professional.
Are There Benefits to Self-Representation?
If you don't want to pay a contingency fee to an attorney, you might consider that a plus for self-representation. This is especially the case if you are facing a case where the damages you have incurred and may receive are very minimal compared to other cases. You may find that this is the only way you can recoup your costs.
Why Is Hiring an Attorney Advantageous?
You will find there are many advantages to working with an attorney. First, your attorney acts as a point of contact for others trying to reach you. They will manage the communication so you do not have to deal with your case when you are not in the right frame of mind.
Next, your attorney will help you settle. They will stand up for you and also ensure that you are receiving the most fair settlement possible. If you are facing off against an insurance company or their attorneys, you might find yourself in need of a very fast legal course to understand exactly what is happening.
Keep in mind that trying to represent yourself also means you may have to put more money into your case upfront. Not only are you taking time off work to work on the case, but you may also need to pay additional filing and court costs an attorney might otherwise pay.
Talk to an Attorney to Discuss Your Options
You should talk to a personal injury attorney before you make a decision about what you want to do. You might be surprised at all the benefits a personal injury attorney can offer you when it is time to take your case to court.
