Why You Should Hire an
Auto Accident Lawyer
A skilled
auto accident lawyers accident lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Car insurance companies are notorious for under-valuing victims and doubting or minimizing the severity of their injuries.
Economic damages are the most frequent type of compensation in car accident cases. But non-economic damages have difficulties in quantifying.
Recovering Compensation after a Car Crash
In many states, the system is based on fault. This means that the person or company at fault for an accident must pay compensation. This is typically done through insurance policies covering the at-fault party's liability and your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). In addition to medical bills, lost wages, property damage and other tangible losses, you may also be eligible for non-economic damages, like the cost of suffering as well as loss of enjoyment life, and emotional distress. In rare cases, punitive damages may be granted if the driver at fault's behavior was particularly reckless.
While most car accidents don't require legal counsel however, it is generally recommended to work with a lawyer handle your claim. A good attorney can investigate the crash and collect and organize evidence to prove liability and negotiate with insurers on your behalf. This allows you to concentrate on your physical recovery.
A lawyer for car accidents with experience is usually required to obtain reasonable and fair settlements. In reality, insurance companies often contest the validity of plaintiff's claims for injuries and downplay the severity of their injuries in order to limit the amount they will pay to compensate victims. Our lawyers are experienced negotiators and have many years of experience fighting these kinds of insurance companies to get their clients the best compensation possible. Our lawyers have secured millions of dollars for their clients.
Proving Negligence
If you've been the victim of an accident, proving negligence is key to your recovery. A personal injury lawyer can assist you with this. They'll get the police report and, if necessary return to the scene of the accident and snap photos themselves. They'll also interview witnesses and review any other evidence.
To prove negligence, you have to prove that the person responsible for your injury owed a duty to you. This could be based upon the operation or ownership of an instrument that caused the injury, your relationship to the defendant or even the law. Once you've established that the duty exists it is crucial to prove that the defendant has not complied with the duty. This means that they didn't meet the standard of conduct that is reasonable for their situation and actions.
You must also prove that their actions caused you injury or damage. This is often called causation in law and is related to a concept called proximate cause. It means that the breach directly caused the injury or damage you suffered.
If a person slams into your vehicle while stopped at a red light such as, for instance, it's an obvious case of negligent driving. However, certain injuries are more complex. In these cases you may have to prove the severity of your injury using a concept known as indirect causation.
Gathering Evidence
A case involving a car accident is built on evidence and the more evidence you have, the more convincing your argument. You can use witness statements as well as photos of the scene, damages to both vehicles, and police reports.
The best time to collect this information is at the scene, when it's most fresh. Most people have a camera on their smartphone, making it easy to take photos of the site of the accident as well as damaged vehicles. It's important to record weather conditions since they can play an important part in an accident.
It is crucial to seek medical care immediately after a car crash. The injuries are often serious and it's important to get them treated as quickly as you can. It is essential for your health, but also to determine the severity of your injuries. This will help you recover compensation for the cost of your medical care as well as any lost wages and other expenses caused by your injury.
Keep a record of the costs incurred due to the accident. This includes transportation to and from appointments or hotel stays in the event that your injuries prevented you from travelling. You might also want to include pay stubs and tax returns to prove your financial losses.
The process of negotiating a settlement
Insurance companies often offer a small initial settlement to car accident victims. They hope you'll accept the offer without hiring an experienced lawyer to pursue the real damages you are owed for your injuries.
An experienced auto accident attorney can assist you in negotiating an affordable settlement that covers all your costs and losses. They can also help you in filing a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to pay.
The adjuster for insurance will go over your medical records as well as other documents to determine the strength of your claim. It may take several weeks or even months to receive an settlement.
The storage of a digital and physical copies of all documents related to the crash is highly recommended. This will enable your attorney to quickly locate any information needed during negotiations. This will also keep you from having the need to provide any documents that the insurance company had previously looked up and used against your case.
When dealing with an insurance company, it is crucial to remain calm and not get into any emotional outbursts. Avoid making statements that may be taken as an admission of fault. Contact your attorney immediately should the adjuster make accusations. If you've been negotiating for a long time it could indicate that you're being rushed into litigation.