When you hit the road, whether as a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian, the last thing on your mind is getting into an accident. Unfortunately, this is always a possibility. Every year in the United States, over 2 million people are injured or disabled in traffic accidents.
If the worst has happened and you’ve been involved in an accident, you might be in pain and confusion, not knowing what to do next.
Well, the first thing is to seek treatment but it doesn’t end there. Whether you were at fault for the accident or another party was, the next step is to hire a lawyer.
Why? You ask.
Continue reading to learn the top reasons to have a lawyer on your side.
You Lack a Good Understanding of Relevant Laws in Your State
Unless you’re a car accident attorney, it’s unlikely that you have a good grasp of traffic and other relevant laws in your state.
As such, hiring an auto accident attorney is your best move. This professional will enlighten you about the specific federal, state, and local laws that relate to your accident and advise you on the way forward.
For instance, the statute of limitations on personal injury varies from state to state. If you’re hospitalized for an extended period of time, the period within which you can file a compensation claim might lapse without your knowledge. But with a car accident lawyer on your side, that won’t happen.
Minimize Your Liabilities
If you were driving your car at the time of the accident, there’s a chance you could be the one at fault.
If this is the case, the other victims in the accident will certainly sue you and your insurance company for compensation. They could also press criminal charges if they have reason to believe that you were driving under the influence of alcohol or another drug.
According to the best personal injury lawyer in Chicago, a car accident lawyer will help you minimize your liability exposure. They will ensure that the accident is properly investigated and the facts brought to light. You might even be surprised to learn that you weren’t at fault for the accident.
Get Expert Help When Calculation Your Compensation Damages
Did you have personal injury coverage before the accident happened?
Regardless of fault, you’re entitled to compensation from your insurance company. And if you didn’t have this insurance but another party was at fault for the accident, their insurance company should compensate you.
The question is: how do you determine the right amount you deserve?
If you don’t know how insurance compensation works, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the insurer only needs you to compensate you for the money you’ve spent on treatment and medication.
In truth, though, your losses run beyond hospitalization costs. You should be compensated for any loss of income, as well as for things that aren’t easy to quantify, such as physical pain, emotional trauma, and mental anguish.
This is why you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your team. This professional knows how to assess damages and losses arising from a traffic accident, so you can count on them to arrive at an exhaustive figure.
The Insurance Claims Process
Ever filed an insurance claim?
If yes, then you know the drill. Insurance companies aren’t your friends. They’re in the business of making a profit, which means claims don’t excite them. If your application is erroneous or lacks supporting documents, they can reject it or offer to settle for a lot less than you’re claiming.
When you’ve been injured in a car accident and you need to file a compensation claim, you better have a car accident attorney do the job for you.
These lawyers are conversant with the claims process. They know the paperwork you need to fill out, the information required, and the documents – such as your hospital records – to include in your application.
A car accident lawyer also knows that insurance companies are always looking to settle for less. Your lawyer will use negotiation skills to push back on their offers and ensure that you get fair compensation.
Your Advocate in Court
Some car accident cases end up in court.
This can be the scenario if another party was at fault but their insurance cover isn’t enough to adequately meet your compensation needs. You might be forced to sue them individually in a court of law, especially if they aren’t willing to pay up.
Another situation that can push things to court is when your insurance company rejects your compensation claim or they’re offering to settle the claim for less.
Regardless of your specific situation, when the matter has to go court you need a car accident lawyer to represent you. They will do everything from gathering evidence to filing the case and aggressively representing your interests during court proceedings. If the case goes to trial, your lawyer will remain on your side, fighting all the way until you get justice.
Bear in mind the defendants will come armed with their lawyers. If you make the mistake of going to court without a lawyer, there’s a good chance you’ll lose the case.
Don’t Hesitate to Hire a Lawyer
After being injured in a car accident, one of your worries is ensuring you have enough money to cater for your treatment. As such, it’s understandable that you might not want to take any other step that involves incurring additional expenses, such as hiring a lawyer.
But as we’ve demonstrated, it’s crucial to hire a lawyer after a car accident. This professional will, among other things, protect your rights and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Keep tabs on our site for more helpful tips. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and are looking to hire an attorney, check out https://www.
