Every year there are thousands of traffic accident victims in the United States. In most of these car accidents, the medical bills that result from the accident end up on the victims themselves, and many of them lack health insurance . Ambulance expenses, hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits, x-rays, and even car repairs are claimed from insurance companies without the legal help of car accident attorneys .
Large insurance companies deal with a multitude of these types of situations every day. On the other hand, for you it will be the first time you see yourself in this situation and with the shock of the accident still in your body. Due to this, you will assume in advance who will win in this negotiation.
If you have been the victim of a car accident and believe that you are not to blame for it, I advise you to continue reading. I’ll help you get the best compensation you can get and help you find the best car accident lawyers near you, you’ll need the best.
Should I hire a car accident attorney?
Hiring a lawyer when you have had a traffic accident is not mandatory, although it is recommended. Especially if the accident was the fault of another person and the consequences were serious, causing physical injuries, deaths or other important consequences.
An auto accident attorney will help you recover the financial losses you have suffered . It will also help you avoid mistakes that can ultimately cost you.
When should I hire an attorney for a car accident?
When the economic, physical or other repercussions are important, I recommend that you hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible . That is, shortly after the mishap occurs and with a maximum period of one or two weeks .
The main reason is that for you, it will probably be the first time you try to resolve a claim of this type, while for the insurance company it will be one of thousands of claims like yours.
In case of accidents with minor damages without major physical injuries , it is usually not necessary to use an attorney and we can solve it ourselves through the insurance company.
An attorney experienced in these types of cases can help you recover the financial loss caused by the accident. Be it lost wages, medical expenses, or even the repair of the cars involved.
Reasons you’ll need car crash lawyers.
Lawyers specializing in traffic accidents are experienced professionals in this field of law who can make you earn a lot of money if you are the victim or not lose it if you are not. Car crashes are more common than many people think. And the causes that cause these car accidents are also numerous and varied.
Of course, the responsibility for the car accident will finally be determined by the Judicial Authority after examining the evidence provided .
This responsibility can be absolute or shared . Not always, a driver is entirely to blame for a car accident. In fact, determining fault in multiple accidents can be tricky.
Each state has its own auto accident liability law. For this reason, I advise you to look for the best car crash lawyers near you in case you are involved in an accident.
- Drunk driving.
- Being under the influence of drugs.
- Driver distraction.
- rear shocks.
- Driver fatigue.
- Driving too close to another vehicle.
- Not respecting traffic signs.
- Speeding.
- Defective and poorly maintained vehicle.
- Roads in poor condition.
Lawyers specializing in car accidents must anticipate all these contingencies and know how to deal with the possible claims that may arise from this fact with guarantees of success.
What to ask a car accident lawyer in a first consultation?
When speaking with the lawyer specializing in traffic accidents that represents you, you must provide all the documentation and information about what happened as possible. From medical reports outlining injuries sustained to detailed documentation outlining financial loss. It will also be necessary to provide the auto insurance policy that we have contracted .
The best way to hire a good professional is to personally meet several lawyers and choose the one that has left us with the best feelings . To do this, we must ask some basic questions that will help us finally decide.
- What expenses will hiring him entail and how are his rates structured?
- What experience do you have with car accidents with injuries like ours?
- What percentage do you have of auto accident cases?
- What are usually the sentences or agreements in cases like mine?
Steps to follow if you have suffered a car accident
Due to how traumatic an accident can be, it is difficult to think about what we should do at that moment and even in the hours and days after.
However, you need to be aware of how important the steps you take after a car accident are . In fact, the value of your claim to the insurance company will depend on it.
So if you are wondering how do I get the most money from a car accident? Here is what you can and cannot do after a traffic accident. The amount of money you receive from the insurance company will depend on this.
#1 Stay at the crash site.
Whenever circumstances allow it, you should stay at the scene of the accident and call the police whenever there are injuries, deaths or damage that prevents the car from moving .
#2 Gather as much information from the scene as you can.
Those affected must provide their contact information and their vehicle to the police present at the scene and to other drivers who are involved in the mishap. Remember that as a driver you must submit the traffic accident report within the period established by each state .
Get all the information on the drivers and vehicles involved in the accident. You should at least get the name, address, driver’s license number, insurance company, and policy number of the other drivers. The contact details of witnesses, if any, are also important so that your lawyer can question them in the future if necessary.
If you have the opportunity, it is a good idea to take pictures and videos of the accident scene from all angles .
