After a car accident, many people assume that they will receive a reasonable settlement offer from the liable driver’s insurance company. They might think that the insurance company knows the extent of their injuries and how much compensation they deserve for those injuries based on the terms of the policy and that the insurance company will provide them with fair compensation.
However, insurance companies may not always work as smoothly as you might expect-and in many cases, they may not have your best interests at heart. If you have sustained injuries in a car accident, you may find that working with a lawyer offers several critical advantages.
Is It Worth It to Sue After a Car Accident?
Car accidents can cause immense damage: serious injuries, a long time out of work, and a heap of medical bills that you have to contend with. Not only that, you have the cost of repairs to your vehicle.
When you sue after a car accident, you will typically deal with the liable driver’s insurance company, not the driver directly. If you do not work with a lawyer to put together a claim of your own, you may receive a settlement offer from the insurance company soon after the accident.
That settlement offer may look reasonable or even great on the surface. It might include compensation for your immediate medical costs and emergency room bills. However, in many cases, you may have more severe injuries than you can handle with a trip to the emergency room and a little recovery time.
Car accidents frequently involve injuries like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or multiple broken bones, all of which can mean long roads to recovery.
If you accept the insurance company’s offer without taking the time to put together your injury claim (especially one that calculates the actual cost of your recovery and the financial losses you have faced while dealing with the aftermath of your accident), you may find yourself short of the funds you need to manage your recovery.
Is It Worth Hiring a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Sometimes, you may find it easier to handle a car accident claim on your own. If you have suffered only property damage, you can probably put your claim directly through the insurance company without having to worry about a lawyer. You will get a repair estimate from a certified repair shop, determine whether you want to have the shop paid directly or receive the funds in your account, and then take care of any needed repairs to your vehicle.
On the other hand, an injury claim can be much more complicated.
Work closely with a lawyer when:
- You sustain any injury in your car accident.
- You have trouble getting the insurance company to accept liability on behalf of its driver, or the insurance company disputes liability in any way.
- You cannot get the insurance company to pay out compensation promptly.
- The insurance company issues a low settlement offer, especially one that the company declines to negotiate.
Dealing with an extensive car accident injury claim on your own can leave you stressed, frustrated, and unsure of your next steps. Working with a car accident lawyer, on the other hand, can help streamline that process and increase your odds of recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
A car accident lawyer can help collect all the evidence related to your car accident.
Lawyers often find it easier to access and collect information that you might not know how to collect or access on your own. You might find it easy to get a copy of your police report, but you may have a much harder time collecting an accurate witness statement or accessing video footage of the accident-especially if it comes from the other driver’s dashcam. A lawyer can help collect that essential information, making it more obvious that you deserve compensation through the insurance company for your injuries.
A car accident lawyer can provide you with a better look at what a fair compensation offer might entail.
Several factors play into what constitutes a “reasonable” settlement offer after a car accident. First, you deserve compensation for the costs associated with your injuries: your medical bills and lost wages, in particular. You may also deserve compensation for the overall suffering you have faced because of your accident.
Next, the compensation the insurance company can offer may depend on the policy terms. A lawyer can help look at the insurance policy and get a better idea of all its terms, including how it defines the compensation you deserve for serious injuries. A lawyer can then help break down the compensation you should pursue and provide you with an assessment of what a fair settlement offer might look like.
Many people find that having a lawyer on their side automatically increases the settlement offer issued by the insurance company. Insurance companies often assume that the average car accident victim does not understand the insurance policy terms and will not know what compensation to expect. A lawyer can help provide you with more information and guide you through your claim.
A lawyer can help you manage each interaction with the insurance company.
Dealing with the insurance company can cause a great deal of stress and frustration, especially if the insurance company tries to get you to accept partial liability for the accident or if you struggle to articulate the suffering you faced due to your car accident injuries. A lawyer can help you manage those struggles more effectively, ultimately setting you up for a more successful claim.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer for More Information
If you have questions about your right to compensation after a car accident lawyer, including whether you may need a lawyer to help handle your claim, contact a car accident lawyer for a free consultation about your accident, your claim, and your rights.
