After the initial meeting, an auto accident lawyer also does a lot to help an accident victim throughout a case. For example, this attorney will: Verify the other driver’s insurance coverage and policy limits
10 Things You Need to Do After a Car AccidentSTOP. Never drive away from the scene of an accident, even a minor one.PROTECT THE SCENE. ... CALL THE POLICE. ... MAKE AN ACCURATE RECORD. ... TAKE PICTURES. ... EXCHANGE INFORMATION. ... REPORT THE ACCIDENT. ... SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.More items...
How to Handle a Car Accident in 7 Easy StepsMove to a safe area (if you can) ... Stop your vehicle and get out. ... Check on others involved. ... Call the police to the scene. ... Gather info. ... Document the scene. ... File your insurance claim.
Avoid using phrases like “it was my fault,” “I'm sorry,” or “I apologize.” Don't apologize to your insurer, the other driver, or law enforcement. Even if you are simply being polite and not intentionally admitting fault, these types of words and phrases will be used against you.
If you are involved in a collision, stop your car at or near the collision scene. If you can, move your car off the road so you do not block traffic. Protect yourself and others from oncoming traffic. Failure to stop at the scene of a collision in which you are involved can result in your arrest warrant.
The first and most important thing after an accident is to seek medical treatment for any injuries. Call 911 right away, and tell the dispatch if there is a need for immediate medical help. After your immediate medical needs are addressed, and police have been called, you should document as much information about the accident as possible. This includes, but is not limited to: the names and contact information of the involved parties, the insurance information of the involved parties, names and contact information of witnesses, and photos of the vehicles and the area where the crash occurred.
If you go through your own insurance company, typically you must pay your deductible. Your insurance company will then try to recoup what it paid from the at fault driver’s insurance company, and you will be reimbursed for your deductible at that time.
The personal injury attorneys at Nelson Personal Injury understand that personal injury claims can be difficult – especially in the case of a complicated car accident. That’s why we work hard to make sure you feel heard, and that you get the compensation to help you get on the road to recovery. If you have questions about an accident involving you or a loved one, contact the car accident lawyers at Nelson Personal Injury: nelsonpersonalinjury.com.
It’s important for you to find out if your attorney has experience in representing people in your situation.
Attorneys who represent car crash victims often do so on a contingency basis. But this isn’t a guaranteed arrangement and you should speak to your lawyer to be sure.
A crucial part of the attorney-client relationship is regular communication between you and your lawyer.
When you speak with a lawyer about representing you after your car crash, you should find out if they will actually be the one doing it.
The decision to hire an attorney after your car crash is an important one. After all, you only have one opportunity to receive a settlement on your claim.
There are many questions your Phoenix-based vehicle accident lawyer may have for you when you contact him or her about representing you:
There is no way to know for sure if your claim will be successful. However, attorneys want to determine their odds of being successful. If your lawyer does not think he or she would be able to recover a favorable settlement, or at least recover more than you may be able to on your own, he or she may not take the case.
Phillips Law Group has been helping car crash victims for decades and we have secured compensation for countless victims. We have extensive knowledge of the legal process and how to build strong cases for crash victims.
Minnesota’s criminal justice system is set up to prosecute those who have been accused of crimes, making sure they receive due process of law. If someone is found guilty of a criminal offense, he or she can be penalized in accordance with state law.
Yes, you can pursue a civil case against the drunk driver while the criminal case makes its way through the justice system.
While you may be thinking of filing an insurance claim yourself, you should know the legal process can be complicated, particularly when the victim was severely injured or died in the crash. Insurance companies are going to fight hard to undervalue or even deny these types of claims.
Our attorneys know what crash victims go through, as we have helped so many after these unexpected events. When alcohol is involved, these crashes often have devastating results. Even though victims need compensation for medical bills and other expenses, insurance companies routinely undervalue claims, no matter how severe the crash.
Car crash victims handle insurance claims all the time. If they suffer minor injuries and their vehicles can be repaired relatively quickly, they may get good results. Although car insurance companies routinely underpay claims, many crash victims with minor injuries get the compensation they need.
Car insurance companies routinely deny and undervalue claims involving permanent injuries, like brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. They are committed to protecting their bottom line, regardless of the severity of your injuries.
If you are struggling to deal with the insurance company it may be because your claim could be worth a lot of money and the insurance company knows it. They are hoping to delay and get you to feel desperate. Then you may be willing to accept whatever they are offering because you need the money.
Insurance companies regularly deny legitimate claims. Crash victims should not get discouraged from continuing to pursue compensation. An attorney may be able to help you.
Car insurance companies have a lot of practice convincing crash victims they do not need to call an attorney. They know crash victims are vulnerable and want to recover compensation as fast as possible.
Many people assume they need a criminal lawyer when they have been named as a defendant in a car accident lawsuit. This isn’t the case. Instead, they need a lawyer experienced in personal injury, but one who represents those sued. These people are generally called “defense counsel.”
Most bodily injury liability insurance policies include paying for an attorney to defend you if you are named as the defendant in a lawsuit. Take out your policy and check. If the insurer is paying, they probably want the power to select the lawyer. You can call your insurer and discuss whether they will cover legal help.
If you ever become the victim of a car crash, it is your right to be compensated for any and all injuries, pain, disabilities, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, hospitalization, damage to property, and more.
In the chaos surrounding a car crash, one of the rights that victims neglect is their right to seek and use legal help. Having an attorney to assist you in any and all legal matters that may arise from the car crash is guaranteed to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.
After the car crash, expect that the insurance company of the other party will come calling. They will be asking you to provide an official statement, written or recorded, to help process the claim. It is your right not to provide one, and let your attorney handle it instead.