when you are in an accident are you better off using an attorney

by Dr. Delpha Marks 10 min read

If you have read the previous article carefully, there is no doubt that you have concluded that the main goal of hiring an attorney in a car accident is to get your rights. An experienced, well-rated, and reliable lawyer will do his or her best to get the best deals for you.

There is no law mandating that you must hire an attorney when seeking compensation after a car accident. Some victims of car accidents choose to seek legal counsel and representation so that they can focus on their health and recovery while also pursuing legal action.

Full Answer

Should I hire an injury attorney after a car accident?

You should hire a car accident attorney in California if: You sustained a severe injury — the more severe your injury, the more financial burdens you will have. The more the insurance company will fight paying what your claim is worth. Severe injuries do not necessarily mean you were hospitalized or had surgery.

What happens if you don’t see a doctor after an accident?

Apr 02, 2021 · After an accident, there’s so much to be done – and much of it is costly. If you hire an attorney, they will fight for you to win the maximum amount of compensation possible. For instance, these expenses could be covered: Car repairs; Doctor visits; Hospitalization; Rehabilitation programs; Future medical costs

What should I do after a personal injury accident?

If you decide to go to court, make sure you research the types of settlements other drivers in your position received in previous lawsuits. This will help you better understand your options and your chances of winning. Remember, if you lose, you could end up having to pay the other drivers’ attorney fees. The more prepared you are for your court appearance, the better off you’ll be.

Should I hire an attorney for a personal injury claim?

0:30. It’s important to hire a personal injury attorney and speak to your insurance company after being in a car accident. When you hire an experienced law firm, like John Foy & Associates, the insurance company will know who they are and how your case is handled will be a huge difference. While you should contact your insurance company as well as ...

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Should I Get An Attorney After A Car Accident?

If you are not hurt, you may not need an attorney. However, don’t entirely rule it out. In certain complex situations, an attorney’s legal knowledge may be critical – even if you are not injured.

What Compensation Can I Collect?

After an accident, there’s so much to be done – and much of it is costly. If you hire an attorney, they will fight for you to win the maximum amount of compensation possible. For instance, these expenses could be covered:

What Do I Need to Do to Get Compensation?

If you hire Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, you won’t have to do much! Our lawyers will help you manage your case from start to finish. We will keep any and all evidence organized and preserved. We will also use our experience to handle insurance company tactics to effectively fight back on your behalf.

Is There Anything I Can Do to Ensure a Strong Case?

While hiring legal professionals to help build a strong case can result in just compensation, you can do a few things as well to help solidify your case. These things include:

How Soon After My Accident Should I Hire an Attorney?

Hire an attorney as soon as possible. You will need immediate representation because the at-fault party will reach out to their insurance provider, who will then reach out to you. Why does this matter?

What Happens After I Hire an Attorney?

After you hire an attorney at Lerner and Rowe, our legal team will need to know more specific details about the accident. This information can be gleaned from your recollection of the accident, other parties’ information, the police report, medical documentation, and more.

What Do I Have to Lose in Hiring a Lawyer?

You have nothing to lose and so much to gain by contacting Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys. The call is free, the consultation is free, and you pay no out-of-pocket fees unless compensation is won for your case.

What do you need to know before you settle a car accident?

Before you can start working toward a settlement, you need to speak with the insurance adjuster to find out what they’re willing to cover after you file your claim. They’ll look at the damage done to your car and any medical expenses you have relating to the accident.

What happens if you accept a settlement?

If you accept the settlement, you’re done and you can focus on getting your life back to normal.

Can you represent yourself in court?

Understand that representing yourself isn’t always best. While it is possible to represent yourself in court and settle a car accident claim without hiring a car accident lawyer, it’s not the best idea. Attorneys have extensive experience helping clients get the money they deserve.

Can you settle a car accident claim out of court?

There are administrative charges, court fees, and the potential for further lost income as you’ll have to spend time in the courtroom rather than at work. If at all possible, try to settle the car accident claim out of court.

What is a multiplier in personal injury?

Lawyers and writers have often talked about a "multiplier" in personal injury cases, used by insurance companies to calculate pain and suffering as being worth some multiple of your special damages. But that is only true up to a point.

What to do if you don't accept a counter offer?

Consider the counter-offer, and then decide if you want to accept it or not. If you do, fine. Take the money, and sign a release. If you don't, get ready to file a personal injury lawsuit in court.

When should you send a demand letter?

In short, it's best to send a demand letter only after you have taken a thorough look at the impact of your injury on all aspects of your life, and made a reasonable valuation of your injury claim. This is important because in your demand letter, you will be detailing for the insurance carrier or the defendant:

Can you represent yourself in an accident?

When To Consider Self-Representation. It's certainly possible to represent yourself in a personal injury claim after an accident come away with a satisfactory result. This is especially true if you have experience handling your own legal matters in the past, and you're able and willing to stand up for yourself and your case.

