A car accident lawyer helps victims build personal injury claims and seek compensation for the damages other drivers cause. Car accidents can result in significant injuries that can take years to heal, and in many cases, the victims never fully recover.
If you have been hurt in an accident and you were not at fault, a car accident lawyer can help you build your case and file for compensation in a timely manner.
What a Car Accident Lawyer Can Do for Your Case
The main goal of a car accident lawyer is getting you
financial compensation to cover your expenses like:
- Medical bills
- Vehicle repair
or replacement
- Lost wages
- Permanent
disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Car accident lawyers are personal injury lawyers who specialize in tort law surrounding car accidents. There are a number of ways they can help you pursue the fullest compensation possible.
Here are some of the main things an auto accident lawyer does when working with an injured driver.
Helps You Understand Your Rights
Most people are not well-versed in personal injury laws regarding car accidents. Because of this, when an accident does happen, it’s completely understandable if you don’t know what your full rights are.
If you were not at fault for the car accident, you should not have to pay for damages resulting from it. The laws around car accident injuries vary per state. In Georgia, the at-fault party in any injury accident is liable for all damages, and the injured party can seek compensation for their damages, per OCGA § 51-1-6.
Your lawyer can go through all relevant laws that apply to your case. They’ll help you understand what your rights are and how you can legally protect yourself. Insurance companies are skilled at making you think you have little choice in how your case goes. However, you likely have more power than you realize.
Offers Legal Advice
After you get in an accident, you might get a lot of differing advice. Maybe you look online and see an article saying one thing. Then, you talk to a friend or family member, and they give you their opinion on what you should do. It can get confusing quickly and leave you wondering how to best approach your case.
Turning to a car accident injury lawyer is often the best place to start. Car accident lawyers know what should happen after a car accident. They have spent years of schooling, training, and hands-on experience with car accident claims. They can look at the details of your case and give you the best advice on how to seek the full financial recovery you need.
Find an experienced car accident lawyer if you want to have the best chance at a successful car accident case.
Negotiates for a Fair Settlement
A lot of work and investigation goes into a successful
car accident claim. An accident attorney does a lot behind the scenes to build
a strong case for you and fight for your rights. They can help you:
- Investigate the
details of your accident
- Gather all
relevant information, including pictures, police reports, witness
statements, and proof of damages
- Build and file a
personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Negotiate for a
fair settlement if the insurance company tries to lowball you
- File a lawsuit
if the insurance company refuses to negotiate
- Handle every
step of the pretrial process
- Represent you in court with the goal of recovering full compensation for you
Represents You in Court
Thankfully, most car accident cases are resolved well before they need to go to court. Insurance companies are more likely to offer a fair settlement to a plaintiff who has an accident lawyer. Even if you end up filing a lawsuit, it’s likely your lawyer will reach an agreement with the insurer before the trial.
However, if you do end up going to court, a car accident lawyer will be by your side through the entire ordeal. They will fight ruthlessly for your right to compensation. Experienced lawyers are not afraid of insurance companies and their tactics. They will be ready for whatever the insurer brings to the table.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Gather Evidence That Is Difficult to Get on Your Own
Most people don’t realize exactly how much car accident lawyers do when working on a case. Here are some additional tasks they do that you might not think about until after you’ve decided to hire your lawyer.
Investigates the Case Completely
Besides reviewing evidence like pictures and witness statements from the accident, as mentioned above, car accident lawyers may also call on various outside experts, including retired police officers or their own investigators.
Your lawyer may recreate the accident scene if there are questions about how certain parts of the accident happened. They are not afraid to go the extra mile (and then some) to build the strongest case possible.
Your attorney or their investigative team will visit the scene of your accident to make observations and gather any available evidence. They will obtain a copy of your accident report and review your medical records as they pertain to your injuries.
Assesses the Full Extent of Your Damages
It’s normal to only consider your immediate costs after an accident. However, when building a claim, your lawyer will look at all the ways the accident will affect you, now and in the future. They will consider current and future medical treatment costs, how your injuries have affected your ability to work, and the emotional impacts of the accident.
After considering all your damages, your car crash attorney will calculate the most accurate estimate of your total damages. This assessment of your damages helps ensure you don’t get left footing the bill for costs of the accident you hadn’t considered.
The insurance company certainly won’t help you in this area, so your best bet is to hire a car accident attorney who knows what they’re doing.
