When injured in any type of accident, many different scenarios become possible. How you proceed and handle your case will determine and affect the result and whether you receive the compensation that you rightfully deserve.

Immediately following an accident, you may be faced with injuries that require medical treatment and cause you to miss work. What is your next move? Who is the person with whom you will first consult? Is it your insurance company or perhaps the insurance company of the driver allegedly at fault for the accident? Accident victims must act cautiously since insurance companies do not have a reputation for protecting and asserting the rights of those who make claims. However, an experienced personal injury attorney will protect and assert your rights. Here are five reasons why you should talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer after involvement in any type of accident:

#1: The consultation is free.

Almost every reputable personal injury lawyer offers an initial, free consultation to all prospective clients. The opportunity to meet with an attorney and discuss a potential case at no cost is a tremendous bargain, especially since this meeting carries no obligation to hire the attorney. Simply put, there is no risk in consulting with an attorney regarding a potential personal injury claim. There is nothing to lose so why not take advantage of free advice from an experienced, knowledgeable professional?

#2: A personal injury attorney will evaluate the strength of your case.

Meeting with a seasoned personal injury lawyer will help you determine the strength of your claim. An experienced personal injury attorney has the expertise to analyze every aspect of your case to determine the likelihood of recovery and any resulting damage award.

When meeting with a qualified legal representative, you will have an opportunity to recall and tell the facts of the accident and your injury to an experienced professional who has the ability to apply the law to these facts and make an informed analysis. The result is that you will receive an honest assessment about whether your case is valid and worth pursuing.

#3: A personal injury attorney will identify all potential sources of recovery.

A defendant’s attorney and insurer will do their best to represent that only a limited amount of money is available to pay the plaintiff’s damages. This is not necessarily true as the defendant may have other insurance coverage through multiple policies, providing additional sources for a plaintiff’s losses. Other sources of recovery may also exist that may have not yet been considered. An experienced personal injury attorney may help determine whether other sources of compensation exist to ensure that your recovery is complete.

#4: A personal injury attorney will identify all important components of a claim.

How much is your claim worth? What are the components of your claim? What damages are economic? What damages are non-economic? These are important questions that must be answered before going forward and settling or litigating a claim. Economic damages consist of past and future medical expenses as well as past and future lost wages. Non-economic damages consist of pain, suffering, disability, and loss of quality of life. These are all important components of a claim. A personal injury claim must be complete and include each of these important components. Otherwise, you will not be justly and completely compensated for your losses.

#5 A personal injury attorney will answer all your questions.

After suffering injuries in any type of accident, you will have an extended and lengthy list of questions about your case. A free, consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney will grant you the opportunity to have them answered. You will gain additional knowledge moving forward with your matter regardless of whether you hire the attorney.