when should i get an attorney involved in a traffic accident

1. 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.
2. You Can’t Work Because Of Your Injuries And Need Ongoing Care. ...
3. Multiple Parties Were Involved in the Accident. ...
4. An Uninsured Motorist Was Involved in the Accident. ...

More items...

When should you hire a lawyer after a traffic accident?

When involved in a traffic accident no matter how minor injuries sustained may be, the individual should seek legal representation from a lawyer who is knowledgeable about personal injury and liability. The lawyer retained should have a working knowledge on motor vehicle claims and on different medical procedures that may be implicated.

Do I need an attorney for a car accident claim?

Perhaps the most important way an attorney can help you with your car accident case is by being your advocate. This means that your attorney acts on your behalf and for your benefit throughout the entire claims process (negotiating with the automobile insurance company) and even in court if a lawsuit becomes necessary.

What do you need to know about being a traffic lawyer?

Traffic Lawyer Goals. In particular, a traffic ticket attorney specializes in laws related to driving; such lawyers defend traffic court cases varying from routine moving violations (such as running a traffic light) to more serious situations (such as driving under the influence ).

Should I hire a lawyer for a traffic ticket?

You comply with an unsupervised probationary period. Understand that even if your ticket gets dismissed, the court still might require you to pay some or all the fines . As appealing as hiring a traffic ticket lawyer sounds, you still must determine whether the attorney's fee is worth the possibility of avoiding the ticket penalties.

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...

Why is it important to call an accident attorney?

That’s why it’s important that you call one of our experienced car accident attorneys as soon as possible following your accident. This ensures that our team can collect important evidence and witness accounts that could be lost over time. It also allows our legal team to go to work quickly to build a strong case for you. The sooner you call, the sooner you can get the compensation you deserve for your accident.

What is the best way to report an accident?

Call 911 – Call 911 and report your accident, which helps alert both police officials and emergency medical teams to the scene of the accident. Your police report and your medical report will be invaluable when establishing fault and liability. Without them, it’s just your word against theirs.

How to reduce liability in car accident?

Contact a Lawyer – Insurance companies will always seek to reduce their liabilities by offering accident victims a low-ball settlement offer. This is usually a fraction of what you need to recover. Contact an experienced car accident attorney immediately to begin building your case. Remember, contacting an attorney is not the same thing as filing a lawsuit.

What happens after an accident?

After an accident, car accident victims are often left to deal with serious injuries and rising medical bills on their own. Insurance companies often offer accident victims a low-ball settlement that is just a fraction of what they need to recover. These insurance companies don’t have your best interest in mind—the only people they have in mind are their shareholders and reducing their liabilities. They may pressure accident victims into signing a settlement too quickly and you could end up with less than you need to cover your injuries.

How long do you have to file a car accident claim in Arkansas?

In the state of Arkansas, car accident victims only have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. While this may seem like a lot of time, three years can pass quickly after a crash. You may be injured severely and focused on recovery and on improving your life. You may be struggling to make ends meet and trying to help your family stay out of bankruptcy after an accident. During this time, valuable evidence might get lost or even destroyed. Contact an experienced lawyer for your car accident immediately to begin building your case and to avoid missing any critical deadlines.

How to gather evidence for a lawyer?

Gather Evidence – Gathering evidence can be done easily now that we have smartphones. Snap pictures of license plates, eyewitness information, vehicle damage, traffic patterns, intersections, and any other important information that could help your lawyer establish fault.

Do you need an attorney for a small fender bender?

Small fender-benders often will not require the assistance of an attorney, however, there are special circumstances where an attorney’s services could be invaluable after a minor crash. These include:

How can an attorney help you in a car accident?

Perhaps the most important way an attorney can help you with your car accident case is by being your advocate. This means that your attorney acts on your behalf and for your benefit throughout the entire claims process (negotiating with the automobile insurance company) and even in court if a lawsuit becomes necessary. He or she will be your champion before the judge, jury and other attorneys, making sure that your side of the story is heard and that you are compensated for all of your losses.

What does it mean to hire a personal injury attorney after a car accident?

Hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you after a car accident means you will have a professional working for you -- one who is extremely knowledgeable about the relevant laws and procedural rules that may affect your case.