Calls on Medical Professionals
Some car accident lawyers maintain professional relationships with certain medical professionals who can provide beneficial services for your claim. They may also have good knowledge of serious injuries and the best experts to call on for your treatment options.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
While it is always possible to represent yourself after a car accident, it is not recommended. Like with any profession, training and experience put a car accident attorney in a far better position to get you the money you need after a crash.
Even though you will have to pay your attorney if you recover compensation, in the majority of cases, accident victims who hire a lawyer still walk away with far more money than those who represent themselves.
One of the best things about hiring a car accident lawyer is that you can do so without risk. These attorneys tend to work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you collect compensation. When you do win, your attorney will receive a percentage of your settlement. That means that you will always come out ahead and never pay your lawyer directly.
Is It Worth Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer if Your Accident Was Minor?
A car accident lawyer can help even if your car accident was minor by protecting you against legal claims the other party may make in trying to blame you for the accident to deny their responsibility.
A lawyer can also review your claim to make sure you’re filing for all the damages to which you are entitled. Additionally, a lawyer knows the experts to hire and the evidence to gather to help you build the strongest case possible.
To find out more about what a car accident attorney does for your case, it’s best to schedule an appointment to ask questions and discuss the details pertaining to your specific situation. At John Foy & Associates, the consultation is always free. Don’t hesitate to get started and protect your right to recover compensation after an accident.
How To Hire a Car Accident Attorney
1 Schedule Free Consultations to Find the Right Attorney Most auto collision lawyers do not charge a fee for consultations. Unless your situation requires immediate legal advice, schedule meetings with several auto accident attorneys to find one who you are comfortable with. Chances are you will be communicating with this person and his or her office staff for several months while your case is proceeding, so you want to make sure that your auto accident attorney is professional, prompt, and has your best interest in mind.
2 Discuss Up-Front or Out-of-Pocket Fees Many personal injury attorneys do not charge a fee unless the case is won. While some lawyers may require you to make a payment before the case is opened, it should be easy to find someone who will take on your case without requiring an out-of-pocket expense. If you are awarded a settlement as the result of your auto accident case, your attorney will then collect a percentage of the monies as his or her service fee.
3 Ask for a Service Contract Ask the collision lawyer what his or her fee will be if your case is successful. Most personal injury attorneys will retain a certain percentage of your settlement. Ensure that you are made aware of this amount before you hire the attorney. Ask for a service contract that explicitly states this percentage and keep a copy for your personal records.
4 Bring All Car Accident Information to Your Initial Visit Provide your car accident attorney with any and all information you have about the wreck. When you go to your initial visit, bring your automobile insurance policy, medical insurance policy, any medical records or hospital bills that resulted from the accident, pictures of the vehicle after the wreck, a copy of the police report, and any contact information you may have collected from the other parties involved. All of this information will help your attorney build your case in a timely manner and get your benefits to you quicker.
5. Expect the Settlement to Take Time Don’t expect a quick settlement. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your car accident, it could take months or even years before you receive any compensation. While your attorney should maintain communication with you throughout this process, understand that taking someone to court over a wreck is a lengthy process.
6 Be Communicative, Available and Professional Do your part.
The collision attorney you hire to represent you in an auto accident case is
only one member of the team. Maintain all appointments to meet with your
lawyer, keep all of your documents organized, and answer any letters or phone
calls you receive from your attorney’s office. If you are required to appear in
court at some point in the process, follow your personal injury lawyer’s
instructions, appear presentable, and be respectful to the judge.
How to Find a Good Car
Accident Lawyer
When trying to find a good car accident lawyer there are a few ways to find a firm that is best suited for you and your case. Here’s how:
Seek out lawyers with experience – Experience is everything, in any field, and an attorney that has a proven track record in a case similar to yours is always beneficial. For example, if your crash involved a bus or occurred within a school zone, you may want to find a lawyer who has had experience representing cases with similar circumstances. Additionally, finding a lawyer that has court representation experience might be helpful, if necessary.
Look for lawyers with high success levels in a court situation – The law firm or specific attorney you are seeking should have experience with taking cases to trial. The more a given attorney is known for litigating cases, the better. This is because a car accident lawyer that is well-versed in taking cases to court, tends to make the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Car accidents happen every day, and when they do, it’s important to have a good car accident lawyer on your side. Choosing the right lawyer for your car accident case will be based on various factors, but it’s still important that you do all the research needed and take your time to find a good car accident attorney that will fight for your case.
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