When many people receive car accident injuries, they don’t know what the right next step is. Many people imagine that there is nothing they can do about the situation. However, a car accident lawyer will be able to tell you about your rights.
In the United States alone, people spend almost $60 billion every year on the services of car accident and other personal injury lawyers. On top of that, the demand for personal injury lawyer assistance continues to go up year by year. Over the past five years, the market has enjoyed a growth rate of about 3.6% per year.
But how can you know if you should speak with a car accident lawyer? Read on to learn all about the top signs that you would benefit from working with a car accident attorney!
1. You Might Be Blamed for the Auto Accident
Is the other party blaming you for the accident? Depending on your situation, you might need a lawyer to help defend yourself against accusations. If the other party decides to take you to court, then it will be difficult to defend yourself without the help of an expert attorney.
2. The Other Party Caused the Vehicle Accident
On the other hand, what if the other party is responsible for the accident and the injuries you received? Sometimes, the responsible driver refuses to accept their responsibility. However, the law requires that the responsible party help the injured party in many situations.
Especially if you have suffered injuries from the accident, the other driver may need to help cover your damages. That does not necessarily mean that you need to take them to court. If they acknowledge their responsibility and offer to help out, then you can settle things between you in a way that satisfies both parties.
However, if the other party refuses to help, then you may need to explain the situation in court so that the law can make sure that justice is done. In such cases, you will need a lawyer to represent you.
3. Your Insurance Company Won’t Help
In many cases, people benefit from hiring a car accident attorney even if they do not intend to take the other party to court. Sometimes, car insurance companies refuse to pay for damages covered by their insurance agreements.
Insurance companies know that most people do not have a detailed understanding of their insurance or rights. As a result, they may refuse to cover your costs and hope that you will give up and go away. Even if you keep trying, they may try a strategy of refusing over and over unless you take things to the next level.
Car accident attorneys have a deep understanding of when and how insurance companies are obligated to cover the costs of their customers. In most cases, if an insurance company sees that you have a lawyer on your side, they will change tactics.
However, even if your insurance company is stubborn, you can always end up taking them to court with the help of your lawyer. This is usually not necessary, because insurance companies understand that they will not be able to get away with failing to fulfill their obligations to you as an injured customer.
4. You Want to Negotiate a Vehicle Accident Settlement
Even if the other party does not want to compensate you for your injuries, you may not need to go to court. If you can come to a settlement outside of the courtroom, you may be able to find an agreement that satisfies everyone without going through all the work of presenting your cases in court.
However, even outside of the courtroom, these negotiations can be difficult. Sometimes, the responsible party in an accident does not even know how precarious their legal situation is. As a result, they might think that they can dig in their heels and refuse to make any compromises.
In such cases, it can help everyone involved to get a clearer understanding of how the law relates to the situation. Hiring a car accident lawyer can help the other party learn about the likely outcome if you decide to take them to court. At that point, they may be much more willing to compromise and come to a satisfactory agreement.
However, even working out the details of such an agreement can be a complicated process. Your car accident lawyer will have a lot of experience working with similar negotiations.
It will also be much easier for them to keep a cool head because they are not as close to the situation. The end result can be that you receive more than the average car accident settlement.
5. You May Be Eligible for Car Accident Compensation
Sometimes, the most valuable service a lawyer can offer is helping you to understand your situation. Some people think about taking the other party to court but have no real sense of how viable their case is or not.
You might think that you are certain to win in court only to find out that you do not have legal standing to sue the other party for compensation. Although this is not always pleasant news, it is preferable to taking a case to court that you cannot win.
An Oakland car accident lawyer shares: Compensation in California typically covers a range of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and, importantly, pain and suffering. The inclusion of non-economic damages like pain and suffering is crucial, as it acknowledges the broader impact of car accidents on an individual’s life beyond just the financial costs.
Know When to Call a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Injuries
After you have sustained car accident injuries, it is not always obvious what to do next. However, it can help to find an experienced car accident lawyer who has helped people in similar situations before. Even if you only need help with your insurance company, finding a lawyer to help you is more than worth it.
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