Is it Worth Getting an Attorney for a Car Accident?

What a Car Accident Lawyer Can Do For You

After a car accident involving injury caused by another driver, you will face a number of challenges.

You face medical bills, the insurance claim process, treatment... It's a lot to tackle alone.

You may be asking yourself, "Is hiring a car accident lawyer worth it?"

If nobody was hurt in the accident and the collision only resulted in minor damage, you can likely handle the insurance claim process on your own.

BUT... In most cases, if you suffered a serious injury in the collision, hiring an accident lawyer will benefit you and result in higher settlement payouts.

You can expect the insurance companies to try and take advantage of the uncertainty and overwhelm caused by an accident.

Having a car accident lawyer on your side prevents the insurers pressuring you to settle for less than what you are really owed.

 

Your lawyer will be able to review the full extent of your losses, and ensure your claim accounts for all damages which meet the legal standard in your state.

Having a car accident lawyer on your side immediately puts the opposing parties on notice that they will have to play fair.

In addition, during the investigation process they will be able to handle many of the details to ensure you have the documented evidence needed to support your personal injury claim.

Make no mistake, the insurance adjusters and their settlement mitigation teams do not have your best interest in mind. Without an attorney, you won't know what you really owed, and what legal rights you have throughout the process.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

If you've been in an accident and sustained serious injuries, details matter. The personal injury laws are complex, and the insurance companies, no matter how much they sound like they have your best interest in mind, are out to minimize what they are forced to pay.

Insurers will use your ignorance of the law against you, every detail, and every misstep can impact your personal injury claim.

In our experience, insurance companies will pressure injured parties to settle quickly, often for far less than they are entitled.

 

 

Unintentional admissions of fault, flippant statements made to an insurance adjuster, failing to seek medical attention, failing to account and demand for the entitled damages which meet the legal standard, can all be used to reduce the settlement payout to far less than you may be entitled.

Your car accident lawyer will take over all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies. Representation will handle investigation required to support and document your legal claims. An experienced car accident lawyer can help manage all aspects of your case, so you can focus on your recovery and improving your quality of life. After an accident you may be facing medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses and losses - your lawyer will handle the legal process so you can focus on treatment and recovery.

Your lawyer will help you get compensation for your injuries and damages - it's their primary function. They will help you maximize what you are owed, and handle the legal claim process for you. The best car accident lawyers will also help you through the recovery process - making sure you get the treatment you need.

Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Minor Car Accident?

In the case of minor collisions where nobody was hurt, you can probably get away with handling the insurance claim process on your own.

Generally, claims just involving vehicle damage where nobody was hurt, the math of hiring an attorney doesn't make sense.

You will need to exchange driver information, file a report with the police within the requirements of the local law, and deal with the insurance companies with regards your claim.

Regardless, don't leave the scene of the accident without taking pictures.

Seek medical treatment from a professional, and ensure a doctor clears you of possible complications before deciding not to hire an attorney.

IF, however, anybody was hurt in the motor vehicle collision, regardless of how clear-cut fault seemed at the time of the accident, you absolutely need a lawyer.

When someone has been injured in a car accident, the stakes are raised dramatically, and legal representation will steer your case through the complicated personal injury laws to ensure you are treated fairly.

Always seek medical attention for treatment and to document your condition even if you don't feel hurt initially. If the crash was strong enough to bend metal, it had the force to result in bodily harm.

Minor Non-Incapacitating Injuries

• Abrasions
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Cuts and Lacerations
• Swelling
• Bruises

Delayed Injuries After an Accident

A number of seemingly minor injuries can develop and worsen after a collision, even days after. Minor contusions can hide internal damage that worsens with swelling and as shock subsides. Delayed head injuries, back and neck pain, stiff joints can worsen with time to reveal more serious injury if left untreated.

Maximizing Damages & What You Are Owed

During the initial investigation your attorney will be able to help you assess a full accounting of the damages you may be entitled. The following are some of the potential damages which should be considered in an injury claim:

• Medical Costs - All medical bills from required healthcare, costs of treatment and any future required medical care relating to the injuries sustained.
• Pain and Suffering - Where state law allows, any and all pain and suffering considerations the worth of which meets the standard of the personal injury law.
• Significant Property Damage - An assessment of all property damage to vehicles, cargo, or surrounding property resulting from the car accident.
• Lost Wages and Future Income - The inclusion of past and future income among economic damages where allowable.
• Long-term Injury and Disability - Recovery for the impact of disabling and life-long impact sustained in an accident.
• Loss of Consortium - Compensation consideration for fatal accidents resulting in the death of a loved one, which can include damages for the impact physical injuries have on a marital relationship where states allow.
• Disfigurement - Damages for disfiguring burns, severe scarring, amputation / limb loss, the worth of which is subject to state law.
• Emotional Distress - Mental and emotional distress damages eligibility for plaintiffs under specific circumstances when provided for by law.

Any and all applicable damages which meet the legal standard should be included in a full and fair assessment of losses. When you've been hurt in a car accident which was the fault of another, you deserve to be made whole.

The sooner you contact a lawyer after a serious accident the better. Doing so will give your lawyer more time to work and investigate the details before case deadlines.