What do injury attorneys do?

Whereas this may be your first time dealing with the ins and outs of an accident claim, injury attorneys have dealt with all manner of claims and have faced the gamut of insurance company tactics. They have experience obtaining the necessary evidence to support your claim, including gathering police reports, witness statements, medical records and bills, and employment and lost wage information.

What to do if you can't settle an accident case?

If you are unable to settle your accident case, your attorney can take care of filing the necessary paperwork to start a court case and can deal with the defense attorneys on your behalf. Having a seasoned professional navigate the day to day work of your case eases the burden on you so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

What is an experienced injury attorney?

An experienced injury attorney can be extremely helpful in navigating the often chaotic and confusing world of insurance claims and injury settlements after a car accident. Here's what you need to know:

How long do you have to file a lawsuit after a car accident?

For instance, in many states you must file your lawsuit within two years of your car accident or be forever prohibited from filing your lawsuit. An attorney will also be able to inform you about any special exceptions to the statute of limitations -- for minors, for example.

Do injury lawyers get paid?

Most injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning your lawyer only gets paid if there is a successful resolution to your claim.

What does a car accident lawyer do?

A car accident lawyer will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and keep your liability to the other parties as low as possible. An attorney can also help communicate with the lawyers for the other parties and their insurance companies. Return to top ↑.

What to do if you have an accident?

If your accident resulted in substantial injuries that have had a significant impact on your life, it’s especially essential to contact an attorney. By engaging with a qualified attorney you give yourself the best possible chance to receive maximum compensation.

What to do if you are injured in a car accident?

You may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recoup the cost of the medical treatment for your injuries.

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Texas?

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 years from the date of the accident). If a lot of time has passed since your accident, you should talk to a car accident lawyer right away to make sure you haven’t missed this deadline.

What to do if you don't have insurance in Texas?

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 away. Texas law requires people who drive in the state to pay for the accidents they cause.

What happens if you are hurt in a car accident?

Some people are injured so severely in car accidents that their earning capacity is impacted for life.

What are some examples of accidents?

For example, the driver of a commercial delivery truck may fail to stop at a red light and enter an intersection illegally.

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 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.

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 .

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 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 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.

Why do insurance companies need an attorney?

An attorney can help increase the value of any claim substantially. Insurance companies know that they will face much higher charges the moment one of their clients hire a lawyer, so they will remain persistent and try to secure a settlement.

What happens if you don't have insurance in an accident?

Insurance Issues. If any auto involved in the accident doesn’t have insurance, the insurer suggests you didn’t pay your premium or your insurance limits are too low, a law firm can help.

What are some examples of insignificant accidents?

An example of an accident that’s insignificant is when two vehicles back into each other, at very low speeds, in a parking lot. The damage is very minimal in these cases. No one is injured. Sometimes, there’s no damage at all. In this case, you can go through your insurance company and opt not to get a lawyer.

What are the consequences of accidents in construction zones?

These accidents may even involve hitting a worker or violations on part of the driver. Heavy fines and penalties are assessed for accidents in construction zones.

What are additional parties involved in a car accident?

Additional Parties. When additional parties are involved, you’ll need to contact an attorney. These parties can include other automobiles and even pedestrians.

Do you have to provide a written statement to your insurance company?

Don’t provide a written or recorded statement to your insurer until you fully understand your policy.

Can you contact an auto accident attorney?

If you make the mistakes above, you can still contact an auto accident attorney and discuss your options. There are a lot of attorneys that will provide a free consultation for your case. The consultation is used to determine if you have a case.

When you need a car accident lawyer

There are definitely circumstances that a car wreck lawyer is necessary to protect you from financial ruin. You may also need the aid of a car injury lawyer in order to make sure that you’re getting the best settlement from your insurance company.

Instances in which you may not need a lawyer

When to get a lawyer for a car accident can also be answered by how much money you expect to win. If the compensation you are seeking is too small, then hiring an attorney may not help you receive much more in settlement.

If you caused the accident

If you were the cause of a car accident, your insurance company will almost always hire a lawyer on your behalf. Here are some clear signs that your insurance company will need to hire an attorney for you:

Benefits of working with a car injury lawyer

Handling a car accident can be an exhausting experience, so before you jump in and file a claim with an insurance company, it’s best to have a free consultation with a skilled car accident lawyer.

