A car accident lawyer helps you recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit if you are hurt in an accident or a wrongful death lawsuit if someone you love passes away because of an accident. By utilizing their knowledge of local and federal traffic laws, a skilled lawyer will accurately value your damages to ensure you receive maximum compensation.
The Fundamentals of a Car Accident Lawyer’s Work
A car accident lawyer will evaluate your case and explain the legal options available to you. They’ll handle all of the paperwork, secure required evidence, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and take the case to trial if needed to help you secure compensation for your pain and suffering.
What Types of Cases Do Car Accident Lawyers Typically Handle?
There’s a diverse range of car accident types you could be involved in through no fault of your own. The extent of injuries resulting from each can also be very different. That’s why it’s important to work with a car accident lawyer who has dealt with many different types of car accidents. They have the expertise needed to properly win your case.
When Should You Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
You should ideally hire a car accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. You don’t have to calculate what your claim is worth, gather evidence, figure out applicable laws, file all of the paperwork, follow legal procedures, and negotiate with the insurance companies.
Your personal injury lawyer will take care of it all, freeing you up to focus on your medical treatment and recovery.
Should You Hire an Attorney for a Minor Car Accident?
Even in minor accidents with insignificant car or property damage or no sustained injuries, it’s best to hire an attorney to protect yourself against any unfounded legal claims the other driver might make to shift the blame on you to seek compensation.
If that’s not a concern, you can utilize your own insurance coverage for a claim without needing assistance from a car accident lawyer.
How an Auto Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case
There are several benefits of having an auto accident attorney in your corner.
As professionals with a thorough understanding of the law and expertise in dealing with complicated cases, your claim will be stronger when there’s a professional pursuing it every step of the way, from handling tough settlement negotiations with the insurance company to even taking the case to trial.
Maximizing Compensation
You may not realize how much your car accident case is truly worth until you consult an experienced attorney. There may be items eligible for claims that you are not aware of. Don’t run the risk of leaving money on the table, as that only benefits the people responsible for your accident.
Your lawyer’s primary goal is to get you maximum compensation. They’ll know precisely how to value your lost wages, loss of income potential, current medical injuries, the impact of those injuries on your future, the cost of vehicle repair or replacement, and other losses.
They’ll also claim compensation for the emotional trauma you’ve suffered due to the accident getting you a fair settlement that helps you get your life back on track.
Navigating Complex Legal Issues
There are often complicated legal challenges to overcome during the claims process when pursuing most car accident cases. That requires a thorough understanding of not just statutory but also procedural law to accurately determine liability. Non-compliance with any provision might leave you unable to claim damages altogether.
Lawyers are best equipped to handle such challenges.
Whether that’s going after multiple liable parties, handling uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage claims, pursuing claims against government entities, or putting together a multi-pronged legal strategy to maximize compensation, having professional legal representation covers all of the bases.
Avoiding Pitfalls
Avoiding common pitfalls is essential to safeguard your right to claim compensation after an accident. Lawyers help clients avoid them by providing valuable advice.
For example, the statute of limitations will be the first aspect most personal injury attorneys consider, as your claim has to be filed within that time limit otherwise you can’t receive compensation.
Insurance companies may initially offer less than your claim is actually worth. Your lawyer will warn you about this, thus saving you from accepting less money than you are entitled to.
They’ll also advise you to never negotiate with any of the concerned parties without your personal injury attorney present, so you don’t agree to something that’s not in your best interest.
Choosing the Right Lawyer for Your Car Accident Case
You should have confidence in the lawyer you’ve hired that they’re capable of protecting your interests. That confidence can only come when you’re certain you’ve picked the right one for the job. Pick those who have a verifiable track record of successfully winning major settlements for their clients in personal injury cases.
Car accident attorneys should have considerable experience in dealing with all types of personal injury claims, as that ensures they have the knowledge and expertise required to handle any complications in your case.
You may also look into their reputation through online resources like LinkedIn and lawyer directories to have complete peace of mind that you’ve made the right decision.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
How much does it cost to retain you for legal services?
Make this the first question you ask any lawyer you’re considering. Ask about their cost structure, whether they operate on a contingency fee basis, and if so, what percentage of your settlement they take as their fee.
How much could I potentially win in damages?
Ask them how much you could win in damages for your personal injury claim. Based on the facts and circumstances of your case, they should be able to provide an estimated amount of damages you might get either in a settlement or jury verdict.
What experience do you have handling similar cases?
You need to be sure the lawyers you’ve picked have handled personal injury cases similar to yours in the past. This provides you with the peace of mind that they’re well-equipped to handle the matter.
Understanding Legal Fees and Agreements
You may have concerns about the cost of hiring a lawyer. A successful car accident claim can require hundreds of hours of billable work. Many lawyers provide payment arrangements that don’t include any upfront costs. Some also operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you don’t have to pay them anything unless you win.
Most personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. They don’t ask you to pay anything upfront. They handle everything from start to finish and will only get paid once you get paid. They’ll charge a percentage of the settlement offer you’ve accepted as their fee.
There’s no fixed percentage that every personal injury lawyer charges for winning a contingency fee case. However, it typically ranges from 20% to 40% of the confirmed settlement or court award.
The exact percentage is calculated based on several factors, including the case’s complexity, the lawyer’s experience, and the number of involved parties.
The Impact of Legal Representation on Car Accident Claims
Having professional legal representation from law firms can make all the difference in your car accident claim, enabling you to secure the highest financial compensation possible, and helping you regain control of your life.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we’re proud to have helped our clients win settlements as large as:
- $18.5 million for a client who suffered serious injuries and limited mobility after a head-on crash
- $14.1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit for the family of a motorcyclist killed in a side-swipe accident
- $2.5 million in an under-insured motorist settlement for a passenger seriously injured in a rollover crash
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Today!
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident, it’s best to have professionals recover compensation from the at-fault parties. We provide all clients with a free, no-obligation initial consultation. Just reach out to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers by giving us a call at (888) 424-5757 and get a free consultation with one of our expert attorneys.
It’s best to prepare a few things before the consultation to help the lawyer provide you with the best possible advice.
Bring any reports of medical assistance received and any medical bills you may have as they’ll help the legal professional accurately estimate what your injuries are worth. Police reports are useful for ascertaining the specifics of the case.
You should also bring any correspondence you may have received from the insurance companies to enable your lawyer to fully understand where things stand so they can effectively create a strategy for handling the case in the future.