It is worth hiring a car accident lawyer if you suffered significant injuries or a question arises regarding who is at fault for the collision. You do not have to hire a lawyer after a car accident, but some victims choose to do so when they pursue compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
One of the main reasons you might hire a lawyer is to take legal action against a negligent party without having to navigate the legal process on your own. Instead, you can focus on your priority—your health—while your lawyer handles your legal case.
Hiring a car accident lawyer does not guarantee a favorable outcome, and compensation will always vary based on the specific details of the accident and your injuries. A lawyer can offer a variety of services that can help you gather evidence, assess your losses, and demonstrate the other driver’s negligence.
Consider the Severity of Your Injuries
While some collisions do not result in severe injuries, others do. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of thousands of motor vehicle accidents land victims in the emergency room every year. The more severe your injuries are, the higher your losses tend to be. You could accrue thousands of dollars in medical costs and lost wages from your time away from work.
Additionally, some injuries can have lasting effects. A motor vehicle accident victim can suffer widespread chronic pain for years after the crash. If an injury proves debilitating, a patient might need continued rehabilitative therapy and medication for the rest of their life. This type of care can get expensive, and these types of injuries can cause a depreciation in a person’s quality of life.
When pursuing compensation, you want to make sure you can account for your losses both now and in the future. Another problem that could arise is that an insurance policy may not adequately cover your expenses due to your injuries. In this case, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit, which is another legal process a car accident lawyer can help you with.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
When wondering whether it is worth hiring a car accident lawyer, you might want to think about what seeking compensation entails. Along with assessing your losses, a lawyer can handle all the necessary paperwork for your insurance claim and work with insurance companies. They can review a settlement offer and determine if it fairly compensates you. A car accident lawyer can also:
- Negotiate fair compensation.
- Demonstrate the liability of the other driver.
- Comply with your state’s statute of limitations.
- File a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.
- Represent you at trial if necessary.
While some cases settle successfully outside of court, your car accident lawyer will prepare to bring your case to trial if they cannot recover fair compensation through negotiations with insurers. Just like with an insurance claim, they can handle all the necessary paperwork and meet important deadlines, such as any applicable statutes of limitations.
Affording a Car Accident Lawyer
One of the concerns that arise when questioning if it is worth hiring a car accident lawyer is the cost of legal service. Many car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not pay any out-of-pocket fees for them to get started on your case. They only will collect payment if they secure a settlement or court award on your behalf.
If you worry about the cost of hiring a car accident lawyer, think about the importance of your health and the compensation you deserve to recover from your injuries. If an attorney can substantially increase the award that you could receive, it might be worthwhile to hire them.
Reach Out to Shaw Legal Solutions, for Help with Your Case
If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in a car accident, you do not have to bear the burden of your medical expenses, missed work, and pain and suffering without recourse. You have the right to file an insurance claim—or even a personal injury lawsuit—against a negligent driver or another party that caused your injuries.
Shaw Legal Solutions, advocates for car accident victims. Call us today at (425) 214-4946. We will review your case for free and determine if it is worth hiring one of our car accident attorneys. We can explain your legal options and how we might handle your case.