Car accidents are traumatic experiences that leave victims feeling overwhelmed and unsure about what steps to take next. It is natural to have questions about your rights, the legal process, and how to secure fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Hiring a skilled attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Once you understand how a car accident lawyer can help, it will become clear why you need one to represent you.
A car accident attorney handles every detail of your case from beginning to end. They are a trained investigator, your spokesperson, and the general protector of your legal rights. In some cases, your car accident lawyer may even need to defend you in a legal battle, taking on an insurance company when it does not want to pay you for your injuries fully.
If you want to know what a car accident attorney can do for you, contact one today to schedule a free initial consultation. You will learn more about the legal process and how it works. More importantly, you will realize why you should not go it alone when seeking car accident compensation.
Here are some specific functions a DuBois car accident attorney can perform when you hire them for your case.
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Before you are in line for a settlement check, you must prove that the other driver was to blame for the accident. You need to show that they were negligent in the events that led to the crash. Here, negligence means that the driver did or did not do something and departed from the duty of care they owed you.
There is no guarantee that you will receive compensation for your car accident injuries. You must present proof of what the driver did to cause the accident. Otherwise, you may not get any money for your injuries.
You do not have the skills to investigate your accident, let alone gather sufficient proof to persuade the insurance company to pay you money. Even if you did, your focus is on other important things, such as your health and injury recovery.
When you hire a car accident attorney for your case, they can do the following to gather proof of your accident:
Car accident evidence does not wait for you to collect it. The proof you need to qualify for compensation can disappear instantly, so you need a car accident attorney to gather it while it is available.
Not only do you have to prove fault in a car accident, but you must also demonstrate your damages in the face of an insurance company that will question every single line on your claim. You need precise calculations because you cannot have speculative damages claims.
You must also know the exact amount of your damages before you file the claim. Insurance companies know the full value of your claim once you have filed it, and they will make you a settlement offer based on this number. If you do not know much your case is worth, you are vulnerable to settling it for less than it is worth and signing your legal rights away, perhaps for pennies on the dollar.
Your car accident attorney will review your specific situation to determine how much you may deserve in damages. They will consider all the factors that impact the value of your case, including medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and future medical care. Your car accident lawyer’s experience in personal injury law allows them to accurately assess the value of your claim and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. You need someone who understands what you will need in the future because you only get one chance to settle a car accident case.
At some point, after you have reached the point of maximum medical improvement, you will take the legal steps necessary to pursue compensation. You can file a claim against the responsible driver’s car insurance policy or file a lawsuit against the driver in court. When you file a car accident claim, you must make it persuasive enough for the insurance company to realize it needs to settle with you. A car accident attorney will draft your claim professionally, putting your best legal foot forward.
The same thing applies to filing a lawsuit in court. The complaint must have enough detailed documentation to survive any motions to dismiss and allow you to reach the later stages of the case. Your car accident attorney will draft the lawsuit complaint that reflects their investigation of your accident.
You need someone to negotiate with the insurance company to settle the claim. You have a certain amount you claim or sue for in compensation, while the insurance company has its own set of figures from which it works. Even if the insurance company readily accepts liability for the accident, there is no guarantee that you will get enough money to pay for your injuries fully. Full compensation only comes after a protracted legal process.
Insurance companies will always begin with a low settlement offer because they realize it is a negotiation. Like any skilled negotiator, they hold some of their offer back for later stages in the talks. In other words, they have room to raise their offer considerably. However, you may not know this if you do not have an attorney.
You must counter the insurance company’s negotiation skills with a trained professional. A car accident attorney will handle the negotiations with the insurance company to get you the most possible money. Insurance companies may only make you a reasonable settlement offer when they see that you have someone in your corner who can make them pay the price. The threat of litigation filed by your car accident lawyer may persuade the insurance company to become more reasonable in settlement negotiations.
