Car Accident Injury Lawyer • Basic Things You Need To Know About It

What do you think about a Car Accident Injury Lawyer? If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may need to hire a car accident lawyer. An experienced injury attorney can help you recover losses resulting from a motor vehicle accident and/or reduce the hefty amount of paperwork, “red tape,” and hassle often associated with car accident insurance claims. Knowing when you need professional legal assistance can make the difference between a justly resolved case and owing or losing large monetary damages.

Below is important information you need to know about hiring a car accident lawyer.

Why You May Need To Hire A Car Accident Lawyer

Unfortunately, car accidents are everyday occurrences. Most personal injury claims in the United States are a result of an accident involving a car, truck, or other motor vehicles. Many of these accidents result in minor vehicle damage in the form of a “fender bender,” and can generally be handled alone through direct contact with an insurance company. However, car accidents that involve physical injury, fatality, or other significant damage may warrant the legal representation of experienced counsel.

An experienced attorney can help you get compensation to cover any losses incurred due to the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and car repairs. In some states, a car accident lawyer may help you recover when a loved one is killed, especially if reckless driving, speeding, or drunk-driving was involved.

What A Car Accident Lawyer Does

The main goal of a car accident lawyer is getting you financial compensation to cover your expenses like:

• Medical bills
• Vehicle repair or replacement
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Car accident lawyers are personal injury lawyers who specialize in tort law surrounding car accidents. There are a number of ways they can help you pursue the fullest compensation possible.

Here are some of the main things a car accident lawyer does when working with an injured driver.

Helps You Understand Your Rights

Most people are not well-versed in personal injury laws regarding car accidents. So, when an accident does happen, it’s completely understandable if you don’t know what your full rights are.

If you were not at fault for the car accident, you should not have to pay for damages resulting from it. The laws around car accident injuries vary per state, but in Georgia, the at-fault party in any injury accident is liable for all damages and the injured party can seek compensation for their damages (Georgia Code section 51-1-6).

Your lawyer can go through all relevant laws with you in your case. They’ll help you understand what your rights are and how you can legally protect yourself. Insurance companies are skilled at making you think you have little choice in how your case goes—but you have more power than you probably realize.

Offers The Best Legal Advice

After you get in an accident, you might get a lot of differing advice. Maybe you look online and see an article saying one thing. Then, you talk to a friend or family member and they give you their opinion on what you should do. It can get confusing quickly and leave you wondering how to best approach your case or where to even start.

Turn to the experts first. Car accident lawyers know what should happen after a car accident. They have spent years of schooling, training, and hands-on experience with car accident claims. They can look at the details of your case and give you the best advice for how to seek the full financial recovery you need.

Find an experienced car accident lawyer if you want to have the best chance at a successful car accident case.

Fights And Negotiates For A Fair Settlement

A lot of work and investigation goes into a successful car accident claim. A car accident lawyer does a lot behind the scenes to build a strong case for you and fight for your rights. They can help you:

• Investigate the details of your accident
• Gather all relevant information, including pictures, police reports, witness statements, and proof of damages
• Build and file a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company
• Negotiate for a fair settlement if the insurance company tries to lowball you
• File a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to negotiate
• Represent you in court and through every step leading up to court with the goal of full compensation for you.

Represents You In Court

Thankfully, most car accident cases are resolved well before they need to go to court. Insurance companies are more likely to offer a good settlement to a plaintiff who has a car accident lawyer. Even if you end up filing a lawsuit, it’s likely your lawyer will reach an agreement with the insurer before the trial.

However, if you do end up going to trial, a car accident lawyer will be by your side through the entire ordeal. They will fight ruthlessly for your right to compensation. Experienced lawyers are not afraid of insurance companies and their tactics. They will be ready for whatever the insurer brings to the table.

Less-Known Things A Car Accident Lawyer Does For You

Most people don’t realize just how much car accident lawyers do when working on a case. Here are some additional tasks they do that you might not think about until after you’ve decided to hire your lawyer.

Investigate The Case Completely

Besides reviewing evidence like pictures and witness statements from the accident, as mentioned above, car accident lawyers may also call on various outside experts, including retired police officers or their own investigators.

Your lawyer may recreate the accident scene if there are questions about how certain parts of the accident happened. They are not afraid to go the extra mile (and then some) to build the strongest case possible.

Assess The Full Extent Of Your Damages

It’s normal to only consider your immediate costs after an accident—but when building a claim, your lawyer will look at all the ways the accident will affect you, now and in the future. They will consider current and future medical treatment costs, how your injuries have affected your ability to work, and the emotional impacts of the accident.

After considering all of your damages, they’ll come up with the most accurate estimate of your total damages. This helps ensure you don’t get left footing the bill for costs of the accident you hadn’t considered. The insurance company certainly won’t help you in this area, so your best bet is hiring a car accident lawyer who knows what they’re doing.

Call On Medical Professionals

Some car accident lawyers maintain professional relationships with certain medical providers who can provide beneficial services for your claim. They may also have good knowledge of serious injuries and the best experts to call on for your treatment options.

What To Look For When Hiring A Car Accident Attorney

Auto accident attorneys cover a range of issues stemming from personal injury, wrongful death, property destruction, and liability determinations. When looking for a lawyer, you should concentrate on their experience, skill level, commitment, location, and fee structure.

For example, your attorney should be well versed in state and national transportation laws, know how to deal with insurance and health care companies, and know how to effectively prepare and settle a case. Also, it’s important that you check the attorney’s background, references, and track record.

Lastly, a good lawyer will typically accept your case on a contingency or “no win-no fee” basis if the attorney feels your case has any merit, so it’s important to check the attorney’s standard fee structure.

When To Hire A Car Accident Lawyer

It is best to hire an attorney early to avoid any costly mistakes. The deadline for filing personal injury claims varies from state to state. Because you may need to pay for medical bills and/or cover lost wages, the sooner you contact an attorney the better. In general, a person should contact an attorney shortly after the accident occurs within a week or two of the accident but before reaching a settlement with the insurance company.

Questions To Ask An Attorney

Before working with a lawyer, you should have as much detailed information and facts about the car accident and any injuries or financial losses as possible. Documents you might want to show your attorney after a motor vehicle accident may include your insurance policy, information exchanged at the accident scene, and medical records, among other things. Below are some of the questions you should ask before hiring a car accident lawyer:

• What percentage of your practice is devoted to car accident cases?
• What experience do you have with the specific type of injury in question?
• What is a typical settlement range for cases similar to mine?
• How much of my car accident case will you actually handle?
• How are your fees structured?
• What out-of-pocket expenses am I responsible for?

Legal Fees: Overview

Most car accident cases are handled on a contingency or “no win-no pay” basis. This means that if the attorney does not win or settle the case on your behalf, he or she does not collect a fee. On the other hand, if the attorney wins the case, they will get a percentage of the personal injury award.

The attorney’s percentage varies from case to case but can equal approximately one-third to 40 percent of the total award, with different limits imposed from state to state. It’s important to note that attorney fees are different from costs, and you may be responsible for certain out-of-pocket expenses associated with your case.