Why You Should Hire an
Auto Accident Lawyer
A skilled lawyer for
auto accidents will help you get the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Insurance companies for cars are known for slapping victims with low-balls and denying or downplaying the severity their injuries.
Economic damages are the most commonly used kind of compensation in car accident cases. However, non-economic damages can have difficulties in quantifying.
Recovering Compensation Following a Car Crash
In the majority of states the system is based on fault. This means that the company or person that is responsible for the accident has to pay for 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 costs or lost wages, property damage, and other tangible losses and damages, you may also be eligible for non-economic damages, like suffering and pain as well as loss of enjoyment life and emotional distress. Punitive damages can be granted in very rare circumstances if the fault of the driver is particularly bad.
Although not all car crashes require legal counsel, retaining an attorney is the best way to deal with your claim. A good lawyer can conduct an investigation into the incident, gather and compile evidence that proves the liability of the other party and negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies. This allows you to focus on your physical healing.
An experienced and knowledgeable attorney for car accidents is often essential in obtaining fair and reasonable settlements. Insurance companies often question the legitimacy of injury claims and diminish the severity of injuries to compensate victims. Our attorneys are experienced negotiators who have fought insurance companies for years to get the maximum amount of compensation for their clients. Our lawyers have secured millions of dollars for their clients.
Proving Negligence
If you've been the victim of an accident, proving negligence is the key to your recovery. A personal injury lawyer can help in this. They'll collect the police report and, if necessary return to the scene of the accident and snap photos themselves. They'll also speak with any witnesses and review any other evidence of the incident.
Proving negligence requires showing that the person who caused your injury owed you a duty. This could be based on the owner or operation of the instrument responsible for injury or the nature of your relationship with the defendant, or the law. After you've established the existence of a duty, it's important to show that the defendant acted in breach of the duty. This means that they did not meet the standard of reasonable conduct in their circumstances and actions.
It is also necessary to prove that their conduct caused you harm or injury. This is commonly called causation in law and is a part of a concept called proximate cause. This means that the breach caused the injury or damages you sustained.
If, for example, a driver slams their vehicle into yours while you are stopped at a traffic light it is a clear instance of reckless driving. However, certain injuries can be more complicated. In these situations, it may be necessary to prove your injuries using a concept called indirect causation.
Gathering Evidence
Evidence is the most important aspect in a car crash case. The more evidence you have the more convincing your case. Witness statements as well as photos of the scene, evidence of damage to both vehicles, and police reports.
The best way to gather this information is at the time it is freshest. Most people have a camera in their phone, which means it's easy to snap pictures of the crash site and the damaged vehicles. Recording weather conditions is a good idea, as they can contribute to an accident.
Injuries sustained in a car accident are usually serious, and it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as you can. It is crucial for your health but also to establish the extent of your injuries. This will enable you to receive compensation for your medical costs as well as lost wages and other expenses related to your injury.
Keep a log of the expenses you incurred as a result of the accident. This includes transportation to and from appointments or hotel stays in case your injuries prevented you from travelling. It is also possible to include pay stubs or tax returns as proof of your financial losses.
The process of negotiating a settlement
Insurance companies offer a low-cost settlement to victims of car accidents. They hope that you'll take the offer, but without an experienced attorney to pursue the actual damages you're legally liable for your injuries.
An experienced
auto accident attorney can assist you in negotiating an acceptable settlement that covers all your expenses and losses. They can also aid you with bringing a suit 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. Depending on the severity of your injuries, it may take weeks or even months before you receive a settlement offer.
It is highly recommended to keep a copy of all documents relating to the accident. This will allow your attorney to quickly access any information needed during negotiations. This will also keep you from having the need to provide any documents that the insurance company previously accessed and used against your case.
It is important to stay at a level when dealing with an insurance company and not allow your emotions to get the over you. It is also crucial to avoid making any assertions that could be interpreted as a way of admitting fault. Contact your attorney immediately should the adjuster make accusations. Long delays between negotiations could be an indicator that you are being rushed and may be headed into litigation.