Keep in mind that if an accident occurs and the other party hits the road, you can only get compensation from your own auto insurance.
#3 Head to a medical facility and seek treatment.
If you have been involved in a traffic accident and have suffered significant injuries, it is normal for you to go to the nearest medical center to be treated for the injuries suffered .
Most common causes of a car accident.
Car accidents can occur for many reasons that would be difficult to list here. However, car crash lawyers must be prepared for any eventuality that comes their way. These are the most common causes that can give rise to these situations;
Although there are many cases in which we have barely suffered a blow without apparent injuries and we renounce medical treatment.
I recommend that whenever you plan to file a claim and obtain the highest possible financial reward with it, you visit a medical center. A medical report is proof that the accident caused you injuries.
Even if you don’t feel the need to be examined by a doctor, the most serious injuries don’t always show symptoms for the first few hours or even days. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you get examined by a doctor as soon as possible.
# 4 Keep documents of all payments made.
When requesting a claim from the insurance company, it is necessary that you provide all the documentation that is in your possession and that supports said claim.
Keep in mind that the more documentation you provide, the greater your chances of obtaining high financial compensation.
Documentation that you must provide…
- Medical bills
- Ambulance services.
- Hospitalization.
- Diagnostic tests.
- Medicines.
- Recovery therapies.
- Last payroll received.
- Other expenses derived from the injuries suffered, such as works on the home.
- Assistance at home.
#5 Report the accident to your insurance company.
Even if you are not responsible for the accident you have suffered, you must inform your insurance company . If you read your policy you will see that you are indeed obliged to do so and that failure to do so may result in cancellation of the insurance.
Simply inform your insurer of the accident that occurred without going into details about who was at fault. It will be your lawyer who is in charge of elucidating the fault of the accident .
#6 Don’t miss any medical or rehab appointments.
You have to think that as long as you have not signed an agreement with the insurer, they will do everything in their power to prove that you “lie” . Missing medical or rehab appointments will certainly be used against you by making the court believe that you are lying about your injuries.
Following your doctor’s or therapist’s instructions will help show that your injuries are serious.
#7 (Important) DO NOT ACCEPT A SETTLEMENT OFFER WITHOUT TALKING WITH A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ATTORNEY FIRST.
This is the most important advice I can give you.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING BEFORE TALKING TO YOUR LAWYER
This is because the insurance company or defense attorney will try to convince you that they are offering you the best settlement possible . Of course this is not true, keep in mind that if they offer you 100 it is because they surely know that they will be obliged to give you 300, 400 or even 500 if you end up talking to a lawyer about the accident.
Remember, they will try to convince you with expressions like “you don’t need to talk to a lawyer”, “this is the best offer you can get” and similar phrases to trick you into signing.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, it’s a sure sign that they think they should pay you a lot of money.
#8 Don’t talk about the accident.
The investigators of the insurance companies will try to elucidate the case against your interests . To do this, they will try to talk to you as a victim, your family members and even your friends.
By not talking to anyone, you will avoid putting them in the position of saying something that ends up hurting you. Let your lawyer be the one to set the strategy to follow at all times .
Of course, don’t post anything on social media related to their case either. They will be tracked in search of any information that reduces the amount of your compensation.
Time you have to claim (status of claims)
If you plan to sue for injuries sustained in a car accident, you should know the maximum time you have to do so .
The maximum terms are determined by the state where the accident took place. Thus, for example, the statute of limitations in the state of California for a personal injury case caused by a traffic accident is 2 years. In contrast, in Florida it would be 4 years.
Frequent questions
These are some of the questions traffic accident victims ask themselves before hiring a car accident attorney.
1. How much does a car accident attorney cost?
Most car accident law firms only get paid if they win the claim. This is why before accepting your case, they have to study it enough to make sure that they can reach a good agreement for their client. The standard rate is between 30% and 40% of the agreement obtained. Make sure you understand the fees charged by the attorney you consult before you hire them.
2. When do I have to hire a car accident attorney?
Ideally, you should talk to your attorney if you have one or find one as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Above all, be sure to talk to one before reaching an agreement with the insurance company .
3. What do I do if I am in a car accident with no injuries?
I recommend that even if there are no serious injuries, call the police to come to the scene of the accident. If your car has been damaged, you may need to file a claim with the insurance company and a police report will help you get compensation. Make sure that all people and cars involved remain at the scene until the arrival of the police vehicle.
