when do i need to contact a personal injury attorney after an accident?

It’s also important to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately after you’ve been hurt in an accident. Many insurance companies try to get you to talk to them after the accident to settle the case. The insurance company may even record your statement and use it against you.

Full Answer

Should I hire a lawyer after a car accident?

 · Generally, if your injuries are severe and require long-term medical care, then it would be a wise decision to speak to a personal injury lawyer. However, even when accident victims’ injuries are classified as minor, the average medical cost for a trip to the emergency room is thousands of dollars.

Should I hire an attorney for a personal injury claim?

An attorney will help you fight for your rights and assist you in pursuing the maximum compensation. Severe Injuries. When an individual sustains severe injuries in a personal injury accident, it is vital that emergency medical care be provided at once. Failure to have your injuries examined by a medical professional could put your claim at risk.

How hard is it to prove a personal injury claim?

 · If you have been fortunate enough to escape without pain, injury, or any other health complications, there may be no reason to contact a personal injury lawyer. When there are slight injuries If you are slightly injured in the accident – say you have minor whiplash or painful cuts and bruises that require hospital treatment – you may not require a lawyer.

How much recovery should I expect a lawyer to take?

 · If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, you should contact an attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Severe injuries often leave the victims of those accidents with substantial...

What to do if time has passed since accident?

If time has passed since your accident, especially if you have not communicated with the insurance company or liable party at all, immediately consult a personal injury attorney to ensure your claim is still valid.

Why do you need an attorney for a spinal cord injury?

Any time you suffer serious injuries in an accident, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or amputation, working with an attorney is invaluable for seeking the compensation you deserve, as well as giving you a better understanding of the claims process and how much compensation you might expect.

Can an attorney represent you in a personal injury claim?

A personal injury attorney will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. If your claim needs to go to court, an attorney can represent you.

Can an insurance company negotiate a settlement?

The insurance company will not negotiate. You may have chosen not to contact a personal injury attorney immediately after receiving a settlement offer. After all, one look at it told you that the offer did not reflect the funds you actually deserved, especially considering the severity of your accident.

What to do before accepting a settlement offer from insurance company?

Before accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company or the liable party in your accident, contact a personal injury attorney. Many will offer a free consultation that will give you a better idea of how much compensation you should expect, and how you should react to the terms offered in a given settlement.

Can insurance companies delay payment on personal injury claims?

Insurance companies may use multiple tactics to delay payment on your personal injury claim. Often, they do not want to turn that money over before they have to, even though you need those funds to pay for your medical bills and manage your other expenses.

What happens if your insurance company denies your claim?

If the insurance company does deny your claim, an experienced personal injury attorney can appeal the denial and provide evidence to increase your odds of a successful resolution. 2. The insurance company delays responding to your claim or delays payment on your claim. Some time has passed since your accident, but you have received no response ...

When to call a lawyer for a car accident?

Once things have calmed down a bit, you’ll need to contact a local attorney as soon as possible. If the accident was a simple fender bender, there won’t be much a lawyer can do for you.

What to do if you have been in an accident?

If you’ve been in an accident, contact a personal injury lawyer before you call the insurance company if you plan to escalate the issue . Lawyers can give you advice and help you navigate the often complex process that’s involved in accident and injury-related court cases. For more information about car accidents , personal injury law, ...

What does a lawyer do when you have a lawsuit?

If you have a serious case where a lawsuit is possible, a lawyer will work on your behalf to ensure that you get the most money you can from the insurance company. Some of the compensation you may receive includes: Payment for a new vehicle (when needed)

Do you need an attorney for an accident?

Not all accidents require the help of an attorney. However, if you’ve been injured, any of your passengers have been injured, or the other driver was under the influence, a lawyer is recommended. You should find a reliable law firm that is familiar with the laws in your jurisdiction.

What happens if you feel fine after an accident?

Remember that even if you feel fine right after an accident, you could end up dealing with serious injuries that come to the surface later. If there are any witnesses, it’s absolutely imperative that you make sure you get their statements.

What does it feel like to be in a car accident?

Being involved in a car accident can cause a wide range of emotions. Some feel panic and fear to anger and worry. If you’ve been in a car accident and you’re not sure whether to contact a personal injury lawyer or your car insurance company first, read on.

Can a lawyer fight for you in a fender bender?

If the accident was a simple fender bender, there won’t be much a lawyer can do for you. On the other hand, serious accidents often require the help of an experienced attorney who can fight for you in court and battle the insurance company on your behalf.

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.

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 .

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.