how long do you have to hire attorney after a auto accident

When should you hire a car accident attorney?

 · You should hire an attorney to represent you after a car accident in these situations: You suffered injuries and/or significant damage to your car. If you were involved in a minor fender-bender that did not cause serious injuries, you may not need the assistance of a car accident injury attorney. But in all other circumstances, speaking with an ...

What does an auto accident lawyer do?

So, if you want to have the best chance to win, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. As it relates to damages, the sooner you document your injury, the better. Also, the more accurately you report your injuries, and the closer in time to the incident, the more likely you are to be believed. You can imagine the difference between a ...

What should I Ask an auto accident lawyer?

 · Severity factors include: • The kinds of injuries you’ve suffered. • How long it will take you to recover. • The cost of your initial treatment and future procedures. And while it may go without saying, if a death resulted from the accident, you absolutely need to consult with an attorney as soon as possible, to make sure you understand ...

Is an auto accident lawyer worth your time and money?

The first situation in which you should absolutely hire an attorney for help following a car accident is when you suffer injuries. Some of the most common injuries that people suffer in a car accident include: Traumatic brain injuries, including brain bleeds and skull fractures. Femur fractures, tibia fractures, and other types of bone fractures.

What is car accident lawyer?

Car accident injury lawyers spend their days helping car accident victims recover compensation from at-fault parties. It takes years of training and experience to learn the ins-and-outs of obtaining maximum payouts from insurance companies and top-dollar awards from Pennsylvania juries.

What to do if someone else is in a car accident?

You’ve been offered a low-ball settlement by the other driver’s insurance carrier.

Did the truck driver stop after the accident?

The truck driver did not stop after the accident took place, failing to check on the victim, offer assistance to her family members who witnessed the accident, or to call for medical help or otherwise render aid to the young woman. She succumbed to her injuries in the hospital two days after the accident occurred.

What happens if you lose a loved one in an accident?

If you lost a loved one due to an accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness, you may have the right to obtain compensation through a wrongful death claim.

What happens if you have a permanent injury?

Permanent injuries inflict a lifetime of expenses, including future surgeries, hospitalizations for complications, modifications to your home, and a decline in your earning capacity. Let an attorney help you obtain the money you need to pay for them.

Can you settle a low ball settlement with another driver's insurance?

You’ve been offered a low-ball settlement by the other driver’s insurance carrier. It is important to speak to an attorney before ever agreeing to a settlement or making an official statement to a third-party insurance provider.

Can you recover compensation from a car accident?

But in all other circumstances, speaking with an experienced car accident injury attorney is the best way to protect your legal rights to recover compensation. It is obvious, or even just possible, that someone else’s actions contributed to causing the accident.

2. Protect Your Rights

If you want someone to advocate for you then don’t rely on the insurance companies. Their one motive is to keep their costs down. They also want to reduce overhead, so they might try to take the easiest and cheapest course of action.

3. Get Adequate Compensation

You may not be aware of all the types of compensation you can receive. Depending on the damages incurred, you can be compensated for a variety of incidents. Your attorney will know the full array of options.

4. Going to Court is Confusing

If you try to represent yourself in court, you will most likely get chewed up and spit out. This is simply because most of us are not familiar with the details involved in negotiating a fair settlement from insurance carriers. Going to court is a complex affair, especially when multiple cars were involved in the accident.

Prioritizing Safety

When you get behind the wheel of a car, you want to put safety first every time. You expect others to do the same. Here are some practical ways to help ensure safer roads:

When you Need an Attorney

The reality is that a car accident can happen at any time and they often happen when people least expect them. The consequences of accidents vary from minor dents and dings to catastrophic injuries. So how do you know when you need a lawyer to help you after a car crash?

If You Need Expert Legal Guidance

The reality is that everyone can benefit from hiring a lawyer following a motor vehicle accident. If you are looking for a legal professional in the local area who is always going to place your rights first, then rely on the team at Cooney and Conway. At Cooney and Conway, our results speak for themselves.

What happens if you are at fault for an accident?

If you are at fault for an accident and the other driver decides to sue you, you will need a lawyer to defend you. In this case, it is likely that your auto insurance company will provide a car accident attorney for you, but keep in mind that an insurance company’s lawyer works first in the best interest of the insurer and in your interests secondarily. Even if your insurance company provides a lawyer, you may want to hire your own attorney if you can afford it.

What are the rules for insurance?

If the following is true of an accident, it is unlikely that the insurance company will lowball you: 1 There was only property damage, and nobody was hurt or killed. 2 You suffered minor or no physical injuries. 3 The settlement you deserve is relatively small.

What is the key to a successful car accident claim?

Knowing the law is key to a successful claim. Apart from the core issues of proving who is at fault in a car accident and the extent of damage or injuries, there are other legal issues that will affect your case and compensation.

What do insurance companies do to reduce the compensation paid out to victims of car accidents?

They can also handle the mountain of paperwork, phone-calls, and emails that are involved in an insurance claim, freeing you up to recover physically and emotionally from your accident.

Why is timing important in a car accident?

Timing is important in a car accident case. After you have been in a car accident, there are a lot of unexpected things to take care of and you may also be dealing with physical injuries and emotional distress. It can take time for you to recover and deal with the necessary phone-calls and paperwork.

Do most drivers carry insurance?

However, most drivers carry auto insurance, and your dealings will be with their insurance provider . Insurance companies have massive resources, including teams of lawyers and medical and forensic experts, all of whom are directed at reducing the money that is paid out to you for your car accident claim.

Is the insurance company at fault for a car accident?

You are up against the insurance company not the at-fault driver. When you file a claim in a car accident case, you are not opposing an individual driver but instead a large insurance company that handles such claims on a daily basis.

Is it bad to talk to a lawyer?

There are no drawbacks to talking to a lawyer. Any good lawyer will offer you a free initial consultation, either on the phone or in person, to discuss your case. They will listen to your story and advise you whether or not you might benefit from having a lawyer to represent you.

Can a claim be lost if it is not filed within the statute of limitations period?

A claim can be lost if it is not filed within the statute of limitations period for that type of claim and for that state. The state in which a claim should be filed is a highly complex legal issue in itself, which can depend on where the accident happened, the type of damage caused, and where the people involved are resident.

How much do lawyers need to improve their recovery?

If a lawyer takes one-third of your recovery, then they'll need to improve your expectedresults by more than 50% to justify hiring them.

What to do if insurance company is not playing nice?

If the insurance company is not playing nice or refusing to acknowledge the full extent of your claim, you would definitely want to talk to an attorney.

Do you have to have counsel in small claims court?

You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court . The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.

Do attorneys take on smaller claims?

Don't doubt there are attorneys who'll take on smaller claims in exchange for a higher percentage of the recovery.

Can you file a personal injury claim if you have no injuries?

Generally, if no people were hurt, or there was no damage ( no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. Just be careful making this judgment of “no injuries” yourself.

Can a car be one excitable dog?

Your car may be one excitable dog and a loose gear shifter away from being part of a two-vehicle incident involving no humans. (You can ask any insurance adjuster, and they'll tell you that strange things do indeed happen!)

Do injury lawyers offer free consultations?

Most injury and accident law firms offer free initial consultations, so feel free to ask around and get some advice before going forward with your claim .