Do I Really Need to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may find yourself wondering if you should hire a lawyer or attempt to negotiate a settlement yourself. Sure, the insurance adjuster says that you don’t need a lawyer, but their goal is literally the exact opposite of yours.
The decision about whether to engage the services of a personal injury lawyer really depends upon whether or not you’ve been injured, and how severe those injuries actually are.
If you suffer injuries in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, the first thing you need to do is seek medical treatment right away. Any delay could make it more difficult to prove those injuries were not pre-existing, and you as a victim have the duty to mitigate such damages.
Your very next step should be to consult with a personal injury lawyer about your situation and the legal options available to you. There’s no risk in speaking with a couple of lawyers as these consultations are free of charge. Discuss the severity of your injuries as well as any other damages (lost wages, medical bills, etc) you have, and ask questions!
If your injuries are relatively minor, you may be told that handling your own claim might be the best course of action. Alternatively, if your damages are significant, it will almost always be in your best interests to hire an attorney. When it comes down to it, listen to the advice you’re given. An attorney who deals with these types of situations on a daily basis can provide a lot of insight. If more than one attorney is willing to take on your case, choose a lawyer with whom you feel most comfortable.
The Purpose of a Lawyer
Do not make the assumption that you can fairly negotiate a large settlement yourself. Personal injury lawyers exist to help you in this exact situation. If everyone could fairly negotiate their own injury claims, personal injury lawyers would have no reason to exist. Our job is to advocate on your behalf, and fight the other side in order to get you the maximum amount of compensation after a personal injury. If you’ve never litigated a personal injury case in court (and beat the insurance company), they simply have no reason to fairly negotiate as they already know they have a huge advantage over you.
There is a great deal of work that comprises the negotiation of an insurance settlement. After you have been in a car accident, you need to focus on recovering; not battling the insurance company. If your injuries are serious enough, you may not even be in a position to think about your claim for many weeks or even months. Unfortunately, delaying your claim is the worst thing you can do. By hiring an attorney, you can focus on getting better while they work on getting you the money you deserve.
Another purpose your lawyer will serve is organizing all the evidence and preparing the demand letter for the insurance company. If you are unable to reach a settlement in your case, your attorney will then need to file all the necessary paperwork to initiate a lawsuit on your behalf.
Beware of Underhanded Insurance Tactics
Insurance companies are notorious for trying to find ways to avoid paying even on valid claims. They don’t want to pay any more than they absolutely have to, and will delve deeply into all facets of your case (and sometimes even your personal life and relationships) in order to find ways of reducing the true value of your claim.
It’s essential to hold on to all receipts, bills, and documentation. Never turn these documents over to the insurance company. They will try to convince you that they need them in order to cover your medical bills, but this is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Once you’ve treated, they’ll blindside you by only offering to pay a tiny percentage of your existing bills. By this time, it may be difficult to find an attorney to take on your case, and bills are starting to go unpaid. The insurance company knows this is a vulnerable time for you, and that you’re likely to settle for pennies on the dollar in order to relieve the financial pressure you’re feeling. Do not let the insurance company further victimize you!
The Ultimate Goal
When you hire an attorney to handle your injury claim, you will then be free to focus all your energy on recovering from the accident. You don’t need the added stress of fighting with the insurance company. Your attorney will handle all the work involved in preparing your case while you simply concentrate on your treatment and getting your health back to where it was before the accident (or as close as possible).
Once you hire an attorney to represent you, they will advise all the parties involved to refrain from contacting you directly. No settlement will be agreed upon without your express consent, so you can take comfort that you still control the ultimate outcome of your case.
If you’ve been injured and would like to discuss your potential case, please call 1-877-405-4313 for a free consultation.
Category: Lawyer's Advice
I need a malpractice lawyer. Does your firm handle those kind of cases???