This content written for Willhoite Law, PLLC.
Have you been involved in a car accident recently? Being involved in a car accident is the worst nightmare a driver can encounter. It’s scary and often overwhelming. A personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents can eliminate or reduce the amount of paperwork, bureaucracy, and hassle associated with car accident insurance claims.
If you were in a fender bender, these claims for car accidents can usually be handled without difficulty through direct contact with the insurance company. Anything else, and you should consider getting an car wreck lawyer’s consultation. If for any reason you are wrestling and struggling with a car insurance company, you should not do it alone.
Car insurance companies have their cases handled by a team of experts, including lawyers. If you feel you need to hire an injury lawyer for a car accident, the earlier you hire them the better. It will help you avoid costly mistakes that can cause you to lose money when you hire an attorney after a car accident. Remember you may be stuck coming out of pocket for expenses like medical bills and lost wages if you fail to hire a car accident lawyer right away.
You don’t want to settle with the car insurance company without a car wreck attorney on your side. Without the right car wreck lawyer on your side, you might miss out on tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You can be compensated for losses such as lost wages, car repairs, and medical expenses by an experienced auto accident attorney.
Some clients are concerned on how much a car attorney is going to cost them. Not all attorneys responsible for car accidents are created equal. The same applies to how they charge you to represent you in the case of personal injury to your car accident. On a contingency of “no win no fees,” a good injury attorney accepts your case, meaning they won’t charge you a dime unless they win the case for you. You walk away without any cost on your part if they don’t win the case.
Not every person involved in an accident needs a car wreck lawyer. A car accident without injury is defined as an accident without bodily injury and therefore does not necessarily need a lawyer. Don’t make yourself the “no injury” judgment, though. Look for a medical examination if you think you may have injuries. You’ll want your doctor to clear you of any medical hazards. If your doctor clears you of any injuries, then you should simply file your insurance claim and not seek advice. If your doctor says medical complications exist, get the doctor to write a letter addressing the accident injuries.
The party at fault may ask you, or state “why do I need a lawyer for injury if the accident wasn’t my fault?” Remember, these people are motivated to deny the accident they’ve caused. They do not want to significantly increase their insurance premiums. In this case, hiring a good lawyer for auto accidents is vital. This person has caused an accident and you are worried about the next thing to do.
Keep in mind there are multiple steps to follow when involved in a car wreck: Contact the police, exchange information with all involved parties, take as many photographs of the accident as you can, seek immediate medical attention, report any injuries to your insurance company, and contact a personal injury attorney.
When exchanging information with the other driver, make sure to secure their full name and contact information; insurance company and their policy number, driver’s license and license plate number; type, color, and vehicle model. The most critical component is to not discuss who is at fault when exchange information.
More importantly, do not leave the wreck scene without checking with the police first. Don’t discuss the accident with anyone before talking to your attorney nor agree to settle without discussing terms with your accident lawyer. Whatever you do, do not admit that you were at fault in the accident (even if you think you were). Don’t say anything that could be interpreted as a fault admission. This includes phrases such as “I’m sorry,” or “I did not you”. Let your personal attorney handle it.
The insurance company will review things like information provided by you and the other parties, the police report, scene photographs, and any other supporting documentation when you file your claim. Then the legal proceedings will determine who is responsible for the accident. If you can prevent going alone to the trials, then please hire a car wreck attorney to assist you during this process.
An experienced and reputable car wreck lawyer won’t suggest lying. Instead, he or she will suggest you be polite, exchange information about contacts and insurance, and cooperate with the law enforcement. Nevertheless, even if an attorney, police officer, or emergency responder asks about whose fault the accident was, do not admit faulting. If someone is lobbying you, just tell them that your lawyer has advised you not to discuss it, then immediately reach an attorney for guidance.
Safety is your priority, not only for you but for also those involved. Do whatever it takes to get out of the way of harm. Be thorough in how you document the scene and gather information once you have done that. Any piece of information that you gather may be useful in the future. Consider hiring an attorney in the days after the car accident to help you deal with the after-effects of the crash. This includes dealing with insurance companies as well as recovering from your own injuries.
The simple truth is that it is never pleasant to crash cars. However, you can recover from your crash and be fairly compensated by following the steps mentioned before. Most professional car wreck lawyer will offer a free consultation and will truly care for their clients by finding the best solution for them. It is the victim’s responsibility to seek medical attention for an immediate evaluation. If you’re injured, you can take the necessary steps to recover from the damage.