People get in car accidents all the time. One of the first things they are prone to search after a car accident is “ car accident attorney near me. ” That’s because, generally speaking, personal injury attorneys can help your case. Not all cases require an attorney. Car accidents with no damages or little to no injury may not even require a personal injury attorney. But for the most part, yes, you should hire an attorney after a car accident. Here are just a few reasons from Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys:
Knows the Value of Your Case
After being injured in a car accident, you likely do not realize the full value of your case. Chances are, you, along with many others in your situation, want the quickest settlement option. Do not fall for this! If you’ve been injured after an accident, your case is probably worth more than you think. But only a personal injury attorney can accurately judge and analyze the worth of your case. Present damages are not the only things considered. Attorneys look at long-term suffering, trauma, and future medical costs to calculate the full worth of your case.
Additionally, trying to determine the value of your case by yourself can cost you. You don’t know what you don’t know. Insurance companies have decades of experience that they can rely upon when negotiating your claim. With this knowledge, they will certainly try to take advantage of you. Trying to do things yourself can backfire on you, so you should hire an attorney to protect you from not only others, but also from yourself. Attorneys know when to fight, settle, and mediate over the compensation amount.
Negotiates with Insurance Companies
Do not fall for the idea that insurance companies want to be fair to you. They don’t. The goal of the defendant’s insurance company is to pay you as little as possible. This is why you should never accept an insurance company’s first offer, which may seem like a “final” offer. The reality is, the offer is only final when both parties are happy with it. Insurance companies often low-ball you and hope you accept. This is where having a personal injury attorney can help – they know what a fair offer is. Sometimes, insurance companies will take advantage of you without you even knowing.
Insurance companies may also try to trick you into doing things that may actually hurt your case. For example, they may ask you to make a recorded statement. Save for a few exceptions, you don’t need to do this, and you shouldn’t. Making a recorded statement with insurance companies – especially the insurance company working for the defendant – can horribly backfire on you. The moment you suffer an injury, the insurance company’s lawyers are already trying to minimize the compensation you receive, and providing a recorded statement simply gives them evidence to use against you in court. Mistakes like these can be avoided when you listen to a personal injury attorney. All communications between yourself and insurance companies should be facilitated through your personal injury attorney.
Experience with the Legal Process
This one goes without saying. After all, lawyers are highly skilled in their field. While you may think you have a cut-and-dry case, it’s often not so simple. Laws are complex, and a personal injury attorney can best decipher the laws in a way that is most favorable to you. You don’t want to represent yourself only to find out that you don’t understand the nuance of the law, or even worse: you miss out on opportunities you could have taken.
An Abundance of Resources
When it comes to evaluating your claim, many things need to be considered. Trying to do everything alone is not the best strategy. You must gather evidence at the scene of the crime. You will need police reports, medical reports, witness testimony, and other documents. Not only will you need evidence, but you will need it quickly. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help with this process, as they usually have people to do those things for them in a timely manner.
In addition, sometimes, you’ll need the testimony of someone who specializes in accident investigations. For example, if fault is an issue or if multiple parties are involved, the attorney may need to hire a professional who is highly skilled at analyzing all aspects of an accident. Not knowing what to do can cost you, so you should let a personal injury attorney handle everything for you.
Gives you Peace of Mind
Preparing a personal injury case is no easy task, and to a layman, nearly insurmountable. You shouldn’t have to deal with all the paperwork and the phone calls – let an attorney do all that for you! The number one thing you should focus on after an accident is recovery. While you recover, a lawyer can lessen your burden and take away some of your stress by talking to the police, witnesses, medical experts, and lots of other people for you. You shouldn’t feel like you must do everything on your own. With a personal injury attorney, you aren’t alone, and you can focus on resting and recovering.
Improves your Chances of Success
Generally speaking, hiring a personal injury attorney automatically increases your chances of success. This is because people who are inexperienced make mistakes they wouldn’t have made with the council of an attorney. One of the most common mistakes is inadvertently admitting fault. If you admit to anyone that you could have possibly contributed to the cause of your injury, the defendant’s lawyers will jump at that admission and use it against you. Never admit fault!
Represents you at Trial
Most personal injury cases are settled outside of court before a trial starts. This is good news! However, sometimes an insurance company insists on not paying any of your claims. They usually do this because they believe they have strong evidence against you, should you take them to trial. In this case, the insurance companies already have lawyers working on the case before you even take them to trial. Going in alone is a dangerous idea. Even representing yourself in a minor court such as a small claims court still returns mediocre compensation. Sometimes, a case can get thrown out altogether because the plaintiff doesn’t know how to follow the proper procedures. A personal injury attorney knows how to follow the law and maximize your compensation.
Searching “Car Accident Attorney Near Me?”
Contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys today! You can reach us 24/7 at 844-977-1900. Our office is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. If you prefer to contact us online, check out our website and take advantage of our LiveChat feature. Consultations are free. We do not collect fees unless we win your case, so don’t wait! Call us today!
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.