Why You Need to Talk to a Lawyer After a Car Accident

Car accidents can be utterly devastating, both physically and mentally. You could lose your car, you could end up in the hospital for months, you could find yourself unable to do your job, and you might have to deal with mental health issues for months or years to come.

Fortunately, the law offers a remedy for people who are the victims of car accidents that aren’t their fault. But in order to get access to those remedies, you’ll need the help of a qualified lawyer.

Sometimes, people believe it’s not worth talking to a lawyer because the accident is too minor, because the fault is too ambiguous, or because lawyers are too expensive. But the reality is, it’s always a good idea to talk to a lawyer after you’re in a car accident.

The Many Types of Car Accidents

There are many different types of car accidents, ranging from very minor to extreme. Fault could be attributed to one or multiple parties, and the costs of the accident could range from hundreds to millions of dollars.

Because of this, it may seem strange to offer a universal piece of advice for all accidents, but no matter what the conditions are, you should probably talk to a personal injury lawyer.

The Value of a Lawyer

After any car accident, it’s advisable to talk to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

A car accident personal injury lawyer can help you:

· Understand your situation. First, your lawyer will review the details of your case and help you better understand it in the context of the law. They can help you decide whether it makes sense to move forward with legal action, and help you understand the potential remedies available to you. As a layperson, you probably don’t know much about the law as it relates to car accidents, but a good lawyer can elucidate this matter.

· Devise an appropriate strategy. Together with your lawyer, you can begin devising an appropriate strategy as well. In some cases, there may be no appropriate legal action for you to take. In others, it may be important to file a lawsuit. No matter what, your lawyer will help you decide how to move forward.

· Negotiate with insurance companies. The at-fault party’s insurance company will likely make you a settlement offer, giving you compensation for expected damages in exchange for forgoing legal action. In some cases, it makes sense to take this settlement, but in others, you may want to push back and negotiate for a higher amount. Your lawyer can help you do this.

· File a lawsuit. In some cases, it makes sense to file a lawsuit and seek even more damages. Again, your lawyer can help you figure out what the best move is, and they’ll represent you in negotiations as the case proceeds. Most car accident cases settle out of court, but if the case does go to court, your lawyer will represent you and fight to earn you as much compensation as possible.

The Free Consultation

Personal injury lawyers do cost money. However, it’s important to recognize that most personal injury lawyers are happy to give you a free initial consultation. Additionally, most personal injury lawyers won’t charge you anything if you don’t win the case, and they won’t charge any fees until you win a settlement. Because there’s practically no risk in having an initial conversation with a lawyer, there’s no reason not to have one.

Immediately After the Accident

A lawyer probably shouldn’t be the first call you make after an accident. Instead, these are your top priorities:

· Find safety. First, you need to get to safety. If you aren’t careful, you could end up in another accident, or you could cause an accident between third parties.

· Call for help. Next, you need to call for help. Even if it doesn’t feel like you’re seriously hurt, it’s a good idea to get an evaluation from a medical professional, as adrenaline can interfere with your ability to perceive pain and injuries.

· File a report. Even for minor car acts, it’s a good idea to file an official police report. This is going to serve as an official record of events moving forward, so verify that all the details are accurate.

· Gather evidence (if it’s safe to do so). You should also spend time gathering evidence on the scene, assuming it’s safe to do so. Photos, videos, and witness statements are all valuable.

Once you take care of these matters, you should be in contact with an attorney right away. From there, you can collaborate with your attorney to understand your options, weigh the pros and cons of each, and ultimately move forward in the way that most benefits you.