when is the best time to hire a lawyer after a car accident

When should I hire a car accident attorney?

Apr 21, 2022 · The short answer is yes. You should always hire an attorney if you were injured after a vehicle collision or if your vehicle suffered significant damage. It is especially true if you were seriously injured in the accident. You need a trusted car accident attorney who has experience negotiating with insurance companies to represent you.

How does a car accident lawyer get paid?

May 15, 2019 · The right time to hire an attorney after a car accident is always “immediately.” Protecting your rights is important. No car accident victim should have to suffer under the weight of recovery, high medical bills, and loss of income at work when someone else is at fault. Use a lawyer referral service to find your best legal match today.

Why should I hire an injury attorney?

The first situation in which you should absolutely hire an attorney for help following a car accident is when you suffer injuries. Some of the most common injuries that people suffer in a car accident include: Traumatic brain injuries, including brain bleeds and skull fractures. Femur fractures, tibia fractures, and other types of bone fractures

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit?

It’s never too early to hire an attorney to help with the details of your car accident case. To be frank, the earlier you hire a lawyer, the better. Contacting an attorney is highly recommended if any injuries resulted from the accident. If you were involved, an attorney can help you with the next steps in filing a claim.

Types of Accidents

If you were involved in a particular type of accident, you may want to consider seeking the help of an attorney who specializes in that type of accident.

When Should You Hire an Attorney?

The simple answer to this question is “as early as you possibly can.” In fact, if you are injured severely enough to be hospitalized, and you are well enough to make the call, it can be advantageous to hire a lawyer directly from the hospital.

How to Find an Attorney After a Car Accident

If you believe you need a personal injury lawyer, you should start your search as promptly as you can. But how exactly do you go about finding an attorney, and how can you be sure the experts you find will really fight for your rights?

Avoiding Scams

Car accident attorney scams are rare in the state of California, mostly due to extremely strict laws governing the legal industry. But there have been situations where criminals and unethical lawyers have tried to take advantage of car accident victims in their time of need.

Prioritizing Safety

When you get behind the wheel of a car, you want to put safety first every time. You expect others to do the same. Here are some practical ways to help ensure safer roads:

When you Need an Attorney

The reality is that a car accident can happen at any time and they often happen when people least expect them. The consequences of accidents vary from minor dents and dings to catastrophic injuries. So how do you know when you need a lawyer to help you after a car crash?

If You Need Expert Legal Guidance

The reality is that everyone can benefit from hiring a lawyer following a motor vehicle accident. If you are looking for a legal professional in the local area who is always going to place your rights first, then rely on the team at Cooney and Conway. At Cooney and Conway, our results speak for themselves.

Should I Get an Attorney After a Car Accident?

This question comes up frequently when dealing with motorists across Mississippi: when exactly should I contact an attorney if I’ve had a car accident?

When You Should Contact an Attorney

It’s never too early to hire an attorney to help with the details of your car accident case. To be frank, the earlier you hire a lawyer, the better.

Other Instances Where an Attorney Would Be Helpful

Here are a few instances in which the aid of an attorney would help you recover from the accident:

Dealing with Insurance Companies

An experienced attorney will be helpful if there are ever problems with your insurance company. Insurance companies typically look out for themselves by saving as much money as possible when it’s time to pay. This approach doesn’t always benefit you, the injured party.

If Your Claim is Denied

It’s very common for auto insurance companies to deny car accident claims right away. They know there’s a chance you’ll give up and pay for it all on your own if they deny your claim immediately. However, the story doesn’t have to end there. You may be able to submit an appeal for the denied claim.

How to seek compensation for a car accident?

Filing an Insurance Claim. When you experience a motor vehicle accident, the first step in seeking compensation is to file a claim with either your own insurance provider or the other driver’s insurance company. In some states, comparative negligence laws apply, ...

Why do people seek legal representation for car accidents?

Some victims of car accidents choose to seek legal counsel and representation so that they can focus on their health and recovery while also pursuing legal action. You have the right to hire legal representation at any time throughout the process of making an insurance claim or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.

How long does it take for whiplash to show up after an accident?

Keep in mind that some car accident injuries may only display symptoms days or even weeks after an accident. For example, whiplash may take several days to manifest, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

What happens if you are distracted while answering a phone?

If the driver engaged in distracted driving while answering a phone or navigating on a GPS, this breach in their duty of care they owed you while on the road may have contributed to the accident. A lawyer can help investigate the cause of the accident and use evidence to demonstrate the fault of the other driver.

Can a lawyer help you in a car accident?

While obtaining a lawyer does not guarantee you a specific outcome for your case, they can help investigate the crash, gather evidence to demonstrate the other driver’s negligence, and take care of negotiations with insurers on your behalf.

Can you seek insurance for a car accident if you are uninsured?

