If you were in a vehicle at the time of an accident, you certainly want to seek medical attention. You'll want to hear a doctor clear you of any risk too. Once that has happened, it may become questionable to ask an attorney to help you pursue a claim.
Enjuris tip: If no one was hurt or there was no damage, it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim with an attorney.
Enjuris tip: If a lawyer takes one-third of your recovery, then they'll need to improve your expected results by more than 50% to justify hiring them. If a lawyer takes one-third of your recovery, then they'll need to improve your expectedresults by more than 50% to justify hiring them.
This is a very strict standard and hard to prove. Most injury and accident law firms offer free initial consultations, so feel free to ask around and get some advice before going forward with your claim.
For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother. Believe it or not, most attorneys give honest opinions on whether or not it would be worth your while to hire an attorney or take any easy settlement.
It is important, however, to have a high level of confidence that something unexpected isn't going to happen. Once you sign off on an agreement, you'll likely never have the chance to seek more money ever again.
Generally, if no people were hurt, or there was no damage ( no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. Just be careful making this judgment of “no injuries” yourself.
You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court . The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.
In a lot of instances, insurance companies do in fact do their jobs as expected. There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill. Let's take a look at some of the cases where you may NOT need to hire an attorney after an accident.
In many cases, yes. It is to your advantage to hire a lawyer when you’ve been the victim of a car accident. Studies show that most people will recover a much bigger settlement with an attorney on their side than if they go it alone.
You can reach out to an accident lawyer at any point in the process. However, the sooner you call a lawyer, the more support you’ll get throughout that process. We’ve even had clients call us from the scene of an accident!
In most cases, you won’t need a lawyer if you were in a minor car accident and only had property damage. Thankfully, property damage claims are more straightforward to settle with the insurance company.
The primary job of a car accident lawyer is to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. In addition, you’ll find the lawyer will remove a lot of the stresses associated with a car accident off your shoulders, such as:
So now you know that you would like to start the conversation with a lawyer. But which one do you choose? Chances are you’ve seen many flashy advertisements from lawyers promising to “be in your corner.” Remember, just because a firm has big advertising bucks does not mean they’ll live up to that promise.
Our team currently accepts clients in the greater Puget Sound and Western Washington region. If you would like more information on hiring a car accident lawyer, please call us. We’d be happy to hear from you and answer any questions you have.
Jul 18, 2017 — Although it’s best to start working with your attorney as soon as possible after your crash, an attorney can enter the process at any point to (1) …
Any delay in contacting a lawyer can have a detrimental effect on your personal injury case, so you should contact a lawyer as soon as you can after an accident (4) …
Jul 15, 2021 — If you or anyone you care about has been injured in a car accident, especially if there is any permanent injury, or significant time is lost (14) …
May 21, 2021 — If you have any injuries, expenses, or damage, you may be entitled to compensation. · Most lawyers will give you a first consultation without any (17) …
Call a car accident lawyer. Don’t wait to contact a lawyer after your accident. Make the call to a qualified attorney, like ours at DeMayo Law Offices, (24) …
Follow these steps after you have been in a car accident: Always contact the police. They will provide official documentation of the wreck and investigate at (27) …
In the wake of a car accident, often the last thing on your mind is whether or not you should call a car accident lawyer. After all, you’ve just experienced something traumatic, and a million and one thoughts are racing through your head.
Having insurance is, of course, quite important. But don’t assume the insurance company is on your side. Remember, they are in the money-making business, and if they can pay as little as possible on your claim, then they will strive to do so.
Around three million people are injured in motor vehicle accidents annually in the United States. While not fatal, these injuries can cause lifelong pain and discomfort. The role of an injury attorney is to prove that another person’s negligence caused your injuries so that you can get the compensation you deserve.
Most insurance companies don’t want accident cases to be dragged out in court. They may throw a lowball offer your way to ensure your car accident costs them as little as possible. However, the best lawyer is one who can put a true value on your injuries. This figure is likely to be a lot more than most insurance companies will initially offer.
Fair compensation is all anyone ever asks for, but insurance adjusters are not in the business of being fair. They are in the business of paying out as little as possible during the settlement process.
When the car accident happens! That’s when you should contact an attorney. Never attempt to talk to insurance companies without seeking legal representation first. This is particularly true if you have suffered injuries, believe your injuries are permanent or long-lasting, or if liability is up for debate.