If you were in a car accident recently then you might be whether or not you should hire an attorney.
Car accidents can be a devastating and life-changing event! Consulting with a lawyer can help you determine the best course of action to take based on the specifics of your accident. And they can help defend you (if you were at fault) or negotiate a larger settlement with the insurance company (if the other driver was at fault).
But is an accident attorney necessary in all situations?
When should you contact an attorney?
One situation where we’d highly recommend you hiring an attorney is if you had to visit a doctor for any serious injuries.
In this situation, a car accident attorney will help look over all your legal options. They’ll be able to discuss with you if/when/how to file a personal injury claim.
In serious accidents, hiring a lawyer can also help you with the settlement claim process. A good accident attorney will help prevent any delays or unnecessary mistakes. Better to have them deal with all the annoyances and frustrations so you can live your live and not deal with those hassles!
Another situation where hiring an attorney may be helpful is where the police report is not accurate. For example, maybe the report says that you were at fault even though the other party was to blame. This can be a big mess and an experienced car accident attorney can help you clean it up and make sure you’re taken care of and treated fairly.
If you are going to be due a settlement from the insurance company, it’s recommended you contact an attorney before you contact the insurance company. They can give you some good advice on dealing with insurance companies and may even deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to.
An attorney can also be helpful in negotiating with the insurance company. They know all the tricks insurance companies use to try to pay out as little as possible. But a good accident attorney will have you best interest in mind so that the insurance company doesn’t end up underpaying for the settlement.
They can be really useful when the insurance company acts in bad faith. This may lead them to deny the coverage for your treatment and repair expense. Your attorney will be your ultimate ally to help you in the settlement claim!
What kind of lawyer should you contact?
You can get in touch with trial lawyers regarding your car accident. However, hiring a personal injury lawyer – particularly one who specializes in car accident cases – would be the wisest choice.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, lost wages, pain, and suffering caused along with the expenses you had to cover, you are entitled to compensation. And you don’t want the amount of that compensation in the hands of an inexperienced lawyer.
So it’s in your best interests to deal with a lawyer who has the necessary experience in case of car accidents. They will know exactly which legal options to opt for in order to defend your case.
What should you do when you get in touch with an attorney?
Once you hire an attorney, you should provide every little detail about the accident including your recollection of the entire scene. You should also share the contact information of the other party along with your treatment reports. Then you can get in touch with your insurance company to start the negotiation process. If you don’t settle on an offer, the case will lead to a trial.
Ultimately the best option is to contact an attorney right after any car accident. Call them up and see what things you need to do to fight for your rights. This will also help you in a settlement claim after recovery. Your attorney can give you an estimate of what your personal injury claim would be worth.
