When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Car crashes can be fatal and significantly disrupt your life or the life of a loved one. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System registered 33,654 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2018. These accidents caused legal battles for the victims, either alone or with legal expertise. When do you consult a car accident lawyers? Here is what to consider:

You Were Hurt

Some accidents cause fatal injuries, while others are minor. You may escape with sprains or bruises and car damages but nothing serious. In such cases, you can work with the insurer to get compensated for your losses. However, the accident may cause broken bones, a damaged spinal cord, or a body part loss. These fatal situations need an attorney to file claims for medical treatment, car damages, and wage loss. Additionally, an attorney helps you prove emotional and mental trauma requiring a high evidentiary bar.

The Accident Wasn’t Your Fault

Your insurance company gets you a personal injuries lawyer to defend you if you caused the accident. But you cannot make a claim against anyone. Inversely, you can have an attorney’s representation if you are the victim.

You Want the Rightful Claim

Filing for a claim needs knowledge on the medical bills for treating and recovering from car accident injuries. A legal expert can help you estimate the extent of injuries and future treatment. Hence, they negotiate with the insurer to claim for all expenses. Additionally, the attorney could threaten to take legal action to get you a fair settlement. In case of a lawsuit, the lawyer represents you before the judge, jury, and attorneys to get full compensation.

You Can’t Bear the Burden

Usually, a victim is emotionally and physically drained after a car accident. Car accident claims involve making phone calls, negotiating with the insurance company, following up, and documentation. These tasks need time and physical strength. Instead, you can concentrate on healing and have a personal injury attorney to handle your case.

You Need Legal Advice

Pursuing a claim settlement can be complicated. First, the law may give you a limited time (usually two years) within which you should file your claim. You should note that you cannot pursue a lawsuit after the time expires. Secondly, you need knowledge about insurance. You have to know different types of insurance policies and the laws that govern them. Thirdly, there are special exceptions to the statute of limitations that affect your lawsuit. For instance, when the at-fault driver is a minor, the case may go through the parents. These situations might be hard to sail through without an attorney.

After a car accident, you may want to file claims and recover your losses. This process can be done with or without legal expertise. You require a car accident lawyer to handle the legwork, give you advice, and get a fair settlement. However, you may not need an attorney if you weren’t hurt and didn’t cause the accident.