How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
Every year, there are 6 million car accidents in the US and 3 million people are injured each year as a result of these accidents. Injuries could be short-term, resulting in missed work and medical costs, or they could be long-term, resulting in permanent disabilities and extensive medical care.
If you have been injured in an accident, you should consider hiring a car accident lawyer. They can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Read on to learn more about how they can help.
Investigating the Accident
Determining who is at fault in an accident is one of the primary roles of a car accident attorney. The experts have the resources to identify who was at fault and what factors contributed to the accident. Things they may do to investigate include:
- Visiting the scene of the accident to take photos or videos
- Reviewing your photos or videos taken after the accident
- Speaking with witnesses to take their statements
- Speaking with the other parties involved to take their statements
- Obtaining police reports
- Requesting and reviewing any traffic or security camera footage of the accident
- Hiring accident reconstruction experts if necessary
- Investigating the road and weather conditions at the time of the accident
- Evaluating the vehicles involved to determine if there were any manufacturing defect
- Sending spoilation letters to preserve evidence
If the accident wasn’t your fault, your lawyer will need to determine the party (or parties) responsible and how much of the fault they hold. Your lawyer will identify who you will seek damages from and use their investigation to build your case that the accident was the other parties fault.
Communicated with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies want you to settle quickly and for the lowest amount possible. They will often try to get you to sign a settlement offer shortly after the accident, but it is often for much less than your accident is worth.
Once you hire an attorney, they can handle all of the communication with the insurance company for you. They can speak on your behalf or accompany you to any depositions with the insurance company and help you practice your words so you do not say something that will hurt your case.
Personal injury lawyers deal with insurance companies every day, so they know how to work with them, what your case is worth, and how to negotiate. Let the professionals handle that communication and focus on healing from your injuries.
Knowledge of the Laws
Unless you are a legal expert, it’s likely you don’t know how the legal process works or know all of the different laws. Without this knowledge, you may not know of the options you have to pursue a personal injury claim.
An experienced attorney who specializes in personal injuries will know the ins and outs of the laws and how they apply in your case. They will be able to determine how the other party acted negligently to cause your accident, which is necessary to prove liability.
They also understand the statute of limitations, the proper process to file a lawsuit, and how to prepare for negotiating a settlement. As the victim, you can focus on healing and getting back to your life rather than trying to navigate the legal process.
Determining What Your Case Is Worth
There are some expenses that are easy to determine simply by looking at your medical bills and the amount of money you have paid for any medical care. However, other expenses could include travel to and from medical appointments, special equipment or supplies for your home, prescriptions, missed work, etc.
Your attorney will be able to accurately assess the cost of your injuries, including future medical care, such as long-term rehabilitation. They’ll also know how to calculate lost wages and potentially the loss of future wages if your injuries are severe enough to prevent you from working.
Most people will significantly undervalue what their case is worth, so having an expert perspective will ensure you get what you are entitled to.
Negotiating a Settlement
Not only can your attorney calculate what your case is worth, but they can also represent you in negotiations with the insurance company and let you know if they are offering a fair settlement or not. Most experts agree that hiring an attorney results in a larger settlement amount.
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, so they don’t get paid unless you win. This means that they are working in your best interests for the fairest settlement and one that truly compensates you for your injuries and expenses.
Taking Your Case to Trial
If you can’t come to an agreement with your insurance company and feel that they are not offering you a fair settlement, you may choose to take your case to trial. If this happens, you will want an attorney to represent you. An experienced litigator will be able to represent you at trial to present your case.
Don’t Wait to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident, the sooner you contact a car accident lawyer, the better. There is a statute of limitations on most personal injury cases and the longer you wait, the harder it will be to gather evidence to support your claim.
Most attorneys provide a free case consultation as well, so talking to an attorney can’t hurt. Contact an experienced attorney today to discuss your case and how they may be able to help.
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