So, you’ve been in an accident of some kind, an auto crash or perhaps you slipped and fell, and your injuries are severe. It’s fairly clear in this scenario that you will need the services of a personal injury attorney. The fact that you will be responsible for significant medical expense and perhaps loss of income pretty much mandates that you have skilled and experienced legal representation to recover compensation for your injury/injuries. But, what about those injuries that are not quite as severe? Do you really need to get legal representation? There are instances in which people choose to research and make their own claims. The question is Why Bother?  Because it will likely prove inefficient and ill-advised to forego the services of a personal injury attorney in those cases of non-severe or life threatening injuries. Here are a few reasons why. Cost: Many people choose to pass on acquiring legal representation due to worry about costs. However, in the vast majority of personal injury cases, the attorney receives no fee unless there is a recovery (that is, compensation) for the client. Experience: A personal injury attorney has the experience and knowledge to manage these cases in an effective and efficient manner. They are accustomed to working with insurance companies and obtaining and interpreting medical evidence. They are familiar with the protocols and processes, as well as having research resources at their disposal. All of this would take a non-lawyer significant time and expense, and still they may not recover the compensation they deserve. Delayed Post-Traumatic Injury: Sometimes, the damage done by an accident doesn’t manifest itself for a period of time after the event. Contacting a personal injury attorney at the time of the accident is a wise move in the event of a delayed problem resulting from the original trauma, be it physical pain, emotional distress or other manifestations. Obtaining An Out-Of-Court Settlement: An experienced personal injury attorney knows how and when to obtain and out-of-court settlement that is agreeable to both parties. In most cases, settling without a trial is a cost- and time-efficient means of obtaining compensation for the client. In addition, an experienced attorney will guide you in obtaining maximum recoverable compensation for your injury/injuries. Trial Representation: Should payment of compensation be denied to you, it may be necessary to take your case to court. In these instances, the services of an experienced personal injury attorney are invaluable to your chances for recovery and compensation for your injury/injuries. If you’ve been injured in an accident of any kind, consult a skilled Sullivan County accident attorney. Call Massengill, Caldwell & Coughlin, P.C. today at 423-797-6022 to schedule your free initial consultation, or contact us online