The Hesitation is Normal, But Is It Costing You?
One of the most common questions we hear at Shiraz Law Firm isn't actually a legal question, it's a practical one: "Do I really need a lawyer for this?"
It is a fair question. We live in a DIY culture. You can fix your own sink, do your own taxes, and perhaps even draft a simple will online. When an accident happens, whether it's a car crash, a slip and fall, or a workplace injury, your first instinct might be to handle it yourself. Maybe the insurance adjuster seems nice. Maybe the damage looks minor. Maybe you are worried that hiring a lawyer will "complicate" things or cost too much money.
Here is the hard truth: The legal system and the insurance industry are designed to be complex. They are designed to wear you down. While you might be able to handle a fender bender with no injuries on your own, high-stakes situations require a professional. Attempting to navigate complex liability laws or serious medical claims without an attorney is often like trying to perform surgery on yourself, messy, dangerous, and likely to leave a scar.
So, how do you know where the line is? Below are the seven critical signs that you need to stop talking to the insurance company and start talking to an attorney.
1. You Have suffered Serious or Long-Term Injuries
This is the single most important factor. If your injury is minor, a bruise or a scrape that heals in a few days, you probably don't need us. But if your injuries are significant, the calculations change immediately.
Insurance companies use software to calculate the "value" of an injury, and they almost always undervalue long-term suffering. If you have broken bones, required surgery, suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or have any injury that will require future medical treatment, you need a lawyer. Why? Because you only get one settlement. You cannot go back for more money in five years if your back pain returns or you need a second surgery. An experienced attorney knows how to calculate future medical costs and future lost wages, ensuring your settlement covers you for life, not just for today.
2. Liability Is Disputed (They Are Blaming You)
In a perfect world, the person who caused the accident would apologize and their insurance would pay. In the real world, the at-fault driver often lies. They might say you ran the red light, or that you were speeding. In slip and fall cases, the property owner will almost always argue that you should have "watched where you were going."
If the other party is disputing liability, or if the insurance company is suggesting you are partially at fault, you are in a fight you probably cannot win alone. In Michigan, our comparative negligence laws can reduce your payout if you are found partially responsible. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you might get nothing for pain and suffering. We know how to gather evidence, witness statements, camera footage, black box data, to prove you were in the right.
3. The Insurance Company Is "Lowballing" or Delaying
Insurance adjusters are not your friends. They are employees of a corporation whose goal is to maximize profit by minimizing payouts. Their tactics are well-rehearsed:
- The Quick Offer: They might offer you a check immediately after the accident, before you even know the full extent of your injuries. This is a trap to get you to sign away your rights cheaply.
- The Ghosting: They stop returning your calls, hoping you will get desperate and accept whatever scraps they eventually offer.
- The Denial: They claim your treatment wasn't "medically necessary" or that your injury was "pre-existing."
If you feel like you are being played, you probably are. A lawyer changes the dynamic. When we step in, the insurance company knows they can no longer use delay tactics or lowball offers without risking a lawsuit.
4. Multiple Parties Are Involved
Did a commercial truck hit you? Did you get hurt on a construction site? Was it a multi-car pileup? Whenever there are multiple parties involved, the legal landscape becomes a minefield. Commercial trucks involve the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, and the maintenance team. Construction accidents involve subcontractors, general contractors, and equipment manufacturers.
When multiple defendants are involved, they will all point fingers at each other. Without a lawyer to subpoena contracts and insurance policies, you will be caught in the middle of their finger-pointing while your bills pile up. We cut through the confusion to identify every single pocket of insurance money available to you.
5. You Are dealing with Government Entities
Suing a private citizen is one thing; suing the government is entirely different. If you were hit by a city bus, tripped on a broken city sidewalk, or injured by a postal vehicle, strict rules apply.
In many cases, the statute of limitations (the time limit to file a claim) is significantly shorter for government claims, sometimes as short as 60 or 120 days. They also have "sovereign immunity" protections that require very specific legal procedures to overcome. Missing a deadline by one day or failing to file the correct notice form can get your case thrown out instantly. Never attempt a claim against a government entity without legal counsel.
6. You Feel Overwhelmed by the Process
This is a valid reason in itself. After a serious accident, you should be focused on healing, going to physical therapy, and putting your life back together. You should not be spending hours on hold with insurance agents, collecting medical records, figuring out subrogation liens, and reading complex legal statutes.
Stress impacts your recovery. If the paperwork and the phone calls are keeping you up at night, hiring an attorney is an investment in your peace of mind. We handle the paperwork, the phone calls, and the arguments so you can handle getting better.
7. It Costs You Nothing Up Front
Finally, the biggest misconception about hiring a personal injury lawyer is that it is expensive. At Shiraz Law Firm, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means:
- You pay $0 in retainer fees.
- You pay $0 in hourly billing.
- You pay $0 unless we win your case.
If we don't recover money for you, you don't owe us a dime for our time. This levels the playing field. It gives you access to top-tier legal representation regardless of your financial situation. If you are worried about the cost, don't be. The cost of not hiring a lawyer, settling for pennies on the dollar, is far higher.
The Bottom Line
Not every bumped fender needs a lawsuit. But if you are hurt, if you are losing money, and if the insurance company is giving you the runaround, you need an advocate. The law is a powerful tool, but only if you know how to use it.
At Shiraz Law Firm, we offer free consultations. That means you can call us, tell us your story, and we will honestly tell you if you need a lawyer or if you can handle it yourself. You have nothing to lose by asking, and everything to gain by being protected. Don't guess about your future, call us today.
