Hiring a car accident lawyer is one of the most important tasks on your post-collision to-do list. But when is the right time to get an attorney?
In short, the sooner you hire a lawyer, the more it helps your case. A Bronx car accident attorney can handle your case from beginning to end, working diligently to get the compensation you need and deserve.
The Why: Why Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
You may have already heard you should hire a car accident attorney. But why?
Taking your case to a knowledgeable car accident lawyer is one of the best things you can do for your case. Having a lawyer gives you the confidence to proceed with your claim and ensures you have someone on your side to represent you at every juncture.
Below are some of the most notable reasons to hire a car accident lawyer after a collision.
An Attorney Is the Most Knowledgeable Ally
When you file a collision claim after an auto accident, it can go many ways. Some cases are easier to resolve, while others are more challenging. If you’re unfamiliar with the process of a collision claim and don’t know where to turn, you can always rely on the knowledge of a car accident attorney.
Car accident lawyers are passionate about helping clients who have suffered injuries and damage in car wrecks. Furthermore, an experienced attorney has a unique understanding of the governing laws and procedures. When you entrust your case to a car accident attorney, you know you placed your case in the right hands.
An Attorney Can Help You Better Understand Your Rights and Options
As a car accident victim, you have certain rights and options regarding the direction you take your claim. Without a lawyer, you may not know your rights and choices, which can harm your ability to pursue and obtain a monetary recovery.
A car accident lawyer can sit down with you to thoroughly explain your rights and give you all the information you need to proceed with your claim. Get personalized information from a skilled source.
An Attorney Can Protect Your Right to Compensation
You need to know your rights, and you must also protect them.
An attorney can explain the dos and don’ts of a collision claim to protect your ability to pursue compensation. For example, your lawyer can clarify the importance of refraining from speaking with the other party’s insurance company. On the other hand, they’ll surely stress the urgency of seeking medical care and following through with treatment.
You can consider your car accident lawyer as a guide, helping you toward your ultimate goal: justice and compensation.
An Attorney Can Handle All of the Most Important Parts of a Collision Claim, Including Calculating Damages and Proving Liability
Filing a collision claim means taking on many tedious but necessary tasks. While they may seem exponentially difficult, a car accident attorney can easily handle these tasks.
A few of the most important tasks related to car accident cases include:
- Determining the value of your case: Calculating your damages and figuring out how much your case is worth is critical, as it allows you to understand what a fair and favorable settlement will look like in your situation.
- Investigating the cause of your accident: One of the first steps is determining the exact cause of your collision, including speeding or distracted driving, as this can also provide answers regarding the fault.
- Establishing the other party’s liability: Simply stating a party is responsible for your accident is not enough; you must also substantiate your claims to prove their negligence.
- Communicating with the insurance company: Communicating back and forth with insurance companies is more challenging than one may think. However, once you hire a lawyer, they take over communications for you.
- Collecting pertinent evidence: Your accident attorney can decide what evidence your case needs to substantiate your claims and strengthen your case.
- Engaging in settlement negotiations: Car accident settlement negotiations can be tricky and require plenty of patience, but car accident lawyers have the skill to negotiate on your behalf.
A car accident lawyer can easily handle your case, missing no steps, avoiding errors, and taking care of everything on time.
An Attorney Will Prevent the Insurance Company from Taking Advantage of You
Handling your own case without an attorney substantially increases your chances of having the insurance company try to take advantage of you.
Auto insurers prey on accident victims like you, who know little to nothing about the law and procedures. When you get unrepresented, the other party’s insurer may see this as a grand opportunity to engage in a scheme to pay you less than what your case is worth or not pay out for your claim.
Car insurance companies have little black books of tactics they use to make the situation more favorable for them. This is a primary reason car accident attorneys advise their clients what to say and do concerning the other party’s auto insurer.
An Attorney Won’t Let You Settle for Less than You Claim is Worth
Along similar lines, a classic move car insurance companies make is trying to get victims to settle quickly after accidents.
As an unsuspecting victim, you may see the other party’s insurer’s “cooperation” as favorable. The company may send you a settlement offer shortly after your accident, urging you to sign the agreement to receive your money.
At first thought, a quick settlement seems like a great thing. You get to settle your claim and get your money right away. Win-win, right? Not exactly.
