Is hiring an accident lawyer right for me? If you’re wondering about this, you’re not alone. Ideally, many people think they can handle a personal accident case on their own. Insurance companies know they don’t have to compensate enough to cover the victim’s losses and future needs. In some cases, lawyers even end up with nothing even after casing back and forth with the insurance company.
You should keep in mind that insurance companies also have an army of lawyers and adjusters who immediately assess your claim after an accident. For such reasons – and some we will discuss below – having an attorney on your side will significantly benefit your claim.
You Have Access to Medical Care on Line
In any personal injury lawsuit, this is one of the most significant advantages of lawyer representation. Medical care providers who deal with injury claims will want some guarantees. A good example is that if the insurance company pays you money, their interest in getting paid for their services will be protected. The legal experts behind Davis, Saperstein & Salomon warn that unrepresented victims have been known to go missing with the settlement proceeds and not pay their healthcare providers. You should know that attorneys are bound by ethical guidelines concerning liens. They must satisfy liens out of the proceeds of a settlement. The takeaway here is that you cannot get medical care on a lien if a lawyer does not represent you.
Show Liability for Your Injuries
This is a complex area of an accident injury claim: proving that the at-fault party’s negligence caused your injuries. This is a vital part of every accident claim, as victims harmed by another’s actions have a right to be compensated. In many cases, the parties involved will try to shift blame. This makes it challenging to prove who exactly is liable for your injuries. We recommend working with an experienced attorney who will be able to go through the evidence to determine who caused your injuries. He or she will then build a solid argument on your behalf. Since an experienced attorney has handled many cases in the past, they have the necessary skills to make a case quickly.
They Maximize the Value of Your Claim
Before diving into the nitty-gritty details of personal injury claims, you should know that the first offer the insurance company presents is never the best. This poses another question: how much money would make it fair? Accident claims are never easy to value. As the victim, this could put you in a disadvantaged place. Medical expenses, property replacement, and time missed from work can all add up. Additionally, if you’re unable to go back to your job because of injuries, future income loss should be factored in. Working with a lawyer can help guarantee you will get the highest compensation for your claim.
Professional Advice
Right from the moment you find yourself a victim of an accident, you will have many questions without answers. Whose insurance policy will cover my medical expenses? Who pays for my damages, whether it’s property or a car? How can I find a physician to treat my injuries? Am I entitled to suffering and pain damages? All these questions will be answered by working with a lawyer for your case. They will provide invaluable insights right from the time the accident occurred until you are compensated.
Recovering Necessary Evidence
A knowledgeable attorney can help obtain the relevant evidence that you will need to prove liability in an accident claim. Even if you’ve already collected enough evidence, your attorney will likely go back to the scene to assess what it looks like. It doesn’t matter whether you have compelling photos of your injuries; seeing the scene is worth a thousand pictures. An attorney will ensure they collect all the accident reports in the case. Additionally, they will often speak with the parties involved, say, witnesses, to gather more evidence and insights into the matter.
Unrepresented Victims are Usually Taken Advantage of by Insurance Adjusters
There have been cases where adjusters offer small settlement amounts to victims in exchange for a full release. Ideally, insurance adjusters will want to get your signature on a release early on. They will offer a moderate amount that you may accept, especially if they know you’re under some financial pressure. This is why having lawyer representation comes in handy. Your attorney will discuss favourable terms for you and ensure you receive what you’re entitled to.
Going through an accident only to start chasing insurance companies around is stressful and mentally draining. This can even have more dire effects on your health, especially if you’re recovering.
Hiring an accident lawyer is a personal decision, but one that you need to take into careful consideration. Finally, when it comes to legal matters, they can be complicated, and you need to leave them to the experts who understand them.