Even the most careful driver will be involved in a car accident at one point or another. In fact, every year, scores of drivers are injured in car accidents due to no fault of their own.
Even a minor collision can result in serious injuries to the drivers and passengers in the vehicles involved. These injuries can result in days, weeks, or months of lost wages, a mountain of medical bills, extensive damage to your car, and severe pain and suffering.
Car Accidents Attorneys
Car accident attorneys help victims of car accidents recover damages from those who are responsible and/or their insurance companies. Car accident attorneys also assist victims of car accidents recover maximum compensation from their own insurance providers.
After meticulous research, investigation, and analysis of the cause of the accident, an experienced car accident attorney will build a strong case for you to demand compensation for any losses you have sustained, and in some cases, even when you are partly to blame for the accident.
A good car accident attorney will have extensive experience representing clients who have been injured in car accidents caused by a wide variety of circumstances, including but not limited to:
- Distracted Drivers
- Drunk Drivers
- Reckless Drivers
- Bad Road Conditions
This includes accidents involving other cars, trucks, motorcycles, cyclists, and busses, as well as, uninsured or underinsured motorists.
Why Use A Car Accident Attorney?
If you are involved in a minor incident, and you are not injured or only require a one-time hospital visit, then you may not need the help of a car accident attorney at all. The law does not require you to be represented by an attorney for a car accident claim, but there are many reasons why it would still be in your best interest, most notably:
- To Find Out If You Have A Valid Claim
When a person is injured due to the negligence of another, the injured party may pursue a claim against the person or persons responsible and/or their insurance provider. However, the person making a claim for compensation must show acceptable proof of their injuries and losses (damages), as well as, proof of the negligent party’s or parties’ responsibility (liability).
The rules that govern personal injury claims are varied and complex. Only by consulting with an experienced car accident attorney can you know if your situation constitutes a valid claim and whether or not you have a claim worth pursuing.
- To Assess The Value of Your Claim
The value of your car accident claim depends on the extent of the injuries and economic losses you have sustained. This requires:
- A thorough examination of your medical expenses;
- The medical reports regarding your injuries, diagnosis, treatment, and probable outcome;
- Proof of past and future lost wages/income and property damage; and
- Placing a value on non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of quality of life, etc.
All of this information must be put forth in a persuasive argument to an insurance adjuster, the insurance company’s defense attorney, an arbitrator, or to a jury at trial. An experienced car accident attorney who has handled a great number of cases will have the knowledge and expertise to maximize the value of your car accident claim.
- To Ensure That You Are Treated Fairly
Insurance companies are often reluctant to fully compensate the victims of car accidents and will do everything they can to minimize your claim. In fact, insurance adjusters are trained to scrutinize every aspect of your claim to identify reasons to pay you less.
What’s more, a good number of insurance companies use computer programs to determine the worth of a claim, often, with no human involvement at all. The insurance adjuster simply inputs various variables into the program in order to compute the value of your claim. Unfortunately, these variables don’t always tell the whole story and the value they compute doesn’t always reflect the full extent of the damages you have suffered.
If either of the above is the case, you should expect a difficult fight to receive the compensation you deserve. You will need a good car accident attorney who has a proven record of success, both in and out of the courtroom, and who will aggressively defend your rights and ensure that you are treated and compensated fairly.
- To Put Together Your Legal team
No attorney can handle every aspect of your case alone. An experienced attorney may employ private investigators to locate witnesses and physical facts, paralegals to handle the paperwork and day-to-day legal details of your case, and consultants and experts to provide complicated medical, engineering, and economic information.
Every car accident claim is unique, and the particular members of a legal team will vary from case to case. It is the duty of your car accident attorney to select the team members who will best serve your interests and increase your chances achieving a favorable outcome.
- The Statute of Limitations
There are vitally important deadlines involved in a car accident claim that must be observed. Those vary from state to state, but all require you to file a lawsuit within a specific date of the accident in order to preserve your right to recover damages with a personal injury claim. This is called the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations applied to vehicles driven by government employees are typically much shorter and require specific notice rules.
An experienced car accident attorney can best advise you of the applicable statute of limitations and other deadlines for your particular claim and any exceptions that may apply.
- Knowledge, Experience, and Expertise
Personal injury laws are complicated and there are many things that can stall a car accident claim. Simply having an attorney to help you navigate the pitfalls can be a huge benefit to you.
On the other hand, attempting to represent yourself can be difficult and lead to unwanted results. Hiring an experienced car accident attorney is your best chance to recover your losses and get back on your feet.
Furthermore, juries look more favorably on individuals who are represented by an attorney. It shows that they are invested in the outcome of their case and that they are taking the matter seriously.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, don’t delay. Getting an experienced car accident attorney involved early gives you the best chance to be compensated for your injuries and losses. Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they only get paid if, and when, they negotiate a settlement or win a judgment on your behalf.
