Unfortunately, accidents happen. For most of us, most of the time, these accidents are fairly harmless, and we can move on with our lives.

At other times, accidents are much more severe. They can cause serious injuries that lead to enormous medical bills or even the need for ongoing medical care. That’s when a lawyer may need to get involved.

Check out the list below to see if you should hire a personal injury attorney after your accident.

1. The Injury is Serious

The more serious the injury, the larger your medical bills will be. Permanent or traumatic injuries include:

• Severe bodily harm
• The onset of permanent disabilities
• Amputation or loss of limb
• Broken bones
• Miscarriage
• Necessary ongoing or lifetime care
• An inability to continue working

A personal injury lawyer will help you get the compensation you need, not only to pay your medical bills, but to cover any other costs associated with your accident. These might include loss of income, home health aides, ongoing medical care, ongoing counseling, or prosthetic limbs.

2. You’re Approaching the Statute of Limitations

There are statutes of limitations, or deadlines on how long you can wait to sue the other party, if one was involved in your accident. In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of your injury. Hiring a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident helps guarantee your case will proceed quickly and within the time limit.

3. The Insurance Company is Being Difficult

Insurance companies want to pay as little as possible for your injury. They may purposely take a long time to process your claim in order to pass the statute of limitations, or try to prove that you’re not as injured as you claim to be.

Your attorney will provide the insurance company with evidence of your claims, push back against lengthy battles, and advocate for maximum payouts.

4. The Fault is Unclear

When something this catastrophic happens, no one wants to admit fault. A personal injury lawyer will protect you by proving that you weren’t to blame for the accident, thereby helping your claim with insurance and getting you the maximum payout.

5. The Claim Involves a Government Entity

If you’re injured on public transportation or other government property, that makes your case even more complicated. Governments have special protections and statutes of limitations against liabilities. The right personal injury attorney can navigate that red tape for you.

The attorneys at Lipsey & Clifford, Attorneys at Law, specialize in legal support for personal injury caused by auto or other accidents, product defects, or getting hurt on the job. Call us at 1-800-466-3130 for a free consultation. We’ll make sure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to.