It's not uncommon for a client to ask a personal injury lawyer what's going to be hard about pursuing a claim. You should prepare yourself for possible difficulties on these four fronts.

Paying Bills

Notably, medical bills tend to be one of the easier parts of this process. If you have medical insurance, there's a good chance your insurer will pick up the costs. One thing to be aware of, though, is an insurer may place a lien against any settlement or judgment you win. This is meant to recover what they paid.

If you don't have medical insurance, don't despair. You can still tell the service providers that you're pursuing an injury case. Ask them who handles billing for situations like yours, and they should point you to someone who can help. When you settle the case, they're going to use a lien to get what they're owed.

Everyday bills tend to be the toughest, especially if you don't have a partner or family members who can help. You may have to look to loans or disability insurance to cover some of the costs.

Questions About Damages

It can be tough to hear an insurance adjuster or defendant question why you're claiming certain damages. A personal injury lawyer will work hard to push back when this happens, but sometimes this is just how the negotiation process works.

The important thing is to document everything. This means presenting reports from doctors, police officers, first responders, and other professionals. It also means keeping a daily journal of your pain and suffering. The goal is to lay the case out as directly and clearly as possible.

Repeatedly Reliving the Events

Even if you end up dealing with an insurance company that wants to settle quickly, you're going to have to tell them what happened. Fortunately, you have the right to have a personal injury lawyer present to advise you regarding what to say and which questions to answer.

Waiting

A lot of the injury claims process involves waiting for answers. Your lawyer will assemble a demand letter, and then you'll have to wait for weeks for a response from the defendant's insurer. They may come back with a counteroffer or ask questions. Your attorney will respond, and then there will be more waiting.

It's important to be patient as the process unfolds. Most cases wrap up with a few months to a couple of years, but it may go longer if you have to sue.

Share