A car accident can be one of life’s more stressful moments, and unfortunately, some drivers suffer for a long time after the event. While traffic fatalities have decreased in most of the industrialized world, they have been trending the opposite way in the United States.
Hiring a car accident attorney has never been more important.
The aftermath of a car accident is a confusing time in which a victim may struggle with horrific injuries and financial damage. The adrenaline from the incident can cause them not to think clearly and during a time when a clear head is crucial.
Greenacres car accident lawyers can provide the guidance you need. There are forms to fill out, claims to make, and statements to give. One mistake can jeopardize your financial future. You should never try to handle this process on your own without a legal professional.
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Greenacres car accident Guide
- It Is Always Worth It to Consult a Car Accident Lawyer
- Consultations Are Free, So You Have Nothing to Lose
- An Attorney Will be Honest About Whether You Need Their Services
- Situations When You Should Always Contact an Attorney
- Other Reasons for Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
- Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Can Often Lead to a Better Outcome
- How Your Claim Will Proceed with an Car Accident Attorney Guiding You
- Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Car Accident Lawyer Today
It Is Always Worth It to Consult a Car Accident Lawyer
Hiring an attorney will alleviate many concerns almost immediately and start you on a journey to recovery without the headache of insurance negotiations or other legal issues. There is always a good reason to contact a car accident attorney, especially if you are unsure who was to blame for the crash.
A car accident lawyer will help determine the following:
- What happened during, before, and after the collision
- Who was at fault for causing the accident
- What other parties might share in legal liability
- What economic damages you have suffered
- What non-economic damages you suffered
- How much medical treatment has cost or will cost
- How much future earnings will be affected
- Earnings you have lost
- Emotional or psychological pain you encountered
- Ongoing and expected decreased quality of life
Consultations Are Free, So You Have Nothing to Lose
Car accident attorneys will be honest about whether they can help you. They use the free consultation to assess your situation and determine whether you have a valid claim, as they do not want to accept cases with no chance of success.
Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning the initial consultancy is free. The first consultation with a car accident lawyer will cover many aspects of your accident and injuries. They are ready to listen to your story, answer your questions, and provide you with the guidance you need during this challenging time.
There is no downside to consulting a car accident lawyer because, in the long run, they will save you time and money, bring peace of mind, and stand up for your legal rights.
An Attorney Will be Honest About Whether You Need Their Services
If a car accident lawyer is to take on your case, there are conditions for success. A car accident lawyer will evaluate the following factors:
- Liability. If there is no indication that another party caused the accident or shares in legal liability under your state’s laws, the attorney will likely not accept the case.
- Statute of limitations (SOL). Each car accident has a deadline defined by the state’s laws. Each state has a statute of limitations, which may have passed already. If the SOL has expired, a lawyer might neglect to take the case, as obtaining compensation can be challenging.
- Conflict of interest. The lawyer may decline the case if they are representing another party in the same incident or have another conflict of interest. They must abide by ethical rules regarding conflicts.
- No financial losses. As stressful as an accident might be, you still might not have injuries and financial losses. Often, emotional distress alone is not enough for an attorney to take a car accident claim.
Car accident cases are usually settled through “tort law,” which refers to one party paying another party damages for their negligence. You want an attorney experienced in bringing these types of claims.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
You might think you have no case if the other driver has no insurance. Studies show that up to 14 percent of drivers don’t carry auto insurance, and when they cause crashes, the resulting legal process can be more complicated.
Often, an attorney can still help you get the best settlement following an uninsured motorist collision. You might use no-fault or uninsured motorist coverage from your own policy to cover your losses, and your lawyer will maximize these claims.
Situations When You Should Always Contact an Attorney
There are situations when a car accident attorney is definitely necessary, though even seemingly simple cases can benefit from legal representation. Minor whiplash or joint damage still requires medical intervention, which costs time and money. A minor injury may be worth more than you imagine.
The following circumstances are common and present especially good reasons to consult a car accident attorney:
The Other Driver is Denying Liability
It is common for the defending party to make a counter-accusation and blame you for the accident. If they can successfully shift blame onto the victim, they can decrease or completely eliminate their liability.
Car accident lawyers will challenge wrongful accusations of blame. If your case is viable, a car accident attorney will use evidence to strengthen your claims and render such tactics useless.
You Have Injuries that Require Medical Treatment
Often, the more severe one’s injury, the more an opposing insurance company will try to lowball the offer. What’s more, even a fractured bone needs months of rehabilitation and possible lost income, so the even costs of seemingly common injuries can be extensive.
The chances are your injuries are considerable. Car collisions — even low-speed ones — can have profound, long-lasting effects on a victim. There can be few more difficult tasks than recovering from life-changing injuries caused by another person.
Long-term injuries are not only expensive, painful, and time-consuming, but the emotional suffering can also be great. You deserve compensation for any injury-related losses, even if you initially believe your injuries are not serious enough to warrant a claim.
