Does Hiring a Lawyer Mean I Want Revenge?

Sometimes people come to us after sustaining an injury knowing they’re entitled to appropriate compensation for their damages; however, they are hesitant to hire a lawyer and make a claim against another individual, who may not be much different than themselves. They often ask, “Does hiring a lawyer mean I want revenge?” For most people, we don’t feel this is the case, but we understand the concern. Below is information about how insurance companies, not people, pay money for most personal injury claims, which is exactly how our system is designed to work.

Seeking Compensation Is Not the Same as Seeking Revenge

We know that for many people, making a personal injury claim can be a confusing and daunting prospect. Movies, TV shows, news programs, and other pop culture reference points often make the legal profession and the justice system seem highly adversarial, with parties driven by revenge, greed, and anger. Most people have heard the term “ambulance chaser” in reference to personal injury attorneys who advertise their services, as well as the argument that personal injury claims drive up insurance rates.

These attitudes and perceptions quickly change once you’re seriously injured due to another person’s negligence or mistake—and rightly so. The simple truth is that if you suffer a loss or damages because of somebody else’s actions, you are morally and legally entitled to compensation. You should not feel guilty about it.

Imagine that a neighbor accidently threw a baseball through your window and broke it. Most people would expect the neighbor to pay for the window to be repaired. In most cases, the same principle applies to making a personal injury claim—a successful claim ensures your financial losses and suffering are recognized and properly compensated. (Please note that in the above example, you don’t have to hate your neighbor or have a different impression of them. And the same goes for their attitude toward you.)

Insurance Companies Cover the Cost of Personal Injury Claims

For many people, the idea of taking legal action against another person raises a few moral questions. For instance, “The person who caused my injury didn’t mean to do it. Does making a personal injury claim mean I’m punishing them for something that was just an accident?” Another issue is when the party responsible for your injury is someone with whom you have a relationship, such as an employer or family member.

While questions and factors such as these may arise, they should not prevent you from making a personal injury claim, especially if you have suffered a serious injury. There is nothing wrong with asking a person to take responsibility for an accident when it was their fault, and there is no reason why you should be forced to bear the costs of an accident that you didn't cause.

Also, in most cases the person or entity responsible for your injury will be insured, and the insurance company will take over your claim and cover the cost of settling it. Insurance companies are expected to step-up when bad things happen. This is the way the system is designed, a very good system that spreads the cost of injury claims over the community through premiums that everyone pays.

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