If you’ve been seriously injured, you know that it can be a stressful and complicated experience. There are medical appointments and the bills that come with them, possible time missed off work, pain, suffering and the possibility that returning to “normal” life is never an option again.

Personal injuries are common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are 92.2 million physician office visits for injuries a year and 41.6 million trips to emergency departments for injuries. When your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, another consideration must be addressed: whether or not you should file a lawsuit.

A personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation for the wrongful acts of others. A Phoenix personal injury attorney like the Millea Law Firm will offer a free consultation, so you can see if a case is worth pursuing. Here are five signs you should, at the very least, get a consultation because you may have a viable personal injury claim.

1. Your Injuries Are Serious

What exactly constitutes serious injuries? If you have experienced any of the following, your injury is serious:

• You had to receive emergency treatment
• You stayed at a hospital
• Your injury required more than one doctor’s visit to treat
• Your injury resulted in long-term disability, loss of a limb, etc.
• Your injury will require some kind of treatment for the rest of your life

These are all examples of serious injuries. When they could have been prevented if another party had not been negligent, it’s time to contact an attorney.

2. You Have Evidence

Evidence is a crucial component for successful serious personal injury cases. Some examples of types of evidence that can be beneficial in a personal injury case include:

• A negligent driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they caused a car accident
• A product was defective, whether it was an exploding phone that blew up in your face or an airbag that failed to deploy
• After the accident that caused a personal injury, you took photos or videos that show factors that can help prove negligence

Witness statements are also extremely helpful. After an accident that caused a personal injury, it’s important to file a police report, so all those details are recorded by law enforcement and can be used for your case.

3. Insurance Companies Are Being Difficult

You may receive a low-ball settlement offer from an insurance company, or you may not even receive any type of compensation at all. Insurance companies are in business for themselves, not for victims. If you suspect a claim you receive from an insurance company is low, an attorney can help.

It’s best to contact a personal injury lawyer before you even talk to the other party’s insurance company at all. Many times, insurance companies will grill victims with questions that trap them into misstating facts about the accident or even admitting fault when the victim is not the guilty party. You may even experience this type of treatment from your own insurance company. A personal injury lawyer can help negotiate a settlement and prevent you from accidentally incriminating yourself.

4. Expert Witnesses Are Necessary

Testimony from expert witnesses can help some personal injury cases. For example, some types of personal injuries occur due to medical malpractice, when a physician’s negligence causes serious injuries that may be life-threatening. In cases like these, a medical expert witness can provide expert testimony that helps explain why the physician was negligent.

When you’re facing someone who caused your injury, but you’re unable to fully understand or explain why, a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in cases like yours will be able to call on the right witness connections to help your case.

5. Multiple Parties Are Involved

When you’re dealing with more than one party in a personal injury case, like a car accident with multiple drivers, for example, everyone’s liability may be called into question by various parties. These types of cases may make liability unclear, and will mean that gathering witness statements, evidence and possibly expert witness testimony is necessary.

To protect yourself from being accused of being negligent by other parties, when you’re really not to blame, and to go after the appropriate negligent party, you can work with a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers have experience in cases with multiple parties and will work in your best interest.

Contingency Fees Protect Your Finances

Most personal injury lawyers, like Matt Millea, will work on a contingency basis. This means, the lawyer will only take on a personal injury case they believe can be won. They’re only paid if your case wins, as well.

You have nothing to lose by contacting a personal injury lawyer for a consultation. The statute of limitation limits the time frame in which you can file a claim, so it’s best to contact one sooner than later.

If you’re interested in connecting with a Phoenix personal injury lawyer who will fight for your best interests and will take your case to trial if necessary, please contact Matt Millea at (480) 462-5540.