Can an insurance adjuster negotiate a low settlement?

Remember, the insurance adjuster will probably low-ball you but then you can start to negotiate. It's okay if your demand is on the high side - this will give you room to negotiate later. Learn more about responding to a low personal injury settlement offer.

What are special damages?

Special damages include property damage (costs to fix or replace your car after an accident), lost earnings and lost earning capacity, medical bills, and other financial losses attributable to your accident. They are capable of exact calculation because they can usually be added up.

What does it mean to settle out of court?

So a fair settlement amount should reflect this risk. Additionally, settling out of court means you'll be compensated more quickly, and you'll avoid many court appearances and high litigation costs. Most claims are negotiated and settled outside of court.

What happens if you make the wrong move after an accident?

Making the wrong moves after an auto accident can ruin your chances of getting what you deserve —or even getting better. In fact, some mistakes can affect your physical health and keep you from making a full recovery. Other errors can prevent you from recovering financially for your medical bills and other losses.

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

You’ll have no chance of ever getting compensation for your claim. Typically, car crash victims have only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. In some cases, the deadline is even earlier.

What to do if you don't need an ambulance?

Even if you don’t need an ambulance ride, seek a medical evaluation for non-emergency injuries. Failing to seek medical care after an accident can be disastrous to your health, as even minor injuries can quickly lead to complications and lasting symptoms.

Do you need a lawyer for a car accident?

Your insurance adjuster might tell you that you don’t need a lawyer, but that’s only because the insurance company doesn’t want you to have one.

What happens after a car crash?

After a car crash, there can be a lot going on, and the accident scene can disperse before you know it. After all, the police likely want to clear the accident so traffic can return to normal.

Can a concussion cause confusion?

Before your diagnosis, you can aggravate the injury even more, sometimes requiring more treatment for it to heal. Similarly, disorientation, confusion, or fogginess following a crash is often assumed to be stress-related. However, it might be a symptom of a concussion, which is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Is it okay to downplay your injuries?

Don’t say you’re okay. It’s natural to want to downplay your injuries, either because you’re in shock and aren’t sure of the extent of your injuries or because you’re too overwhelmed and don’t want to deal with it. Some people simply do not like having attention focused on them when they might have injuries.

Bradford Charles Brereton

Report it to your insurance company asap, and do not respond to the other side at all. Let your own insurance company handle it, it is by the far the best approach, and it allows you peace of mind.

Arnold William Gross

This is why you have automobile insurance. Let your insurance company handle it on your behalf. If the lady files a lawsuit, your insurance will hire attorneys to represent and defend you. Keep all of your notes and emails for use by your insurance company and attorneys.

Andrew Y. Kim

You should just let your insurance handle the claim. No need to hire an attorney. One will be assigned to you of the other party and your insurance cannot reach a settlement and if a lawsuit is filed against you.

Rafael Carrillo

Do not disclose your policy limits yet. It sounds like this was a very minor accident and even the minimum insurance policy in California should be enough to cover this accident. Just let your insurance company handle this for you. If they file a lawsuit against you, your insurance company would hire a lawyer to defend you.

Brian Anthony Carness

One of the things that most people don't know is that your automobile insurance policy requires your insurance company to defend you against any claims arising from a covered automobile collision. You do not usually need to hire your own attorney. Send the documents to your insurance company.

Jeffrey Shawn Hughes

The simple way to handle this is to let your insurance company handle it. If they cannot get the claim resolved, and a lawsuit is filed, your insurance carrier will provide you with an attorney. Sounds like this will be resolved well before it gets to that point.#N#Regards,#N#Jeffrey Hughes

Richard Andrew Crites

You should immediately contact your insurance company and let it handle this claim. Refer the opposing attorney to your insurance company and follow its instructions. This will be the safest way to ensure that you are defended and indemnified by it.

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Guidance on Handling Evidence and Making Statements

Building A Strong Foundation For Negotiations

Taking on Settlement Negotiations

  • Settlement negotiations can help Avoid costly legal fees are going to court. Additionally, most consumers believe that car insurance providers have an obligation to provide full compensation to the victim. That’s not an unreasonable expectation, but most consumers are not well versed in settlement negotiation tactics. Before going into settlement negotiations, an attorney will help y…
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Moving The Claim to Court If Necessary

  • Moving a claim to court can be extremely expensive for the insurance company, and for you. Most attorneys work on a contingency fee agreement, and those usually contain a clause or a statement that outlines how the fee system changes when you decide to go to court. Average contingency fees across the nation are about 33% of the recovery, which is under the scenario o…
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Finding A Birmingham Car Accident Attorney For Your Crash Claim

  • Alabama relies on a pure contributory negligence system, which for many people, can become problematic quickly. Most Alabama car accident attorneys will help you focus on building a strong foundation for reasonable negotiations and helping to ensure that you don’t get saddled with even a bit of fault. Even a 1% finding of fault can make it so that ...
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