You have just been in a car accident. You are shaken up, but not badly injured. The police officer at the scene of the crash doesn’t give you a ticket, so you think you are not at fault. But what can happen if you don’t have an attorney? You may not be aware that the lack of an attorney following a car accident can lead to serious consequences, such as not having the necessary skills to handle your own case, especially if you’re not familiar with insurance policies and regulations.
Without an attorney, you can’t ask for anything from the other driver or his/her insurance company. Imagine how much money you can save with a lawyer’s help – it’s well worth the investment. Here are the underlined reasons why you need an attorney after a car accident.
To Handle the Insurance Company for You
After a car accident, there can be a lot of pressure on you to resolve your claim out of court. The insurance company may try and urge you in this direction with a letter or phone call. An attorney will know what to do when the insurance company starts chipping away at your case. In addition, they would also know how to handle the insurance adjuster and his/her tactics. You can read more on hiring a car accident attorney and read about the top reasons you should hire an accident attorney here. A car accident attorney is needed because there are many complicated steps to take to ensure your claim is paid correctly.
Prove Liability for Your Injuries
In order for the insurance company to pay you, they have to be able to blame someone. In other words, if someone rear-ended your car and totaled it because they were going 20 miles over the speed limit, then they should be responsible for what happened. An accident lawyer can handle the legal proceedings, so you don’t have to, and also prove liability. Hiring an attorney can also help with proving fault by allowing you to focus on the most important task at hand – getting better.
Determine the True Value of Your Injuries
In a situation where the injuries from a car accident are severe or fatal, this may be a case where a settlement must be sought in court. The problem is that once you hire an attorney, they will ask for medical records and possibly even have you examined by another doctor. They want to make sure they know exactly what your medical situation is. This will help the insurance company see how serious your injuries are, helping you get what you deserve.
Negotiate a Fair Settlement
A car accident is an extremely stressful and overwhelming event, but it can be even more of a challenge if you are forced to deal with insurance companies. Insurance adjusters want to pay out as little as possible, which means they’ll offer you less than your case is actually worth. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of accepting this initial settlement offer before they are sure it is fair. If you have the assistance of a good lawyer, they can negotiate the settlement on your behalf. They’ll look at all aspects of your case, including evidence that may have been ignored by the insurance company’s adjuster. Having an experienced car accident attorney will increase your chances of being able to walk away with a fair settlement.
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit if Necessary
This step may be necessary in cases where your injuries and losses are serious, and you want to recover compensation for them. With the help of a car accident attorney, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the other party if their negligence caused your injury or loss. If successful, this will lead to court-ordered financial compensation covering all medical bills, property damage, and other related expenses.
A personal injury lawsuit will also allow you to seek compensation for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of work due to injuries, loss of future earnings if applicable, and other types of damages.
If you win the case, any money awarded is typically divided between the two parties according to how much they contributed towards causing your injuries or losses. For example, if you are awarded $10,000 for your injuries and medical bills, the other party will pay their percentage of the total amount ($10,000), which is not enough to cover all your expenses. This means you will have to file an insurance claim with their insurer in order to recover the rest.
In conclusion, you can see that having a car accident is not something to be taken lightly. If you’re injured, it might be prudent to check the police report and speak with your doctor before seeking compensation from anyone involved.
Some states require that you do this within a certain period of time; failure to do so could nullify any claim that you make or part of your claim. If you believe that someone else caused the car accident, get in touch with an attorney who specializes in personal injury law. Be sure to get a free consultation before signing any contracts or hiring anyone on retainer.