What to do immediately after being in a car crash

If you’ve been in a car accident, even if it wasn’t your fault or you think that there wasn’t any damages, you need to stop. Check to see if there are any medical emergencies and contact the proper authorities if anyone has suffered an injury.

What is a traffic ticket lawyer?

In particular, a traffic ticket attorney specializes in laws related to driving; such lawyers defend traffic court cases varying from routine moving violations (such as running a traffic light) to more serious situations (such as driving under the influence ). Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ...

What does an attorney do?

Attorneys specialize in particular areas of the law— meaning they are well-versed in legal language and can use that knowledge and experience to identify flaws in the case brought against you (or at least lessen your penalties ).

What can a seasoned lawyer do to reduce traffic ticket penalties?

Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ticket penalties, negotiate alternative penalties, and/or dismiss the ticket altogether.

What is a public defender?

Public defenders, or court-appointed attorneys, are lawyers who help people who can't afford private legal defense.

Can a traffic ticket lawyer help with a speeding ticket?

From a speeding violation to forgetting to use your turn signal, even the most routine traffic stop can add up quickly; thus, sometimes, hiring a traffic ticket lawyer can make a difference—especially regarding reduced fines, keeping points off your driver's license, and avoiding increased insurance rates .

Does traffic school help with a ticket?

Not only can traffic school help you get a ticket dismissed, but it can also remove driver's license points (or prevent points from accumulating, depending on your state's laws) and even lower your car insurance rates .

Can you get points dismissed for driving violations?

Typically, in this situation, even if your attorney is able to get your points dismissed, the record of your violation will still remain on your driving history.

What should a lawyer do in a traffic accident?

When involved in a traffic accident no matter how minor injuries sustained may be, the individual should seek legal representation from a lawyer who is knowledgeable about personal injury and liability. The lawyer retained should have a working knowledge on motor vehicle claims and on different medical procedures that may be implicated. The case history and reputation of the legal representative is important. Efficiency and professionalism may be the foundation to build a relationship between both client and hired lawyer.

Why is it important to have a personal injury lawyer?

The case history and reputation of the legal representative is important. Efficiency and professionalism may be the foundation to build a relationship between both client and hired lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can explain a victim’s rights.

What to do when insurance settlement is initiated?

When an insurance settlement has been initiated, a lawyer’s counsel may be highly beneficial. These settlements should be reviewed by the lawyer. Because adjusters tend to offer lower numbers than expected for repairs to property as well as long-term injuries that require extensive medical treatment, a legal representative may review these terms to determine if they are acceptable. If the payment cannot cover all treatment and medical procedures, a renegotiation is usually necessary. For determining whether a total amount in a lump sum or payments are needed, the legal representative may analyze all healthcare processes with a healthcare professional.

Why is it important to contact a lawyer?

They may be an unexpected situation that requires time, money and energy to deal with. The health of an individual along with his or her safety is a great concern. Having a lawyer can help ensure that a victim receives ...

Why do insurance companies deny claims?

Many insurance claims are denied. Technicalities may be the root cause companies deny these claims. Though they may be minor or inconsequential, these technicalities cause more pain and suffering due to stress. Lawyers obtained for these reasons assist in contesting denials so entitled compensation is received for those that have been injured. Even when injury is minor, some medical procedures are expensive, requiring compensation from insurance to assist in patient recovery.

What to do when liability is unclear?

When liability is unclear or there is a dispute about who is responsible, legal representation should be considered. Organizing evidence may assist in clearing any dispute about liability and discover what chain of events led to the injury. If the damage is mostly to the vehicle, an examination may be required by an inspector. Additionally, if an individual has been served with documentation that they are involved in the lawsuit, it is best to contact a lawyer immediately in order to protect one’s legal rights and avoid forfeiting rights.

What is the statute of limitations for traffic accidents?

Statute of Limitations. Though each state is different, the statute of limitations applies for personal injury claims and liability with traffic accidents. Some states have longer timeframes, while some have shorter timeframes such as the two year limitation in Illinois.