when to hire an attorney, after car accident

by Rubie Bruen 9 min read

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. ...
  • It is obvious, or even just possible, that someone else’s actions contributed to causing the accident. ...
  • You’ve been offered a low-ball settlement by the other driver’s insurance carrier. ...
  • Your injuries are severe and permanent. ...

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Contacting a lawyer on the day of the collision, or within a few days afterward, is best. You can still hire a lawyer if you wait longer than that, but sooner is better. If you or someone else in your car suffered personal injuries, hiring a car accident lawyer is usually a good idea.

Full Answer

When do you need to hire a car accident lawyer?

May 12, 2022 · Many car accident victims wonder when they should hire a lawyer. Due to the time-sensitive nature of car crash claims, the sooner you can contact an experienced car accident attorney, the better. Your state may place a time limit (a statute of limitations) on your ability to sue for a car crash.

When to lawyer up after a car accident?

Jun 17, 2021 · When you hire an attorney to represent your car accident claim, your attorney will provide you with the following services: Investigate the Accident. Your attorney will complete an investigation of the accident so the fault can be established. They will review police reports, photos, traffic camera footage, interview witnesses, and listen to your account of what …

Do I need a lawyer for a car accident?

Mar 24, 2021 · Speaking to an attorney as soon as possible after an accident offers you answers to your legal questions and guidance in dealing with the insurance representatives who may contact you. 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.

How to find the right car accident attorney for You?

It’s never too early to hire an attorney to help with the details of your car accident case. To be frank, the earlier you hire a lawyer, the better. Contacting an attorney is highly recommended if any injuries resulted from the accident. If you were involved, an attorney can help you with the next steps in filing a claim.

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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.

How to settle a car accident claim?

Negotiate with insurance carriers . Most lawsuits arising from car accidents settle out of court. Typically, the insurance company for the party with legal liability pays money to the injured party in exchange for the injured party giving up a legal claim. Just because lawsuits normally settle, however, does not mean that it is easy to achieve the largest settlement available. Only a skilled lawyer with years of experience interacting with insurance adjusters can navigate the give-and-take of a settlement negotiation to a client’s maximum advantage. Non-lawyers who attempt to negotiate their own claims with insurance companies virtually always end up getting steamrolled.

How did the woman get thrown from her car?

According to the lawsuit, the 30-year-old woman was thrown from her car after the other driver caused the accident by crashing into it . It was discovered that the driver was served alcohol at the establishment before the crash occurred and was visibly intoxicated and exhibiting dangerous behavior. He then went to another business establishment ...

What happened to the woman who was thrown from her car?

According to the lawsuit, the 30-year-old woman was thrown from her car after the other driver caused the accident by crashing into it.

When do insurance adjusters work?

Insurance company attorneys and claims adjusters begin working on claims right away after an accident. In accidents where their insured may have been liable, they may try to shift that liability onto the other driver to minimize their own financial exposure.

How many car accidents in Pennsylvania in 2018?

According to PennDOT, one out of every 164 Pennsylvania residents sustained injuries in a car accident in 2018. This equals about nine car accident injuries every hour resulting from the 352 crashes that occur each day of the year (on average).

What injuries did the woman in the car crash have?

The woman suffered severe injuries in the crash, including broken ribs, a punctured lung, deep lacerations on her head and body, a broken nose, internal damage to her liver and kidney, a serious leg wound, and road rash. According to PennDOT, one out of every 164 Pennsylvania residents sustained injuries in a car accident in 2018.

Should I Get an Attorney After a Car Accident?

This question comes up frequently when dealing with motorists across Mississippi: when exactly should I contact an attorney if I’ve had a car accident?

When You Should Contact an Attorney

It’s never too early to hire an attorney to help with the details of your car accident case. To be frank, the earlier you hire a lawyer, the better.

Other Instances Where an Attorney Would Be Helpful

Here are a few instances in which the aid of an attorney would help you recover from the accident:

Dealing with Insurance Companies

An experienced attorney will be helpful if there are ever problems with your insurance company. Insurance companies typically look out for themselves by saving as much money as possible when it’s time to pay. This approach doesn’t always benefit you, the injured party.

If Your Claim is Denied

It’s very common for auto insurance companies to deny car accident claims right away. They know there’s a chance you’ll give up and pay for it all on your own if they deny your claim immediately. However, the story doesn’t have to end there. You may be able to submit an appeal for the denied claim.

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.

Virginia Car Accident Statistics

Across the Commonwealth of Virginia in one recent year, more than 105,000 accidents occurred on Virginia roadways. As a result, more than 52,000 people suffered injuries. While these numbers have shown improvement over prior years, it means a significant number of people are living with the impact an accident had on their lives.

Insurance Company Issues Are Common

As any Virginia auto accident lawyer will explain, dealing with insurers is not always easy, even when the customer, the driver who struck you, is clearly at fault for the accident. In many cases, the insurance company denies the initial claim outright.

Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

The benefits of hiring a car accident attorney are numerous, but some of the best reasons to make this decision include:

What Contributes to Claims Demands

When a car accident seriously injures you, several factors can affect how well your recovery will progress: your health before the accident, the rate of speed at which the vehicles were traveling at the time of the accident, and the type of injury you suffer.

Hiring an Attorney Sooner Rather Than Later

While no auto accident victim is required to hire an attorney, victims should consider doing so as soon after an accident as possible. In fact, in most cases, it is highly recommended that once you have completed a medical evaluation and reported the accident to your insurance company, your next call should be to a lawyer.

1. Gaining the Appropriate Knowledge

Most people assume that a car accident is simple. Someone gets hit, and then the insurance companies make you pay what most people will believe takes place. However, it is not that straightforward, and you need to know what you should be aware of.

2. A Car Accident Attorney Will Help You Avoid Losing Money

Another reason you should hire a car accident attorney is so that you won’t lose any money. Many people lose thousands of dollars when they get into an accident, and that happens mostly because people attempt to file a suit later than they should or try to do it on their own.

5. Putting Your Best Foot Forward

As stated above, you get one chance to do this right. As a result, you need the proper lawyer to help you gain traction and get the case won quickly instead of taking months or years. The wrong lawyer can make a case last three times longer than it needs to.

The Accident Scene

The sounds of tires squealing on the pavement, the resulting crash of impact, shattering glass, and the whine of oncoming sirens are terrifying enough to chill anyone’s blood. For a few seconds after a collision, everything might even seem silent.

What happens next?

Keep these basic steps in mind, but if you were already in an accident, hiring a lawyer will help even more:

Some causes of accidents

Accidents do happen, even though the probability of a car accident decreases the more vigilant both drivers are.

Common Injuries

We often take for granted just how dangerous driving our vehicles around every day actually is. Even a car in top condition with regular maintenance and inspections is still thousands of pounds of steel, glass, and rubber traveling down the road at high speeds. Just a little bit of water on the road can cause skids and collisions.

Insurance

Unfortunately, dealing with insurance companies is not one of the more manageable parts of dealing with a car accident. Insurance companies might try to low-ball their customers to settle a claim more quickly than they should. An attorney might get better results in negotiations with an insurance company than private customers.

Negligence

All drivers are responsible for operating their vehicles safely and following the rules of the road. Distracted, intoxicated, or reckless drivers should be held accountable for the damages and injuries their actions caused.

When to call an attorney

In short, after an auto accident, contact an attorney to navigate your insurance claim or even take your case to court. This is especially true if injuries or significant damages to your property are involved.

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