When a company’s lack of or improper action is the reason behind your injury, it may feel like an instinct for you to take justice into your own hands. While fighting for yourself is commendable, you won’t get the best results this way. Taking a company to court without a personal injury attorney is much more complicated than it looks.
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6 Reasons to Never Take a Company to Court Without a Personal Injury Attorney
1. Missing Deadlines
Even the case with the strongest evidence won’t go anywhere if it doesn’t follow the timeline of the court. Each personal injury case must be filed within its state’s statute of limitations, which can range anywhere from one year to several. For instance, lawyers in Texas must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years to comply with state law, via section 16.003 of its Civil Practice & Remedies Code.
Once a case is filed, the court will have deadlines of its own to keep the case moving forward, like filing responses and motions. Working with Houston personal injury attorneys will ensure that these deadlines are followed, while going to court without one will likely result in errors that delay the case.
2. Unfair Disadvantage of Time and Resources
Second, the company’s counsel will have tools that you don’t have simply because you’re not an experienced lawyer. Years of solving similar cases in the past will make problem-solving go by much more quickly for the company’s counsel, leaving time to craft a stronger case and prepare for surprises in the courtroom. A higher budget will also allow the company to hire more people and gain more resources as necessary.
3. Inexperience With Courtroom Arguments
Public speaking is a fear that affects most of the population, even in a low-pressure situation. So, public speaking courses can help out in this situation.
In a high-stakes setting, standing in front of an audience is even more daunting. Presenting a case in front of a judge, opposing counsel, spectators, and jurors is enough to cause panic even for the most well-prepared speakers. A lawyer will have the ability to stay calm in a tense environment and confidently deliver a compelling argument.
4. Minimal Knowledge of the Law
Additionally, a lawyer will know how to present an argument in a way that’s accepted in a legal setting. Certain facts and information are forbidden from entering the evidence, and a jury must disregard them. Opposing counsel will object to anything you say that makes them look bad in an effort to remove it from evidence. The company’s lawyers will also cross-examine you to discredit your testimony as much as possible.
A lawyer will know how to handle the tactics and arguments of opposing counsel to enter the crucial elements of the case into evidence, from asking questions in a certain way to preparing counterarguments ahead of time. A personal injury lawyer will also prepare you on how to respond to examinations authentically while delivering information in a way that minimizes objections from opposing counsel.
5. Lack of Perspective
Most personal injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom, even when a case is brought to trial. Unless a company feels certain that the case will work out in its favor within the courtroom, its lawyers will present you with a settlement offer with the goal of paying as little as possible. Making the decision to accept the offer, negotiate, or proceed with the trial will be the most important one yet.
And it’s a difficult one for you to make without a background in negotiation or experience with similar cases. Lawyers, meanwhile, know a good offer when they see one. A lawyer will be able to distinguish the difference between a fair offer and a last-ditch effort to save face.
6. No Network of Trustworthy Experts
Settling a case out of court involves an agreement between the two sides. Once a case goes to trial, though, the third party (either a judge or a jury) will determine the outcome of the case, whether you like it or not. Judges and juries like to hear from nonpartial expert witnesses to explain the facts before they make their decision. Most people do not have the contacts for the proper experts, while lawyers have an extensive network of knowledgeable references.
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