The primary goal of a car accident lawyer is to help injured victims pursue fair financial compensation for the injuries and damages they sustained when they were caused by the negligence of another driver. Car accidents often cause severe injuries that can take months or even years to heal. In some cases, the victims never completely recover.
If you were injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, an experienced nationwide car accident lawyer can help you prepare a case and file for compensation with the appropriate court in a timely fashion. Begin building your case today by scheduling a free consultation with the personal injury team at Local Accident Reports.
What Can a Car Accident Lawyer Can Do for My Case?
A car accident lawyer’s main objective is to secure financial compensation to cover any and all damages arising from your car accident. These often include:
- Medical expenses
- Vehicle replacement or repair
- Lost earnings and benefits
- Permanent disability
- Pain, suffering, and inconvenience
- In cases of wrongful death, loss of fellowship
A car accident attorney is a personal injury attorney who specializes in tort law surrounding motor vehicle accidents. There are many different ways a qualified attorney can help you seek maximum financial compensation.
Some of the things a car accident attorney does when working with a client are:
Make Sure You Understand Your Rights
Most people are, understandably, not very well-versed in the personal injury laws pertaining to car accidents. So, when you are involved in an accident, it is perfectly normal to be confused about what your rights are.
Although car accident and personal injury laws vary from state to state, the general premise is that if you were not at fault, you should not be responsible for the damages it caused.
Your attorney can explain all laws that are relevant to your case. They can explain what rights you have and how you can protect your right to compensation. Insurance adjusters are adept at leading you to believe that you have little to no say in how your case is handled. However, as a victim, you probably have a lot more power than you realize.
Give Legal Advice
If you have ever been involved in an accident, you know that everywhere you turn is offering you conflicting advice. You might find an article on Google that says one thing, and then you talk to a good friend who tells you something completely different. It can get very confusing very quickly and leave you having no idea how to approach your case.
Regardless of the circumstances of your accident, consulting a reputable car accident attorney is usually a wise place to start. An experienced car accident lawyer will know exactly what steps you need to take after a car accident. They have years of education, practice, and first-hand experience handling car accident claims. They can review the circumstances of your case and offer you reliable advice on how to pursue the financial compensation you need and deserve.
An experienced nationwide car accident lawyer from Local Accident Reports can give you your best chance at a successful resolution to your car accident case.
Negotiate for an Equitable Settlement
A lot of investigation and hard work is involved in a successful accident claim. A car accident lawyer does a lot of leg work to build a compelling case on your behalf. They can also:
- Conduct a thorough investigation of your accident
- Collect all important information, such as videos, photos, police accident reports, eyewitness testimonies, and proof of your damages
- Build and file a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance carrier
- Ensure you do not accept a lowball offer from the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf
- If the insurer refuses to negotiate in good faith, they can file a lawsuit for you
- Oversee every phase of the pretrial process
- If needed, represent you in court for the purpose of recovering compensation
Represent You in Court
Fortunately, the majority of car accident cases are settled without ever seeing the inside of a courtroom. In fact, studies have proven that Insurance adjusters are more likely to make a fair settlement offer to a plaintiff who has legal representation. Even if a lawsuit ends up being filed, it is more than likely that your attorney will come to an agreement with the insurer long before trial.
If, however, you do have to go to court, your auto accident lawyer will be with you the entire time, and fight for your right to financial compensation. Experienced attorneys are not scared of big insurance companies or their underhanded tactics. They will anticipate what the insurer will bring to the table and be ready to counter it.
Most people have no idea how much work a car accident attorney puts into a case. They do a lot of things that do not even occur to most people until they are in need of an attorney. Some of the additional things they do for their clients include:
Independently Investigate Your Accident
In addition to reviewing evidence such as photos and eyewitness statements from the scene, as previously mentioned, a car accident lawyer also has access to different outside experts, including private investigators, accident reconstruction experts, and retired law enforcement officers.
If it is unclear how certain aspects of the collision occurred, your attorney has the resources to recreate the crash. A good car accident attorney is not afraid to put in as much work as it takes to build the most convincing case possible.
Your lawyer or their team will actually go to the accident scene, make observations, and collect all available evidence. They will get a copy of your police crash report, and examine your medical records as they relate to your injuries.
Calculate Your Total Damages
After a serious car accident, most people only consider their immediate costs. When building your claim, your attorney will take into account all the ways your injuries will affect you and your quality of life, now and in the years to come. They know how to assess your current and projected medical bills, how your injuries have impacted your ability to hold a job, and the emotional consequences of the accident as well.
After evaluating all of your damages, your lawyer will then calculate your total damages. This total will help ensure that you do not get left having to cover any costs related to your accident that you had not considered.
The insurance adjuster is most certainly not going to help you do this, so the smartest thing you can do to help yourself now and in the long run is to partner with a car accident lawyer who has a proven track record of successful case histories.
Work With Medical Professionals
Many car accident attorneys maintain working professional relationships with medical professionals who are able to provide services that are beneficial to your claim. They will also understand the severity of different types of injuries and know the best professionals to ask about your treatment options.
Do I Have to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
No, but it’s usually the best thing to do if you are injured. Although it is certainly possible to represent yourself following an auto accident, it is not recommended. Calling a qualified car accident lawyer when you need to be compensated for a personal injury is the same as calling a doctor when you are sick. They can help you get the financial remedy you will need after being faced with mounting medical bills, time off work, and additional challenges.
While you will have to pay your lawyer if they recover compensation for you, in the majority of cases, accident victims represented by an attorney receive more money than victims who represent themselves. In fact, the Insurance Research Council released a report in 2014 entitled, “Attorney Involvement in Auto Injury Claims.” Research confirmed that injury victims who had a legal advocate, on average, received settlements almost four times greater than those who attempted to settle without the help of a lawyer.
Another good thing about hiring a car accident attorney is that there is no risk involved in doing so. Almost all personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid if they are successful in recovering compensation for you. If you win, your lawyer receives a pre-determined percentage of the settlement. This means you always come out ahead and never have to worry about paying hourly rates or other out-of-pocket costs.
Do I Still Need a Lawyer if My Car Accident Was Minor?
Every situation is unique, but there are often cases where an attorney can still help you if you were injured in the wreck, even if it seemed minor at the time. An attorney will also ensure you are filing for every form of damages to which you are eligible. In addition, they will also know which evidence to collect and the best experts to hire to help you build the most effective case possible.
If you would like to learn more about what an experienced nationwide car accident lawyer from Local Accident Reports can do for your case, you can schedule a free consultation to ask any questions and go over the details of your situation. Each state gives you a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit, so don’t wait; schedule your meeting with us as soon as possible.