While a rapid settlement might seem innocent enough, two things motivate auto insurers: finishing the claim quickly and paying you less than you deserve.
When you sign a settlement agreement, there’s no changing of mind or turning back. By signing the agreement, you agree to receive the amount of money stated in the document and nothing more. You’re essentially signing away your right to pursue further compensation for this claim.
Additionally, you may not fully grasp the extent of your injuries and financial losses so early on in the claims process. It commonly takes some time to determine the value of your claim, as you’ll usually need to wait and see how you progress in your recovery and allow the medical bills to start rolling in
While settling a claim fast can seem like the best possible outcome, doing so can hurt you.
An Attorney Will Take Your Case to Court if Necessary
Not every car accident case goes to court. Most cases settle before they ever see the inside of a courtroom.
While settling a case before going to trial is beneficial in some way or another for everyone involved, it doesn’t always happen.
Your car accident lawyer will work toward settling and avoiding trial, but they will also do what’s necessary to get you full and fair monetary recovery. If that means going to trial, you can trust your attorney is doing what they think is best for you and your case.
If your case doesn’t settle and instead goes to court, your car accident lawyer’s representation will continue until the very end. They’ll thoroughly prepare for trial, present your case to the judge and jury, and continue their pursuit of a successful case outcome.
An Attorney Can Support and Guide You Throughout the Car Accident Claim Process
Dealing with a case can be taxing, especially when your car accident case takes longer to resolve. No one understands this better than a car accident lawyer.
Aside from representing you, your attorney can provide much-needed support and guidance while your case is active. Whether you need help finding the right doctor or want to check in and discuss the status of your case, your lawyer is available for you when you need them most.
The When: When Is the Best Time to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
You may understand now why you need a car accident lawyer, but when is the best time to hire one? The answer is simple: as soon as possible.
No one expects you to be on the phone scheduling a consultation with an accident attorney thirty minutes after you’ve experienced your collision. Understandably, other, more important things come first, like your health and well-being.
Usually, taking care of your physical health is top of the list of priorities after an accident. This is especially true when your injuries are severe and require immediate medical attention. Therefore, make seeking medical care, including a trip to the emergency room or urgent care, the most important task.
In the days after your collision, start your search for a car accident attorney. Finding an attorney that suits your needs may take several days and multiple searches, so the earlier you start your hunt, the better.
Understanding the Legal Time Restrictions on Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit
One primary reason to seek legal representation soon after an accident is because of the statute of limitations on car accident cases.
A statute of limitations limits your right to file a car accident lawsuit for compensation in court. These statutes vary by area of law and state but often provide one to six years to take legal action. For example, the statute of limitations for personal injury actions in New York is three years.
These time restrictions are strict. If you file your lawsuit after time expires, you forfeit your right to compensation for your accident-related injuries.
Keeping the statute of limitations in mind, the sooner you hire a car accident lawyer, the better it is for your case.
Finding the Right Car Accident Attorney for You
Finding a car accident lawyer is the first step, but it can be one of the most difficult.
When searching for an accident attorney that fits your needs, you can:
- Ask friends and family: You can use your friends or family members as trusted sources to point you in the right direction, especially if anyone you know has either worked with an attorney they’ve liked or has some connection to a good lawyer.
- Rely on an attorney referral service: Every state bar has an attorney referral service that can match you with a lawyer, depending on the area of law you need help with.
- Search the web: An internet search can be a great way to find what you’re looking for, mainly when using specific keywords to narrow your search.
Regardless of how you find your potential lawyer, look them up online. Law firm websites contain plenty of beneficial information, including past case results and client testimonials. This can give you a good idea of what you can expect working with this lawyer and their firm.
The Bottom Line: Do You Really Need a Car Accident Lawyer to Represent You?
This information can give you a great idea of why and when to hire a car accident attorney, but it’s normal to still feel skeptical. Do you actually need to hire an attorney to handle your collision claim?
When comparing the pros and cons of having an attorney handle your case, you’ll notice the pros heavily outweigh the cons. You pay nothing upfront to hire a lawyer and nothing unless they win your case. You truly have nothing to lose by seeking legal help - and so much to gain.
Hiring a car accident lawyer soon after your collision can give you peace and confidence and help you reach the best possible outcome.
