How Do I Know If I Need A Car Accident Lawyer?
Getting into a car accident can be incredibly scary. Accidents can cause extreme pain, financial issues, and even impact your livelihood.
Each accident is unique and you may be wondering if you should hire a lawyer.
Let’s take a look at what circumstances may require extra legal assistance from a professional personal injury lawyer.
You Need Compensation
After an accident, there may be a situation when you believe you deserve the necessary compensation. This could be a matter of:
- Loss of income due to the inability to work from a physical injury or not being able to drive to your job.
- Medical expenses that occurred due to an injury as a result of the car accident.
- Inability to pay for the repairs and damages to your vehicle.
- The death of someone you loved due to the accident.
Regardless of the situation, it may be in your best interest to consult with a personal injury lawyer. Those who are seeking compensation and have legal representation typically receive anywhere from 2 to 3 times the settlement amount with a 90% chance of winning.
This is because lawyers know how to handle evidence, negotiation with insurance companies, and the legal system.
It can also be the case that some injuries and repercussions of an accident may not immediately occur. It could take several weeks before some financial or medical issues arise.
You Don’t Know the Legal System
Most car accident cases are settled outside of court. However, this can lead to the insurance companies making the final call in terms of fault or what your final compensation will be, depending on which state you live in.
The unfortunate truth is that insurance companies will usually try to provide you with the lowest compensation possible. It’s common for them to take advantage of car accident victims since they’re not fully aware of the legal system.
A claim can easily be lost if it’s not properly filed according to your state’s requirements, resulting in no compensation or repercussions.
You’re Struggling Because You Don’t Have Insurance
As we stated before, working with insurance companies can result in a negative outcome for your case. You won’t typically speak directly with the driver who may be at fault. In this case, you’re speaking with the insurance companies.
However, if your insurance has expired or you’ve been in a car accident without any insurance, you’ll want to seek out professional legal representation from a personal injury lawyer.
Regardless if you are at fault or not, driving in the United States without proper up-to-date car insurance except for New Hampshire or Virginia.
In New Hampshire, you can drive without insurance but you will be held responsible for up to $50,000 liability and $25,000 for property damage. In Virginia, you can opt-out of having insurance as long as you’re willing to pay the annual $500 state fee.
You’re Short On Time
Timing is crucial when filing any type of claim for a car accident. However, when the accident first happens, you’re also going to be dealing with a lot of other stressors such as physical or emotional damages.
Every state has different requirements as to how long you have to file a car accident claim. But most insurance companies require that a claim be filed within 30 days of the accident. If you miss the deadline to file your claim, you’ll be forfeiting your right to take legal action against the person at fault.
Summary
If you’re on the fence about consulting with a personal injury lawyer, your best bet is to do so. There is nothing you can lose and only more you can gain.
Consultations are often free and a good lawyer will be upfront about what the potential outcome of your case could be. Don’t wait too long to avoid further complications or worse, not receiving any compensation for the damages that have been made.