After a car accident, you, as the injured victim, may let your car insurance companies handle the consequences. Unfortunately, allowing them to take care of the financial aspect can cost you a considerable amount of money in the long run. From the medical bills, lost wages, and earning capacity due to pain and emotional distress, you deserve to get compensated for the right value of all your losses. This is where hiring a car accident lawyer enters the picture.
Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
While many people think they can handle personal injury cases on their own, the following are six reasons why you should consider hiring a legal professional to handle your car accident case:
1. They Have Deep Knowledge Of Laws
Unless you’re a legal professional, you certainly require the assistance of a lawyer to handle your situation. With their experience and expertise, they know which laws apply to your case and how they can use them to your advantage. They can also give you a better understanding of those laws and how the legal system in your state interprets them. In this way, you don’t need to research these matters on your own.
Moreover, a reliable car accident lawyer can explain your rights and help you decide your next course of action. Hence, if you’re looking for someone who can help you navigate your case, start your search online by typing ‘car accident attorney near me’ in the search tab. Through this, you can have a variety of options to choose from.
2. They Can Determine The Worth Of Your Claim
Since experienced car accident lawyers have already settled various types of injury cases, they can figure out the true value of your claim. They can examine the details of your case, the extent or severity of your injuries, and the losses you’ve sustained as a result of the accident.
Typically, when you hire a lawyer, they can determine the following compensatory damages which form a part of your car accident claim:
- Costs of medical care associated with the accident
- Loss of income and capacity to earn a living
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
3. They Can Protect Your Rights During Insurance Negotiation
There are plenty of ways the insurance company can diminish or deny your claim, especially if they believe you’re at fault for it. To protect your rights and interests throughout the claiming process, it’s best to have a lawyer by your side to guide you. They know whether the insurer’s offer is too low, which is why they can become valuable in the negotiation.
Thus, if you need to deal with the insurance company, it’s a good idea to let yourself be represented by a lawyer. With them on your side, you can guarantee the insurance company won’t violate your rights as the injured victim.
4. They’re Aware Of The Timing
Just like other types of personal injury situations, auto accident cases have a statute of limitations you need to observe for the filing of claims. These time limits are in place to ensure the parties will file paperwork on time. Otherwise, they’ll waive their rights to enforce their causes of action in court.
So if you want to make sure your car accident case will be filed on time, you should hire a lawyer who’s familiar with the limitations being applied in your state. In this way, you can be assured your circumstance is being handled justly.
5. They Can Help Collect Pieces Of Evidence
Generally, if you want to get a favorable judgment in a car accident case, you need to establish the other driver’s negligent behavior as a cause of the collision, which resulted in your injuries. Therefore, to increase your chances of winning the case and obtaining the right amount of compensation, it’s important to collect pieces of evidence to prove the negligence of the other driver involved.
You can do this by working with a certified car accident lawyer since they can help you obtain the following:
- Medical records
- Police reports
- Photos of the accident scene
- Photos of the property damage and injuries sustained
- Testimonies of the witnesses
There are several pieces of evidence you need to gather to strengthen your case. In addition to the list, having a lawyer on your side gives you access to expert witnesses who can also help prove you’re injured in an accident caused by the other driver’s lack of discipline.
6. They Provide Strong Representation In Court
When the negotiation efforts with the insurance company didn’t push through, your last recourse is to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. However, bringing a case and proving it is much harder than negotiating with the insurance firm because all cases filed in the courts of law are governed by certain rules and formalities, which can affect the kinds of evidence you can present and the questions you can ask the other party.
Due to these complexities, it’s best to have a lawyer who can provide you with strong representation in court. Since persuading the judge and the jury to side with you may need extensive research and preparation, you need a legal professional who can guide you through the following stages of litigation:
- Discovery: Your lawyer will obtain further evidence from the other party and assess the nature of the other side’s case.
- Mediation: Your lawyer will try to negotiate and enter into a compromise agreement with the other party while fighting for the right amount of compensation you should receive.
- Trial: Your lawyer will present your argument to convince the court and the jury to issue a judgment in your favor.
Bottom Line
Indeed, dealing with car accident cases can be a complicated and overwhelming experience, so if you’ve been injured in a car collision as a result of someone else’s recklessness, keep these reasons in mind to know the importance of hiring a car accident lawyer for your case. Remember, by working with a legal professional, you can focus on your physical recovery while they handle the legal side of your situation.
