In a case of personal injury in Rapid City SD, it can be difficult to know when to call a lawyer. Most people reason that they can handle some things on their own, especially if the injury seems to be a particularly minor one. Unfortunately, this line of thought can be a major mistake. Even minor injuries can have a way of turning into major ones when it comes to personal injury. For example, a person may think they are not injured at all, or maybe only slightly bruised, after a car accident. A day or two later they might wake up with a whiplash injury so severe that they can hardly move.
In any case where there is a personal injury in Rapid City SD, even if the injury initially appears to be a minor one, calling a lawyer is always smart. At the very least, the attorney will usually recommend getting fully checked out by a medical doctor. Often, people can have injuries that may be nearly invisible, for example concussions. Any injury is something that is compensable under South Dakota state law, and in most cases it takes a skilled lawyer to secure that compensation.
If a person has already had to spend some time in the hospital following an accident, it is very important to seek legal counsel before proceeding with any type of claim. When an injury is serious enough to result in hospital time, it also tends to be very expensive to treat. This treatment may end up being something that is needed for months or even years, and the responsible party should always have to pay for the treatment. Some people who are injured hesitate to get the treatment that they so badly need because they lack the immediate funds to do so.
By working with a personal injury lawyer, it is often possible to get any necessary treatment without having to pay for the treatment costs up front. Once the lawyer has been hired, they are often able to make arrangements with medical providers that put off payment until a settlement is reached in the case. Most personal injury attorneys also work on a contingency basis, so the client doesn’t have to pay the lawyer until the case is settled in their favor.