When you've been in an accident and you decide that you would like to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused you harm, you may think that you can handle everything yourself. You may think that you can represent yourself in court. After all, how hard can it truly be? Well, it can actually be pretty hard. With a lawyer on your side, though, your chances of winning are much higher. Here are three things your lawyer can do for you that you most likely couldn't even if you tried:

1. Know What Needs to Be Proven in Court

You may know that you need to prove that you've been hurt, but to what extent? In a personal injury case, there is more to it than just that. Ultimately, you need to be able to prove that the other party caused your injury, either through negligence or carelessness. In some cases, you may even need to locate and call an expert witness. All of this can very quickly get confusing when you aren't familiar with law terminology.

2. Properly and Fairly Negotiate a Favorable Settlement

Sometimes, you may not ever have to go to trial. However, this requires expertise in settlement negotiations – something that you wouldn't have on your own. An out-of-court settlement can not only save you time and money, but uncertainty as well. To determine whether a settlement before trial is the way to go, you'll want to consider several factors, including potential weaknesses in evidence (yours and theirs), settlements and verdicts from similar prior cases and your overall chances of securing a win at trial. An experienced attorney has the capabilities and resources to uncover the answers to these questions quickly and effectively, but it could easy turn into a huge headache for you.

3. Successfully Prevent the Case from Being Moved to a Different Court

When large corporations are involved, such as a big trucking company, things can get very problematic in a personal injury case. These companies and their defense attorneys may think that the case needs to move to federal court from state court, which can be done if there is adequate jurisdiction. Federal court is often considered to be friendlier to defendants and less likely to award significant financial damages to the plaintiff. An expert accident lawyer will be able to take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening. However, if the removal to a different court will benefit you, he or she will be well aware and can inform you of this.

As you can see, it is better to have a lawyer on your side. Things can get messy and technical, which is the last thing you want to deal with. A lawyer can help you with cost, especially since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis only. This means that you don't pay them unless you receive a monetary award from your claim. If you have any concerns about bring a lawsuit against a defendant after a motorcycle accident or other form of personal injury, contact a lawyer like Teresa P Williams PA today to find out your options.