IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO CONTACT A LAWYER AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

It is never too early to speak to an attorney after a car accident, and contacting an experienced personal injury attorney should be a high priority if any of the following apply to your situation.

• The shock caused a major injury, from broken bones to paralysis, or death.
• It’s not clear who is to blame
• The accident involved other motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists.
• The collision occurred in a construction zone, school zone, or other protected area
• The police or accident report does not accurately describe what happened.
• There are concerns regarding the status of your insurance, limits of liability or lack of insurance.
• Your insurance company sends mixed messages, raises issues you didn’t know about, or connects you to your attorney.

Small collisions, such as «defense defenses», may not require the assistance of an attorney. In these cases, you may be able to resolve the matter directly with the insurance company. If the following examples reflect your situation, you may not need the help of an attorney.

• Your vehicle is undamaged, or the damage can be repaired with the money offered by the insurance company
• You and your passengers were not seriously injured and did not need to see a doctor.
• You and your passengers did not need to miss work or significantly alter your lifestyle and activities after the accident.

However, even if your scenario fits this description, it doesn’t hurt to seek a consultation with an attorney. Most personal injury attorneys, including those at the Crosley Law Firm, offer free initial consultations with no strings attached. During the consultation, the attorney will listen to your story and then give you a direct and honest evaluation of your case. From there, you can decide if your unique situation would benefit from hiring an attorney.

THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A LAWYER

It may seem like a hassle to involve an attorney if you don’t think you need one. However, hiring a car accident attorney has many benefits, and if you choose not to hire one, you will quickly discover the hassle of handling your own car accident case without the help of an attorney. Below are two of the most important benefits of working with an attorney after a car accident.

BENEFIT # 1: DEALING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY

Insurance companies have a lot of money and legal resources at their disposal. They have specific goals in a car accident case: deny you the compensation you deserve or get you settled quickly and for the least amount of money possible.

Once the at-fault party notifies their insurance company of a collision, an insurance agent will call you shortly thereafter. They can also make visits to your home, hospital room, or workplace.

Because they want you to act hastily and sign a deal, the insurance company will do its best to convince you that it is in your best interest. Do not be fooled. Insurance companies only pursue their own interests and want you to accept the lowest possible deal and sign an exemption that will eliminate any legal liability issues for them.

The insurance company will also discourage you from hiring an attorney. They will tell you that hiring an attorney will only make things more complicated, and that you can come to an agreement directly with them. Remember that they have their own benefit in mind, not yours. Once an attorney is involved, the job of the insurance agent, which is to make your case go away while paying you the least amount of money possible, becomes much more difficult.

BENEFIT # 2: GAIN CONFIDENCE AND REDUCE UNCERTAINTY

Hiring an attorney can help you make up your time and allow you to focus on your health and recovery, especially if you contact the attorney right away and start working with them as soon as possible after your accident. When you hire an attorney, all interactions and communications related to your case will go through your attorney, who will know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it.

A personal injury case can often turn into a situation of what he / she said. Even with a detailed accident report or eyewitness accounts of what happened, it can be difficult to demonstrate negligence and absolute blame. An attorney will understand the many nuances of the law and how it applies to your case, and help you navigate these difficult aspects of a personal injury case with confidence.

A personal injury attorney can also estimate the potential damages you could recover and assess the value of the insurance policies against which you can file claims. The attorney will take into account current and future medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of potential future income, and emotional pain and suffering when calculating the potential value of your case. This will give you a more concrete idea of ​​the value of your case and help you decide whether to accept a possible settlement from the insurance company.

If you start taking legal action on your own, but find it more complicated than you originally thought, don’t worry, you can still get help from an attorney. Although it is best to start working with your attorney as soon as possible after your accident, an attorney can enter the process at any time to help organize your case and formulate a strategy to improve your chances of obtaining the best possible outcome.

Remember that insurance companies have the best attorneys working on your behalf, which means that if you decide to represent yourself, you could be at a significant disadvantage. If you’ve been injured, don’t sell your case short and know that you deserve to have an experienced car accident attorney to fight for you.