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If you find yourself involved in a car accident, you might wonder if you need to handle the situation yourself? Or hire a car accident lawyer? The US sees 6 million car accidents every year. That is nearly 16,000 accidents per day involving an even greater number of people. There are various types of accidents, and each type has its severity level.
A major accident can result in piling up medical bills and property damages. The injuries you or your family members have suffered and all the financial loss can be overwhelming. Thus, making you reluctant to hire an accident attorney. While you might be able to claim insurance coverage or demand financial settlement from the party at fault. Hiring a lawyer increases your chances of effective procedure and maximizing your claim.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
If you still think you can take care of the situation on your own, take a look at these factors below that show how a lawyer can help you better:
Knowledge of Potential Damages
Let’s say you are knowledgeable and capable of handling the situation without legal assistance. But what if there are other extents that you are not aware of. Calculating the extent of your damages that do not have a quantitative value can be complicated. If you have suffered an injury that disallows you to work. A lawyer will be able to help you maximize the financial compensation for the loss of income. You also need to know your rights. The compensation you should get for your suffering, injuries, forthcoming losses, and loss of property, and most of all, how to claim it effectively.
You may be aware that you should get compensated for the non-material loss. But you may settle for a much lower compensation due to inexperience. In comparison, a personal injury lawyer will know the true worth of the tiniest of losses. And they will strive to get the best deal.
The Damages May Not Appear Instantly
Injuries do not appear for several hours or even days in several cases. For example, internal bleeding is a major cause of deaths in car accidents. The bleeding organs are hard to notice and are not caught if you do not seek immediate medical attention.
Similarly, the damage to your car may not be apparent at first. You suffered an accident; you walk out of the car to see the extent of the damage. What only appears a scuff to your bumper can lead to something bigger and expensive to repair, and people end up paying the cost of someone else’s fault. That’s why it is best to hire a car accident lawyer instantly, so you don’t pay for the damages instead of receiving compensation.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
Different states have different insurance laws. For instance, insurance companies in New York have a “no-fault” rule which means that whoever is involved in an accident can claim compensation from their insurance companies no matter whose fault it is. While keeping insurance is preferred by everyone since insurance companies claim to support and compensation when you suffer damages, rarely do they keep their claim.
These companies are private, and they can only profit unless they distribute the money they fill their accounts with. Therefore, they do everything to reduce the amount of your claim money or even try to disregard your claim as uncovered by the insurance. An experienced lawyer knows their way around the insurance system and uses tactics to find a loophole so they can offer you a fair settlement.
Often, plaintiffs are forced to take the matter to court to claim their settlement from the insurance companies. You will need a legal representative to fight your case in court because the defendants will bring their best.
Facing Unfair Blame for the Accident
If you have not been in an accident before, you will be surprised by how many fingers will be pointing at you, even though it is not your fault. Since people tend to run away from accountability, the one who is actually at fault will try to turn the situation on you, so they don’t have to offer compensation. Your own insurance company will also try to turn and twist the situation, so it seems your fault, and they don’t end up paying out of their pockets.
If you don’t hire a legal representative, these allegations can hurt your mental state and reduce the ability to claim the compensation you deserve. You may still get some settlement, but it will be much lower since your degree of fault will be magnified. An experienced accident lawyer will ensure that every aspect of the accident is investigated and that you are not falsely blamed for someone else’s fault.
Avoiding Financial Loss Due to Technicalities
Many things can go wrong if you take on solving your case alone. For instance, you could be too late in filing the suit, and the defendant is not available anymore, or insurance has already pinned the case on you. You can also file a suit against the wrong party due to a lack of investigation. Moreover, you can also fail to present proofs and witnesses. All these mistakes can cost you a great deal of money and time. Not only can you lose money, but you can also even end up paying for the damages to the person who is at fault rather than receiving compensation.
Once the case is closed, you can’t appeal again for compensation. So, hiring a lawyer is the best move you can make to ensure you don’t cost yourself loss due to technical mistakes.
Hiring an Accident Lawyer
Finally, hiring a car accident lawyer is essential to avoid making mistakes and secure yourself from false blaming from other parties involved. Generally, you should hire a lawyer as soon as you can so they can assess the damage thoroughly and make a strong case for maximum settlement. Every state has different laws for car accidents. A personal injury lawyer will guide you with the best course of action.