If you do not know how to deal with insurance companies (very few people do), you are at a significant disadvantage in the claims process. They are your adversary at every step of the way, and you must prepare to deal with them from the time of your accident until there is a resolution. Insurance companies always keep score because they aim to pay you as little money as possible.
When you file a claim, the insurance company’s primary goal is to minimize financial liability. Insurance companies may try to downplay the extent of your injuries, question the accident’s severity, or even deny your claim outright. Standing up to the insurance company without legal representation and fighting for your deserved compensation is challenging.
Insurance companies are waiting for you to make a mistake so they can capitalize on it. For example, the insurance adjuster may try to speak with you about the accident to gather evidence that they can use against you in contesting liability. They may ask about your health to dispute your damages when you file a claim.
When you have a car accident lawyer representing you, they can keep you from making these types of mistakes. They will give you strategic advice to preserve your legal right to compensation. Car accident lawyers understand insurance companies’ tactics and can anticipate the challenges you may face. By having an attorney by your side, you have a legal advocate who will fight aggressively on your behalf and protect your rights.
Although a car accident case will rarely go to trial, you need to prepare for that possibility. While most car accident cases reach a settlement agreement, you may need to go through some or many steps in the lawsuit process. If the insurance company will not settle your case or insists on reducing your damages, you may have no choice but to go to trial.
A car accident lawyer has experience in the courtroom and understands how to present a compelling case to a jury. They also know how to build your case through the discovery process, speaking to the other driver in a deposition and seeking evidence not in your possession. You need a car accident attorney who knows their way around a courtroom to fight the insurance company.
The legal process is stressful, and there will always be difficulty and uncertainty, especially when dealing with a large for-profit insurance company. Combine that with the financial hardship that you are facing, and you may feel understandably anxious and unsettled.
Although hiring a car accident attorney cannot guarantee that you will receive full compensation for your injuries, it does mean that you do not have to deal directly with the insurance company. Getting legal help also means knowing you have a tough fighter on your side who will stand up for your legal rights. You have enough on your mind during this difficult time without involving yourself in the legal process’s day-to-day details. When you have a car accident lawyer representing you in your case, you will still have to make decisions, but you can step back and let your attorney do the complicated work.
Given all the key functions a car accident attorney performs, you need their help immediately after you have suffered an injury. Much can go wrong in the legal process, affecting your ability to receive compensation and how much you can get.
There is no reason why you should try to represent yourself in the car accident process. Insurance companies will undoubtedly get the better of you in your dealings with them. On the contrary, when you hire an experienced car accident attorney, you will have someone in your corner whose job is to get you the maximum possible compensation for your injuries. Your car accident attorney will fight for you in the face of a challenging insurance company.
One of the best things about hiring a car accident attorney is that it does not cost you anything out of your own pocket. You do not have to write a retainer check or pay hourly bills during your case. They will work for a contingency fee, meaning you do not have to worry about upfront costs or paying hourly fees out of pocket. Instead, your lawyer will receive a percentage of the settlement or judgment amount if they can secure compensation on your behalf. This fee structure aligns the lawyer’s success with yours, as they have an incentive to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
By working on a contingency fee basis, car accident lawyers can provide access to justice for individuals who may not have the financial means to hire legal representation otherwise. This arrangement removes a significant barrier for those seeking justice and ensures that everyone can receive expert legal guidance regardless of their economic situation.
Furthermore, the fact that car accident lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis also means that they will only take on cases they believe have a strong chance of success. Taking on your case demonstrates their confidence in handling your car accident claim and negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. You can feel confident knowing you have a lawyer fighting for you and protecting your rights while you focus on your recovery.
Hiring a car accident lawyer is essential to protect your rights and receive fair compensation after a car accident. They will handle all legal aspects of your case, from investigating the accident to negotiating with insurance companies. With their knowledge and experience, they can provide you with peace of mind and the best chances of achieving a favorable outcome. Don’t delay, call personal injury lawyer today.
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