The Insurance Company Has Offered You a Settlement
A car accident victim must never accept an insurance company’s settlement offer without legal guidance. First, the extent of your injuries may be unknown; second, they likely won’t account for other hidden costs not yet accrued, such as transportation, medication, or parking fees. Insurers will often downplay the non-economic losses from your injuries, as well.
Insurance companies will not care how effective your treatment is or whether you recover at all. In addition, the long-term psychological impact of your experiences is unmeasurable in the early stage of a claim. No offer can foresee your future losses until you have a clear prognosis and picture of your recovery.
Car accident lawyers will always represent your full losses in a case, ensuring a settlement covers all past, future, economic, and non-economic losses.
You Lost a Loved One in a Car Crash
A car accident attorney can also file claims under wrongful death laws in the event you lost a loved one in the incident. When a close family member tragically loses their life in a car accident caused by another party, they deserve compensation for their losses.
Several scenarios allow your car accident lawyer to sue for wrongful death losses, including:
- Funeral costs
- Burial expenses
- Medical bills up to the death
- Lost parental contact with children
- Lost future earnings for surviving dependents
- Punitive damages for egregious conduct
Other conditions affect the value of a wrongful death lawsuit. These determinants might include the age of the deceased, their expected future income, and the state laws involved.
Usually, eligible family members include children and parents — losing a sibling may also give you a case for suing, depending on state laws. While distant relatives can not sue for wrongful death, the deceased’s personal representative can.
There are also time constraints on a wrongful death claim; as with family eligibility, each state has different statutes in place. Hiring a car accident attorney immediately means they can begin a claim within the right time frame.
Other Reasons for Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
There are several circumstances where you can benefit from an experienced car accident attorney:
You lost income.
Naturally, a traumatic accident may cost a victim days, weeks, or even years off work. Therefore, a car accident lawyer will seek compensation for lost income.
You are not sure how badly the accident injured you.
In the early stages after an accident, the extent of your harm may not be clear. Some injuries manifest over a period, or prescribed treatment is ineffective at first. A car accident lawyer will understand this, holding the insurers accountable for any long-term damages as yet unknown.
The insurance company disregards the extent of your injuries.
With huge annual insurance payouts made worse recently due to rising inflation, insurance companies hold their bottom line as a top priority and they will undercut a claimant whenever possible. Without legal representation, insurance companies will often challenge or underestimate the severity of your injuries.
They have many tactics to minimize settlements, including alleging you had pre-existing conditions, you received unnecessary treatment, you are exaggerating your pain levels, or you had the ability to return to work sooner than you did. Your car accident attorney knows how to demonstrate and prove the full extent and severity of your injuries and losses.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Can Often Lead to a Better Outcome
What might a car accident claim look like without a car accident attorney’s legal guidance and experience? Some people believe they can win a car accident insurance claim without a lawyer. However, they do not factor in their physical state, available resources, and lack of understanding of the law.
Attempting to handle a case without a skilled car accident attorney means going up against professionals who deal with these matters every day. It will inevitably lead to lower compensation. Therefore, the chance of winning your fully deserved amount falls rapidly.
A car accident will seek economic and non-economic damages in your case. Without a car accident attorney, motorists may be unable to prove damages for any of the following:
Economic Damages:
- Medical bills from accident-related treatment or consultations
- Lost income from missed work
- Costs incurred as a result of the accident, such as transportation expenses to and from medical appointments
- Repair or replacement costs for vehicles and property
Non-Economic Damages:
- Physical pain and suffering from your injuries
- Permanent disabilities or disfigurement
- Losing enjoyment of sports or hobbies carried out before the accident
- Mental or emotional pain suffered as a result of the car accident
How Your Claim Will Proceed with an Car Accident Attorney Guiding You
Hiring a car accident attorney means your case will reach its full potential, mitigating the risk of losing financial compensation. There are many other benefits to your case outcome, including:
- Not settling for lower offers
- Avoiding unpleasant confrontations with opposing legal professionals
- Not making errors in your case that might lead to smaller payouts
- Better collection of evidence and witness accounts, leading to a stronger case
- Stronger presentation of your case, using experience and knowledge of the law
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you are in a car accident, you need someone who will listen to your side of the story, help build your case, and fight in your corner to win the compensation you need. Not only can a car accident lawyer present a formal lawsuit, but they will also handle your insurance claim for you.
It isn’t only the other drivers’ insurance company you need to look out for. Sometimes, your own insurance company will withhold your fair settlement amount. Even if you have a no-fault or UM claim, you should consult an attorney.
Scheduling a free evaluation of your claim is the next necessary step after seeking medical attention if you have suffered injuries in a car accident. This kickstarts a timeline of events, including gathering evidence to build the case. Next, your attorney will calculate a fair settlement amount considering present and future costs or losses.
Finally, a car accident attorney will write the demand letters for the victim’s claim and negotiate in their client’s best interests. There is no reason to make your claims alone; contact a Greenacres Personal Injury lawyer right away.