Do you always need a lawyer after a car accident? While some cases are easy to resolve with a simple claim to your car insurance provider, there are many situations where you can benefit from hiring a legal representative.
Professionals like those at DolmanLaw.com can help people recover costs linked to medical bills and car repairs. You can also look at firms that handle cases where plaintiffs lost wages as a result of a car crash.
So, should you start looking for one? Check if your case applies to any of the following aftermaths.
You Sustained an Injury
You should hire a lawyer if the accident caused an injury, even if it’s minor. It’s best to have a legal representative by your side to negotiate a settlement that covers the totality of the expenses linked to the accident.
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, the number of motor-vehicle deaths exceeded 40,000 in 2020. If a loved one died in a car accident or you were involved in a crash that resulted in the death of a driver or passenger, seeking legal representation should be a priority.
An experienced lawyer can represent you in a wrongful death lawsuit and ensure you receive compensation.
Long-Term Consequences
A serious injury sustained in a car crash can have an impact on your quality of life. It can reduce your mobility, cause chronic pain, and require some significant changes to your lifestyle.
An injury can cause lost wages if you have to miss a few days of work to recover. However, some plaintiffs see their earning potential decrease after an accident leaves them unable to perform some job duties.
In these situations, it’s best to hire a lawyer. A professional who specializes in personal injury lawsuits will prove that the accident caused long-term consequences and negotiate a settlement that makes up for your reduced quality of life or lower earning potential.
Issues With the Insurance Company
If you live in a no-fault state, you’ll have to file a claim with your car insurance provider to cover medical bills and property damage.
An insurance adjuster will review the claim and decide how much your insurer will pay out. Before you sign any agreements, it’s best to have a lawyer review what your insurer is offering.
In some cases, insurance companies don’t treat policyholders fairly. They might offer a small settlement or even deny a claim. Having a lawyer by your side will facilitate the process of negotiating with your insurer.
If you live in an at-fault state, you’ll have to go through a similar process with the insurance company of the driver who is responsible for the accident. It’s also best to have a lawyer negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
You Don’t Know Who’s Liable
Who is liable for the accident? If you live in a no-fault state, issues of liability aren’t as important. However, if you’re in an at-fault state, insurers can dispute liability as a basis for denying your claim.
Questions of liability can be complex if both parties engage in unsafe behaviors. It can also be difficult to determine liability in an accident that involves more than two vehicles.
If there are any questions regarding liability, you need to work with an experienced lawyer who will use evidence like the police report and witness testimonies to prove who is liable.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorists, Hit-and-Runs
Hit-and-runs are on the rise. If a driver flees the scene of an accident, one of the first things to do should be to hire a lawyer to represent you as you deal with your insurer or with the guilty party if the police finds them.
You should also hire a lawyer if you’re dealing with a driver who doesn’t carry sufficient insurance or who doesn’t have any auto insurance.
Wrap Up
While you don’t necessarily need a lawyer to handle a simple insurance claim, it’s best to hire a personal injury attorney to help you negotiate with insurance companies or represent you in court if you end up having to file a lawsuit. Having a lawyer by your side will make dealing with the aftermath of a car accident less stressful and will ensure that you get fair compensation.
