when to hire an auto accident attorney

by Prof. Trudie Lindgren V 10 min read

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

  • driver error or negligence
  • distracted driving or cell phone use
  • death as a result of the crash
  • issues in dealing with your insurance company
  • inaccuracies in the police report that result in you being at fault

In terms of when one should obtain legal representation, the general rule of thumb is the earlier the better. By hiring a lawyer soon after an accident, you can safeguard yourself against any costly mistakes you might make on your own, especially if this if your first time dealing with a serious car accident.

Full Answer

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.

How to hire an accident lawyer?

Because an insurance company's lawyers have the knowledge to reduce compensation and even deny the claim altogether, hiring an accident attorney is the best option for people who: 1 Have suffered severe injuries. 2 Are faced with expensive medical bills. 3 Have experienced a significant loss of wages due to their injuries.

Why do insurance companies hire accident lawyers?

Because an insurance company's lawyers have the knowledge to reduce compensation and even deny the claim altogether , hiring an accident attorney is the best option for people who:

Why is it important to hire a personal injury attorney?

Because of possible situations such as statutes of limitations (which can vary by state), it's important to hire a personal injury attorney and get the claims process going as quickly as possible; however, you don't want to hire the first attorney for whom you see a billboard on the highway.

How long does a long term injury last?

Generally speaking, a long-term injury is one that lasts for around a year or longer , while a permanent injury is one that disables you for life. These types of personal injuries seriously affect your ability to become and stay employed—not to mention the quality of your life.

Can a lawyer handle multiple cases at once?

While it's not impossible for a skilled lawyer to juggle multiple cases at one time (actually, it's pretty normal), you probably don't want to put your trust in the hands of an attorney whose focus is spread uncomfortably thin. Second, consider how the attorney treats you and your case.

Is there a wide range of lawyers?

Just as there are many different doctors who focus on many different areas of medicine, there is a wide range of lawyers from which to choose.

Do all personal injury attorneys have experience?

Not all personal injury attorneys have experience with cases that deal with personal injury caused by a car accident. Some focus more on slip-and-fall accidents, others on work-related injuries, and others still on premise liability cases. Make sure the attorney you choose has represented individuals who've suffered personal injuries specifically ...

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