Insurance Industry Study Indicates People Do Better When Represented by a Lawyer

Many people are afraid to hire a lawyer because they figure they will get less compensation since the attorney typically takes 1/3 the recover as a fee.  In some case, that might be true and a good lawyer should tell you if you are better off without a lawyer. 

However, in 1999, the Insurance Research Council (a nonprofit organization supported by leading insurance companies across the United States), conducted a study and found that insurance companies generally pay higher settlements to people who use an attorney versus those to try to handle matters on their own.  Generally, they noted that people who use the lawyer received on average 3 1/2 times more money and settlement than people who settled on their own without a lawyer.   That certainly does not mean there is a guarantee of recovery.  It only means that in some cases, you are indeed better off hiring a lawyer who can zealously represent you and get the most compensation they can. 

I always use the analogy of river rafting.  If you go river rafting, you always have a professional river guide in your boat because they’ve been down the river and they know how to get you down the river safely.  It would be silly (or dangerous) to go down the river without a guide.  Having a guide doesn’t guarantee your safety, but it sure improves your odds of arriving safely.  A good personal injury attorney has been “down the river” and can guide you effectively.