when do i need an attorney for a car accident

When to get an attorney for a car accident?

Apr 06, 2022 · Know when to get an attorney after experiencing a car accident in Roseville, CA. Our top-rated lawyers at The Wright Law Firm can help you. No Attorney Fees Unless We Win; Free Case Evaluation; 3400 Douglas Blvd Roseville, CA 95661 Get Free Consultation:

What is the best car accident lawyer?

Dec 04, 2019 · If you were hurt in a car accident, you may need a lawyer to help you collect and analyze evidence that establishes who was at fault and what your injuries are worth. For example, most newer vehicles are equipped with a piece of recording technology known as a “black box” that records critical information during a car accident.

How much will a car accident lawyer cost you?

When do you need a lawyer for a car accident case? Even with a “minor” injury, it’s still worth getting a free opinion from a lawyer before you make any decisions in your case. And if the same minor injury required physical therapy, a specialist, an epidural, or other special treatment, it could be worth thousands more and a lawyer could make a big difference for you.

How to find the right car accident attorney for You?

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. For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother.

The Car Accident Caused Serious Injury or Death

If anyone was seriously injured or killed in the car accident, contact an experienced accident lawyer right away. Accidents involving serious bodil...

You Can’t Work Because Of Your Injuries And Need Ongoing Care

If you were hurt so badly that you can’t return to work after a car accident, a lawyer can make sure that you maximize the compensation you receive...

Multiple Parties Were Involved in the Accident

If you were in an accident involving three or more vehicles, this can complicate the insurance claim settlement and negotiation process and lead to...

An Uninsured Motorist Was Involved in the Accident

If one or more of the parties involved did not have insurance at the time of the car accident, you should search for a car accident attorney right...

You Need to Collect Evidence About the Accident

If you were hurt in a car accident, you may need a lawyer to help you collect and analyze evidence that establishes who was at fault and what your...

You Have Upcoming Settlement Talks

Most car accident lawsuits settle before going to trial, which means that you’ll probably receive a settlement offer from the at-fault driver or hi...

Time Has Passed Since the Accident

In Texas, you are required to file a lawsuit after an accident before a deadline known as the statute of limitations has passed (typically two year...

How much money do you need to settle a lawsuit without counsel?

For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother. Believe it or not, most attorneys give honest opinions on whether or not it would be worth your while to hire an attorney or take any easy settlement.

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.

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.

Do insurance companies do their jobs?

In a lot of instances, insurance companies do in fact do their jobs as expected. There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill. Let's take a look at some of the cases where you may NOT need to hire an attorney after an accident.

Fault matters in an accident

The police usually decide who caused an accident. Insurance companies use the police report to decide who gets payment. If you're careless, break traffic laws or drive dangerously, you could be blamed for an accident.

How to know when to sue

If you don't know whether to sue the other driver after a car accident, you probably should, especially if you were hurt in the accident.

It's best to hire a lawyer

Some people worry that they can't afford a lawyer, especially after an accident. But a good lawyer only asks for payment if you win.

1. You suffered an injury in the accident

When handling property damage claims, insurance companies usually must pay out enough to repair your vehicle. You might not get the funds you want to repair your vehicle at the top dealership or repair shop in town, but you will probably get what you need to get your vehicle up and running in the condition it was before the accident.

2. You suffered serious property damage

Heavy property damage in an accident can prove extremely costly. Most people assume that the insurance company will take care of it automatically, from offering them the value of their vehicle to providing the funds needed to fix it up after the accident.

3. The insurance company tries to dispute liability for the accident

You know that the other driver caused the accident. The driver may even have acknowledged, at the scene, that he caused the accident. As you try to move the claim through his insurance company, however, he may try to claim that you caused the accident, or that you contributed to it in some way.

4. The insurance company tries to deny the full extent of your injuries

You may start out feeling that you can successfully navigate your car accident claim on your own.

5. You get a very low settlement offer from the insurance companies

Many insurance companies deliberately start with a low settlement offer. They may even try to contact the injured party as soon after the accident as possible and get them to accept a settlement quickly, rather than giving them time to determine what the full extent of their injuries and long-term limitations will look like.

6. You have any questions about the car accident claim process

Filing a car accident claim can prove more complicated than most people think. The average person will not need to file many car accident claims in a lifetime. You may have no idea what to do first, much less what your next steps should be or how you can work to protect yourself.

1. A lawyer can help lay out your rights (including how much compensation you really deserve)

The average car accident victim has no idea how much compensation to expect after the accident. You may not even know what your medical bills will look like, and therefore how much compensation you should expect from them, after the accident.