When Do You Need A Hire A Car Accident Lawyer?
Having a personal injury attorney on speed dial may seem unusual. But it’s a practical thing to do, especially since you never really know when you’ll need to hire a car accident lawyer.
Car accident lawyers are actually personal injury attorneys, and taking care of your car accident claim is only one of the many tasks they handle. And though it’s not something everybody does, it’s a wise move to have the number for an attorney you can rely on.
Why?
Because you could be the best defensive driver or the most careful one on the road. Yet, every day, we see careful drivers and law-abiding pedestrians involved in road accidents. So, whether you’re a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, you would do well to have a trusted car accident lawyer that you could consult should you get involved in a car accident.
The benefits of hiring a car accident lawyer
Besides knowing that you have the law on your side, when you hire a car accident lawyer, you know you have a voice in the legal process. And by choosing to work with a reputable lawyer with an excellent track record, you’ll feel confident that you have a real chance to achieve just compensation.
There are other advantages of having a car accident lawyer you can count on:
1. Your lawyer will know exactly what to do during an accident.
If you have a car accident and call your lawyer, it will be easier to gather evidence because they will tell you exactly what to do. One of the very first things you may be instructed to do is to take photos of the accident scene from all possible angles.
You may also be advised not to speak to anyone or at least avoid apologizing for the accident. It would be better to wait for your lawyer to speak on your behalf regarding anything that could legally implicate you in the car accident
For example, insurance company representatives might just be waiting for someone in the accident (including you) to make a mistake. Remember, insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying a huge sum as compensation, so you need to be careful. Anything you say could be taken out of context and used against you.
2. It will be easier and faster to make your claim.
When you’re not at fault in a car accident, your priority is to let the authorities know and prove that you are innocent. All you need to be concerned about is making your claim for damages. Without a lawyer, it could be difficult to achieve this seemingly simple thing.
With legal representation, you have someone who’s knowledgeable of the law representing you and looking out for your best interests. You know that you have a legal expert who will use effective methods to gather the required data, information, or proof and prove that you aren’t guilty of any wrongdoing.
Your lawyer will be tracking down and interviewing witnesses, getting photographic or other evidence of the accident, copies of the medical report, and expert analyses. Best of all, when you hire a car accident lawyer, you have a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
3. Your lawyer has the expertise to apply or interpret the law in your favor.
Most people can tell if something they commit is legal or illegal. However, when it comes to the legal arena itself and using the law to prove a person’s innocence or negligence, it’s crucial to have proper legal representation.
Your lawyer has the professional training and experience to use the law in the best possible way, in your favor. They will be able to point out in detail how the negligent party violated the law and show the extent of the damage to you in terms of physical, financial, and psychological impacts.
4. You’ll have a fair and comprehensive assessment of the cost of the accident.
Traffic accidents, especially ones where victims sustain severe injuries, come with a lot of costs. And it’s not just about the medical bills and the rehabilitation expenses, too. Aside from these things, your lawyer will also factor in your loss of livelihood or duration of absence from work and the pain and suffering that comes with the injuries in their calculation of just compensation for you.
5. You have a good chance of winning your case.
The ultimate objective of having a car accident lawyer is to ensure you win your case, whether you reach a settlement or go to trial. With a seasoned lawyer by your side from the beginning, you’ll have the confidence of knowing you’re well-represented in all proceedings. This means you’ll have peace of mind so that you can focus on your health and recovery instead of a legal struggle.
When do you need a car accident lawyer?
Obviously, you need a car accident lawyer who can advise you when you have a car accident. There are specific reasons for you to have one when you just had a car accident, including the following:
1. The insurance company is difficult to deal with.
The primary goal of insurance companies is to give the lowest amount possible for damages incurred in an accident. Their job is to protect their company’s interests and not give in to just about any claim they encounter.
If you have a highly experienced accident lawyer representing you, they’ll have a tougher time getting out of a just claim. Your lawyer would know exactly how to deal with insurance companies and make them give you the compensation you justly deserve.
Of course, they may also refuse. But if you have a lawyer who’s ready to take your case to trial, it’s more likely that the insurance company would award you the compensation you’re claiming, especially if they know that their chance of winning in court is slim.
2. You’re being blamed for an accident you didn’t cause.
If you are involved in a car accident and are being unfairly blamed for it, then the first order of business is proving your innocence. You need to be able to clearly and unequivocally prove that you are not at fault and that the insurance company should compensate you fairly.