If the other driver’s policy cannot cover the costs of your losses, you may be able to seek them through your own policy if you carry uninsured motorist coverage. You can hire an attorney immediately after a car accident to help you assess your losses and explore the options available to you through your own insurance policy.

What happens if you get injured in a car accident?

If you have been injured or incurred property damage in a car accident, you may have significant medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs. In many cases, these expenses continue long after the accident.

Why is timing important in a car accident?

Timing is important in a car accident case. After you have been in a car accident, there are a lot of unexpected things to take care of and you may also be dealing with physical injuries and emotional distress. It can take time for you to recover and deal with the necessary phone-calls and paperwork.

What do insurance companies do to reduce the compensation paid out to victims of car accidents?

They can also handle the mountain of paperwork, phone-calls, and emails that are involved in an insurance claim, freeing you up to recover physically and emotionally from your accident.

What happens when you file a car accident claim?

When you file a claim in a car accident case, you are not opposing an individual driver but instead a large insurance company that handles such claims on a daily basis. Some people who have been involved in an accident are concerned about causing distress or expense to the other driver, even if that driver caused the accident.

How long does it take to file a car accident claim in Delaware?

Often the relevant deadline is for personal injury claims, which in the State of Delaware is 2 years, typically running from the date of the accident. However, the deadline can be different in other states, other types of claim, ...

What happens if you don't have a strong legal claim?

If you do not have a strong legal claim in a car accident case, you are in a weaker negotiating position, and the insurance company knows it. Knowing the law is key to a successful claim.

Do most drivers carry insurance?

However, most drivers carry auto insurance, and your dealings will be with their insurance provider . Insurance companies have massive resources, including teams of lawyers and medical and forensic experts, all of whom are directed at reducing the money that is paid out to you for your car accident claim.

What does it mean to hire a personal injury attorney after a car accident?

Hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you after a car accident means you will have a professional working for you -- one who is extremely knowledgeable about the relevant laws and procedural rules that may affect your case.

How can an attorney help you in a car accident?

Perhaps the most important way an attorney can help you with your car accident case is by being your advocate. This means that your attorney acts on your behalf and for your benefit throughout the entire claims process (negotiating with the automobile insurance company) and even in court if a lawsuit becomes necessary. He or she will be your champion before the judge, jury and other attorneys, making sure that your side of the story is heard and that you are compensated for all of your losses.

How long do you have to file a lawsuit after a car accident?

For instance, in many states you must file your lawsuit within two years of your car accident or be forever prohibited from filing your lawsuit. An attorney will also be able to inform you about any special exceptions to the statute of limitations -- for minors, for example.

Can an attorney file a lawsuit?

Your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and will know how best to mitigate any possible defenses raised by the other side. In addition, once your case gets under way, your lawyer will play an invaluable role in preparing your case for trial -- and even going to trial if your case doesn't settle.

Do you need an attorney for a car accident?

Usually, car accidents in volving serious or long-term injuries require an attorney to get the most desirable outcome.

Can an attorney do a car accident settlement?

After you have been in a car accident, taking on this time-consuming work may be the last thing you want to do, assuming you're able. An attorney can do it all for you.

When should I hire a lawyer for a car accident in Georgia?

But if you decide to get an attorney for your car accident case, it’s usually best to hire one quickly – preferably the day of the collision, or a day or two afterward.

Why don't you make a statement after an accident?

If you make a statement too soon after an accident, some of your injuries may not yet be apparent because the initial shock and pain can mask other symptoms.

What is the most irritating tactic that insurance companies use?

From the perspective of a car accident lawyer , one of the most irritating tactics that insurance companies use is trying to talk people out of hiring lawyers by falsely claiming that a lawyer will “drag it out.”. That is a self-serving statement that literally makes no sense.

How do insurance companies make you think they are being nice?

Car insurance companies often try to make you think they’re being nice or reasonable by admitting certain things. They may admit that their driver caused the wreck, and say that they’ll pay you something because of that. They may admit that you had treatment or a surgery after the collision. But later in the process, they may pull the so-called “causation” defense. That means they’ll argue that your injuries were caused by something other than the accident, and therefore they shouldn’t have to pay you the full amount.

What happens if you delay your case?

Second, as time drags on, medical bills mount, and you become desperate for cash, the chances of an insurance company settling for a low amount increase. Third, if they delay enough and you don’t act, the statute of limitations will run out, at which point you w lose all your rights to collect compensation for your injuries. Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), the statute of limitations is often only two years to file a legal case for personal injury.

How long do you have to file for a car accident in Georgia?

The best-known deadline is the statute of limitations, which is generally two years in Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 (although it is subject to certain exceptions).

What to do if you have no insurance and don't know where to turn?

If you need medical treatment but don’t have health insurance and don’t know where to turn, a car accident lawyer can point you in the right direction. Witnesses. Memories can fade and witnesses can lose interest.