Many people wonder whether it is really necessary to hire an attorney after a car accident. Wouldn’t it be less expensive to handle the matter yourself? How hard can it be? Isn’t it just a phone call to your insurance agent?
These are valid questions and they sound reasonable. After all, hiring an attorney isn’t free. This is a professional who has years of education and training under his or her belt and, if you’re smart, an abundance of experience handling these legal matters, strong negotiation skills, and, if it comes to that, an ability to litigate successfully in court. Are all these qualifications really necessary for the filing of your injury claim?
Here are a few reasons why you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer after an auto accident in which you have been injured:
- Depending on the circumstances, auto accident claims can be complicated. Determining fault is necessary and this must be proven to the insurer through documented evidence. This often requires a thorough investigation into what happened. An attorney has specialized knowledge about what this means, how to accomplish it, and how to present it to insurers. An investigation may involve obtaining a police report, interviewing witnesses, documenting the accident scene, and more. An attorney may have necessary resources such as accident reconstruction specialists and others who can help discover and demonstrate fault and liability among all parties that were involved.
- An attorney can figure out what types of damages you are owed and their total extent, which can include future medical care you may need as well as current, property damage to your vehicle, your lost wages or earning capacity, and pain and suffering. These can be difficult to quantify but the value is necessary to define. An attorney will know how to do this so that you are covered for any future consequences that you may not have foreseen. The average person will likely not have a grasp on this
- An attorney can communicate with the insurer for you. After an accident, you may be contacted by an insurance adjuster offering you a quick settlement. Will you know if this is fair? An attorney will. The opening settlement offer usually isn’t fair – it may be close to fair but still less than what your claim is worth. It’s a tactic to get you to settle fast and for cheap. An attorney can take this offer as a mere starting point and negotiate for what is fair. Insurance employees are trained to do everything possible to devalue your claim. When represented by an attorney, your case will be taken much more seriously by them and lead to better results.
Given all of the above, is it really something you want to take on while you are recovering from an auto accident? You may be in serious pain or discomfort and looking at a recovery that involves medical appointments, physical therapy, and more. Concentrating your efforts on recovering and putting your life back together