What sort of person uses a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Personal injury lawyers have a bit of a bad reputation.  With some of the ads you see, especially on American television, you can see how they earned it.

I often meet people who seem ashamed that they have come to see me. These are people who have never been seriously injured before and who were active, capable, and worked hard to be successful. They used to believe that old saying that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. They don't want to be injured, they feel defeated, and they don't want to rely on anyone else.  

I get it.

The insurance companies get it too.  They know that if they put up a few roadblocks, they can get a lot of people to drop or lose their claims. You're hurt, frustrated, or maybe you've lost a loved one. They might deny your claim, become difficult to contact, not fully explain the benefits that are available to you, or quietly let a limitation period run out so you are barred from getting a recovery.  If they send you to get treatment, you might be led to believe that you only get 21 treatments, or that you haven't been "approved" for other coverage.  They might lead you to believe that they have your best interests in mind when they send you to a particular doctor or physiotherapist. They're smart. They've done the math. They know they will save even more money by doing this than they spend on their lawyers when they're sued for bad faith.

People with resolve and determination will use a lawyer to help them.  They'll do some research, talk to some lawyers, find one they respect.

Being strong after you've been injured doesn't just mean pressing on through the pain in silence and learning to make do with what you have.  It also means ensuring no one takes advantage of you.