Why You Should Hire an
Auto Accident Lawyer
A skilled
auto accident lawyer will help you get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. Insurance companies are notorious for making it difficult to determine the severity of injuries and decreasing the amount they pay to victims.
In car accident cases, economic damages are the most frequent type of compensation. But non-economic damages have a hard time being quantified.
Recovering Compensation After a Car Crash
In many states, the system is based on fault. This means that the company or person responsible 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). You could be entitled non-economic damages such as pain and discomfort emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in your life. This is in addition to medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. In rare instances the punitive damages could be given if the at-fault driver's behavior was particularly reckless.
While not all crashes require legal counsel, hiring an attorney is the best way to handle your claim. A good lawyer can investigate the incident, gather and organize evidence that establishes the liability of the other party and negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies. This allows you to concentrate on your physical healing.
A lawyer who has experience is usually required for obtaining reasonable and fair settlements. Unfortunately, insurance companies frequently contest the validity of claim of injury to a victim and attempt to minimize the severity of their injuries in order to reduce the amount they pay victims. Our lawyers are experienced negotiators with years of experience in fighting these kinds of insurance companies to ensure that they get their clients the best amount of compensation that they are entitled to. Our lawyers have secured millions of dollars for their clients.
Proving Negligence
If you're the victim of an accident the proof of negligence is crucial to your recovery. A personal injury lawyer can assist you with this. They'll request the police report and, if needed, go back to the scene of the accident to take photos themselves. They'll also speak with any eyewitnesses and examine any other evidence related to the incident.
To establish negligence, you must show that the person responsible for your injury was liable to you. This could be based on the ownership or operation of an instrument that caused the injury, your relationship with the defendant, or
Auto Accident even the law. Once you've established that the duty exists it's essential to prove that the defendant has not complied with the obligation. This means that they didn't meet the standard of reasonable conduct for their actions and circumstances.
It is also necessary to prove that their conduct caused you injury or damage. In law, this is referred to as causation and is a part of the concept of proximate causes. This means that the breach was responsible for the damage or injury you have suffered.
If, for instance the driver crashes their vehicle into yours while you are stuck at a traffic light that is certainly a instance of reckless driving. Certain injuries are more complicated. In these instances you may need to prove your damages through a concept called indirect causation.
Gathering Evidence
A car accident case relies on evidence and the more of it you have, the more persuasive your argument. This includes witness statements, photos of the scene and the damage to both vehicles, and police reports.
The best time to gather the information is at the scene, when it's fresh. A majority of people carry a camera on their phone so it's easy to snap photos of the site of the accident as well as damaged vehicles. It's also a good idea to capture weather conditions as they can play a part in an accident.
Injuries that result from a car accident are often severe, and it is imperative to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. This is crucial for your health, but also essential to determine the severity of your injuries, and demonstrating the impact that they have had on your life. This will enable you to receive compensation for the expense of medical care and any losses in wages and other costs that are a result of your injury.
Keep track of all expenses incurred because of the accident. This includes transportation to and from appointments or hotel stays if your injuries prevented you from traveling. You may also wish to include pay stubs and tax returns to prove your financial losses.
The process of negotiating a settlement
Insurance companies offer low settlements for victims of car accidents. They hope you accept the offer but not engage an attorney to fight for the compensation you deserved.
An experienced lawyer for
auto accident attorneys accidents can help you negotiate for a fair settlement that covers all your costs and losses. They can also assist you to bring a lawsuit in the event that your insurance company does not agree to an offer of settlement.
The adjuster will review all medical documents, as well as other documents, to determine the strength and legitimacy of your claim. It could take weeks or even months to receive a settlement.
Maintaining a backup of physical and digital copies of all documents related to the crash is highly advised. This will allow your attorney to quickly find any information needed during the negotiation process. It will also prevent you from having to re-provide any documents that the insurance company had previously had access to and used in your case.
When negotiating with an insurance firm, it is crucial to be calm and not jump into any emotional rage. Avoid making statements that could be interpreted as an admission of fault. If the adjuster makes any allegations, contact your attorney immediately. If you have been negotiating for a long period of time it could mean that you are being pressured into litigation.