Top Reasons Why You Need an Auto Accident Attorney
After an auto accident injury, you may feel the need to concentrate on your recovery before hiring an attorney to pursue your insurance claim. The truth is you should contact an auto accident attorney as soon as possible for advice. However, no matter the severity of the accident’s impact, another driver’s negligence shouldn’t leave you out to dry. Negligence is when the other party’s actions are directly or indirectly attributed to the incident and the damage.
Hiring an auto accident attorney immediately after your car accident offers you the best course of action to avoid being taken advantage of by the insurance company. Learn why below.
Filing Compensation Documents
After the accident, the insurance company likely expects you to file a claim form. The truth is that most people do not have a clue of how to file claims for auto accident injuries, and they often make mistakes early on in a claim which impact claim value. Your lawyer will handle this process for you, help you avoid common mistakes people make and provide the necessary evidence to prove that your claim is valid.
Dealing With Insurance Company Adjusters
After an auto accident, insurance companies often ask you to give a statement about the accident. Sometimes, the insurer will send an adjuster to take your statement, or do it over the phone. Our advice? Never give a statement until you have talked to an auto accident attorney! Insurance companies use such statements to try to decrease the value of your claim!
Therefore, they could push you into making contradictory statements that could be used against you during settlement. For example, the adjuster could push you into admitting that you were not sure about the speed of your vehicle. Such a statement is problematic since it creates a dilemma of whether or not you were speeding.
Once you hire a personal injury lawyer, you no longer have to worry about such situations. The lawyer acts as an intermediary between you and the insurance company. Additionally, they protect you from making any statements or signing any document that could adversely impact the value of your claim.
Safeguarding Your Interests
In some cases, the insurance company will deny compensation claims on the grounds that are legally unsupportable, hoping you do not know better, or value cases at far below fair market rates. Also, with unrepresented people, insurance companies sometimes drag the negotiations on for too long, hoping you will allow the statute of limitations to expire. As a result, individuals who opt for self-representation often find themselves in a tight spot since they may not know how to negotiate or counter such arguments. Insurance companies have professional negotiators on their side – shouldn’t you?
Here is where an accident attorney comes in handy to safeguard your interests. Your lawyer will advise you as to how best to document your claim, issue appropriate demand letters and seek explanations for the insurance company’s actions. Furthermore, they will provide sufficient proof to justify your claim.
Negotiating the Final Settlement
Your settlement is not just about recovering physically and resuming normalcy. An accident takes a toll on your physical and mental health, not to mention the financial problems that may crop up. Your lawyer will advocate for better compensation to help you cushion your life in all aspects.
For instance, you may need compensation to cover current and future medical costs. Compensation for income lost is also paramount for many. If you suffered a disability, your lawyer will demand compensation for rehabilitation to ensure you can earn a decent living. They will also push for compensation for your pain and suffering.
Representing You in Court
In some cases, getting a fair settlement can require that a lawsuit be filed. Such instances call for an experienced attorney who is willing to take the risk and proceed to court for trial.
During the trial, your attorney will work to establish the other driver’s fault and prove your damages to the finder of fact to help you attain the best possible result for your accident injury claim. Additionally, your lawyer can also call expert witnesses to prove the extent of your injuries, if required.
Having an auto accident lawyer on your side gives you your best chance of success when pursuing your accident injury claim. Your lawyer will gather the evidence, contact the insurance company, provide you with claims advice from start to finish, and handle the negotiations to ensure you ultimately receive fair compensation. So, why wait any longer? Contact an auto accident injury lawyer today and avoid the pitfalls and hassles of self-representation.