why retain lawyer aftwr car crash?

by Prof. Ruthie Kilback Jr. 4 min read

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.

Full Answer

1. There is a Need to Collect Evidence to Prove Liability in the Crash

Collecting evidence about what happened in an accident is crucial to determining if a driver may have been negligent and who is therefore liable for the crash.

2. You Need Someone Skilled at Evaluating Damages and Determining the True Value of Your Injury

Once evidence is collected, it must be evaluated. Attorneys generally have many resources to build a case that the average person does not have. They include hiring medical experts to validate the seriousness of injuries and having accident reconstruction specialists to recreate the accident scene.

3. You Need Someone Who Can Dispute an At-Fault Driver Who Claims They are Not Responsible for the Accident

Sometimes a driver who is at fault in an accident will try to shift the blame and assert that it was not their negligence that caused the crash. A Slater & Zurz attorney will go over the evidence to determine exactly who was at fault. They will build a strong case on your behalf.

4. You Need Someone Knowledgeable About Ohio Law and How Insurance Policies Work

Slater & Zurz attorneys are familiar with Ohio personal injury law, Ohio insurance law and the defenses to negligence that are often presented. They know how to best mitigate these defenses and will file a lawsuit for you if necessary.

5. You Need Someone Knowledgeable about the Settlement Process

Insurance adjusters negotiate insurance settlements on a full-time basis. They fight for the best interests of the insurance company. Your Slater & Zurz attorney has considerable experience as a negotiator so you can obtain the compensation you deserve.

6. You Need Someone Who Can Offer You a Contingency Plan

Many times a personal injury victim has a big fight ahead and that fight will cost a considerable amount of money. Slater & Zurz accident lawyers have the necessary resources to fight your fight for you and they will offer you a “contingency plan” for payment of your legal bills.

1. Lawyers Will Help Prove Your Injuries

A challenging part of a car accident is claiming compensation, and many people will neglect this part. An attorney will investigate and provide evidence of who caused the injuries.

2. Lawyers Will Deal With Your Insurance Company

A lot of people find it hard to claim compensation when an accident occurs.

3. Compensation and Damages

A lot of people don’t know about the different damages they’ll need to cover. People who do cause the accident will need to pay for minor injuries.

4. Negotiate a Settlement

Negotiating isn’t limited to both parties who caused the accident. It also includes the insurance company.

5. Will You Need to File a Case?

Another benefit of working with an attorney is if you need to file a case. Not everyone will want to provide compensation for the damages done.

6. Enjoy Peace of Mind

After a stressful car accident, most people need to relax and heal. A lot of people don’t know how to handle the situation and deal with the aftermath.

7. Legal Mistakes

Legal mistakes will end up affecting your compensation. A lot of car accident claims will get settled outside of court.

Are you hurt?

The number one reason people hire an attorney after a car accident is personal injury. In one year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported 128,420 motor vehicle accidents; of these, over 60 percent involved injuries.

Was a loved one seriously injured or killed as a result of an accident?

It’s difficult to comprehend the sudden loss of a loved one. Accidents can take you by surprise and leave you searching for answers. But while you are trying to cope with your grief, you may be faced with the devastating reality of the financial costs you now face. Money can never bring back a loved one or lessen the pain you feel.

Is there a question of fault?

Sometimes fault is obvious; sometimes it is not. After an accident, it’s easy for drivers to throw around accusations. If there is any question regarding who’s at fault, you need to talk to a personal injury attorney. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state.

How many parties are involved?

Car accidents only involve you and the other driver, right? Not so much. Most of the time, personal injury cases will only involve the driver, but other parties may have contributed. For example:

Are you concerned about your legal rights?

Some people choose to handle a personal injury case on their own. That’s your choice, but understand the insurance company is not there to protect you. It is worried about its bottom line. This means that it will try to deny your claims, flip the blame on you, and get away with paying out as little as possible.

Are there extenuating circumstances?

Not all accidents are straightforward. Personal injury cases can be messy and complicated. Let’s take a look at a few circumstances that may impact the outcome of your case:

Are you required to hire an attorney after a car accident?

While technically you don’t have to have an attorney, practically, it’s a whole different story. You likely want an attorney to help you file a lawsuit and negotiate with the other party.

1. The Value of Your Claim

While most people have a basic understand of the type of expenses you can seek to recover through a personal injury claim, such as medical expenses, damage to their vehicle, and loss of income for the days they were too injured to work. However, this is only part of the compensation that can be available after a car accident.

2. The Tactics That Insurance Companies Use to Avoid Paying on Claims

The societal cost of car accidents in the U.S. is around $1 trillion a year, with private insurance companies footing about half of that bill in payouts on injury and property damage claims.

3. The Difficulty of the Legal Process

If you incurred an injury that required you to have surgery, would you perform the procedure on your own, or would you hire an experienced physician to provide the surgery for you?

4. Negotiating Settlements

Movie and television portrayals of legal battles almost always feature these battles taking place in a courtroom. In reality, only about 4 to 5 percent of all personal injury lawsuits go to trial. Most resolve through trial by settlement.

5. Collecting Your Claim

The main reason for automobile liability insurance is for the insured to protect their finances if they should cause an accident that results in injury or death.

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What does a car accident lawyer do?

A car accident lawyer will handle all negotiations, investigations, and any communication with the insurance company on your behalf. You can focus on recovery and returning to work, if possible. Your attorney has the expertise to navigate the court system.

What to do if there are multiple drivers at fault?

If there are multiple drivers who are at fault for the accident, or if the fault isn’t apparent, you will need a lawyer to help determine who is responsible for the accident.

What happens if you miss a lot of work?

If you miss a great deal of work due to injuries sustained in the accident, you may lose out on wages or even lose your job. A personal injury lawsuit will ensure that you are compensated for any missed work or missed future work if your injuries will keep you from working.

How many people are injured in car accidents each year?

Every year, over 3 million people are injured in car accidents each year. These injuries can create significant medical expenses, lost wages due to missed work, and even permanent disability.

Can you change your mind after an accident?

Insurance companies are looking out for their bottom line. They want to settle your case as quickly as possible for the least amount of money possible. Insurance companies will typically offer you a low settlement shortly after the accident, hoping that you accept. Once you accept a settlement offer, you can’t change your mind.

Unscrupulous lawyers break ethics rules when they contact injury victims

First-time car accident victims are not only dealing with physical and emotional distress, they are often navigating the legal system for the first time. Some find themselves hounded by unscrupulous attorneys who obtained their contact information illegally, commonly referred to as “ambulance chasers.”

Falling victim to the predators

Lawyers shouldn’t be soliciting clients as a general rule, so receiving an unexpected phone call from an attorney should be a warning sign for accident victims.

Violation of conduct

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) “ Model Rules for Professional Conduct “ provide strict guidance on how lawyers may solicit clients. An infraction could cost an attorney their law license. These rules, which were adopted by each individual state, regulate that:

Find your own law firm

Instead of falling prey to predatory attorneys, Keith recommends that accident victims find their own representation through referrals or research and seek someone who has extensive experience in the personal injury and car accident fields.