Whatever the case may be, having proper legal representation can streamline the process of proving your innocence and proving your claim. It will also make it easier to deal with the authorities and collect and give evidence of your innocence as well.
3. Finding evidence is difficult.
When you are involved in a car accident, even when you know that it’s one of the first things you should do, getting documentary evidence might be the last thing on your mind. It’s especially difficult to take photos of the accident scene, interview witnesses and other victims, and get their details if you’ve injured yourself and need hospitalization.
This can make the process of getting proof of your innocence to support your insurance claim difficult. But if you hire a car accident lawyer, you’ll also have their resources at your disposal.
Getting fair compensation requires proof, so your lawyer will make sure to get as much evidence as possible to support your claim. They may have an investigator to handle the collection of necessary documents like DMV records, medical records, and expert testimonies.
When you have an attorney, you won’t need to be hampered by all the bureaucratic processes or red tape that can delay the process of accessing vital information.
4. You need to meet essential legal deadlines.
When it comes to insurance claims, there are specific deadlines you need to meet to keep your claim valid. Your accident lawyer is aware of all these deadlines, so they’ll stay on top of the claims process to ensure you can report the accident within the stipulated deadlines. This is especially important because missing an important deadline can invalidate your claim.
5. You don’t have the funds to facilitate your claim.
Most people are discouraged from approaching car accident lawyers (or attorneys in general) for fear of the expensive legal fees. Of course, if you just had an accident and haven’t received any compensation, it’s understandable that you would be a bit hard-up financially.
You’d be happy to know that the majority of personal injury lawyers (car accident lawyers included) won’t charge you anything until they win your case and you receive fair compensation. This means you don’t need to worry about having to pay anything upfront.
When you do receive your settlement, what they’ll do is take a percentage of what you receive as agreed. So, until that happens, you shouldn’t worry about paying for any legal fees. Instead, you should focus on healing and recovery.
Qualities of a great car accident lawyer
When hiring a car accident lawyer, you shouldn’t partner with the firm that’s located closest to you or just any law firm that you come across. There are essential qualities you need to be on the lookout for to ensure a harmonious and productive relationship.
So if you’re in the market for a car accident lawyer you can trust and depend on, make sure you find an attorney with the following traits:
Compassionate
All lawyers are expected to be skillful and knowledgeable of legal matters, as they should be, because they study for and prepare extensively to practice law. However, a great lawyer is not only a legal expert but also a people person.
They should care genuinely for, trust, and respect their clients. When you find this in a lawyer, then you know you have the whole package. A compassionate lawyer is empathetic, so they know exactly what you’re going through, and they’ll do their best to improve your situation.
But how do you know if a lawyer is compassionate?
Invest some time researching and going over some independent review sites, and you’re likely to find comments from their former clients. These should tell you what kind of lawyer you are considering based on client feedback.
Has the relevant experience
Although lawyers are expected to have a mastery of the law, they also have specializations. So, to ensure your chances of winning your case, look for a lawyer who has had a lot of experience dealing with car accident cases.
As much as possible, inquire about their track record and ask how many settlements they’ve successfully negotiated or cases they have won. You should also ask if they’ve handled cases similar to yours. Although less experience in car accident cases is not a reason to reject a possible lawyer, it’s in your best interest to find one who has successfully secured car accident settlements many times.
Communication
The most important factor in a successful lawyer-client relationship is communication. Some lawyers are guilty of not giving their clients adequate attention and time. They don’t return calls or fail to respond to emails promptly. Of course, lawyers can have large caseloads, but it’s not a reason to ignore client calls or communication.
What you should do is to ask your lawyer whether they could provide a reasonable schedule for updates. This means you won’t have to keep contacting them to return your correspondence. You will also have to wait until the time comes for them to provide updates on your case.
Whatever you agree upon, you’ll know you have a great lawyer when they keep you fully informed on all that’s happening to your case – whether you have a schedule to follow or not.
Finding the best accident lawyer to take charge of your car accident claim is crucial to the smooth and fast handling of your case. So, don’t rush and take your time getting the right one. Once you find a great lawyer to work with, get them on your speed dial, just in case.
If you need legal assistance regarding a car accident, please reach out to us at Chudleigh Law.
