After an accident, you may be overwhelmed with thoughts running through your head. Probably you have sustained an injury that needs a doctor’s attention, at the same time trying to figure out how to recover from your losses. Still, yet, you have the insurance adjusters to deal with.
In this situation, the idea of negotiating with the insurance agencies may not appeal to you and you need someone who understands the tactics of these insurance adjusters. Then you are left with one option and that’s hiring a lawyer. But you are not sure if hiring a lawyer for a car accident is really worth it.
So in this blog post, we will find out whether or not it makes sense for you to hire a lawyer.
The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Case
1. Gathering Evidence from Your Collision
When you decide to file a claim with the insurance company for compensation or even a lawsuit, you need a good lawyer to help you gather evidence that will strengthen your case. Doing this in your recovery will be stressful and time-consuming.
So, rather than taking on the case alone, you will need a professional lawyer to help you do the job. A lawyer will help you to get a police report, take pictures of your injuries, take pictures of the accident scene, interview witnesses, etc.
2. Determine liability for the accident
The involvement of a lawyer makes a whole lot of difference in a car accident case. A lawyer will help determine who is liable for the losses and injuries and ensure you file a complaint with the insurance company or with the court.
3. Keeping Deadlines
Most of the time, you only have a time limit to make a claim and get your compensation. Lawyers are knowledgeable in this regard and will ensure that you work within the stipulated deadline for your state.
4. Negotiate With The Insurance Company
Hiring the services of a good lawyer will be of immense help to you when it comes to negotiating with an insurance company. This is because insurance companies have a team of adjusters at their disposal and are ready to “fight” your car’s accident claims.
Since these insurance adjusters are experienced in evaluating claims and notorious for offering low compensation. It can only take a good lawyer who knows how insurance companies work and be able to match up their tactics. Also, studies have shown that hiring a lawyer can get you 40% higher compensation as compared to when you do the negotiation by yourself.
But when you do the negotiation yourself, there’s a high chance you will leave the negotiation table with less than you deserve because they will not hesitate to use their bargaining power to twist every situation to their advantage.
5. Calculating Your Damages Accurately
A good lawyer will help you calculate your costs and damages accurately, thereby preventing you from accepting a low settlement. They will calculate your damage, bearing in mind both the economic and non-economic damage.
Calculating economic damages such as medical costs can be easy, unlike calculating non-economic damages like pain due to an accident. Letting your lawyer determine your damages ensures you do not shoot yourself in the leg.
6. Lawyers Can Explain Complex Legal Terms So You Can Make The Best Decision
Both the physical and psychological effects of an accident can prevent one from making accurate decisions. But when you hire a lawyer, the lawyer can guide you in making the best decision for your case. The lawyer can help explain your rights, the options you have to choose from, as well as the statutes of limitations guiding each state with regard to car accidents.
7. Your Lawyer Can Take Your Case To Trial
When all attempts to settle fail, your lawyer can represent you in court. Sometimes the possibility that a case could go to trial will make the insurance company sit up and offer fair compensation. They know that trials are expensive and probably drag on for some time, and they may not be cut out for such.
See also: Should I Get A Lawyer For A Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault In California?
Types of Compensation Available After a Car Accident
i. Medical Costs
Paying for your medical bills can be the most crucial aspect of your recovery. This includes every medical expense incurred from the date of the accident to your recovery.
ii. Future Medical Expenses
Future medical expenses cover the costs of medical care you will incur in the future. It is difficult to provide an exact amount as to how much these expenses will cost, but a lawyer will help you estimate this cost.
You should consider any future surgeries, ongoing physical therapy, rehabilitation sessions, and even any new medications that may be necessary for your treatment.
iii. Lost Wages
Lost wages are an amount that covers the money you would have made in between the accident and the time you would have been able to return to work.
iv. Loss Of Earning Capacity
This is the amount that covers your loss of future income. For example, if you are an accountant and suffered an injury as a result of a car accident, your income as an accountant will go down hence losing some income in the future. This needs to be in your claim for compensation.
v. Pain And Suffering
You should receive compensation for the pain and suffering that you endured after your accident. This will include any emotional distress you may have felt as a result of the accident.
vi. Emotional Distress
Emotional distress is a type of compensation that is awarded to an accident victim who experienced a form of mental trauma as a result of their car accident. This may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Emotional distress can be a difficult factor to prove, but with the help of a lawyer, you should have no problem proving that the trauma is a result of the accident.
vii. Disability
After an accident, some are maimed for life. They will not be able to go about their normal life again or be bedridden. This should be properly compensated. This is because disability is considered a loss of earning capacity, and thus should be determined by the percentage of your earning capacity that was lost as a result of the accident.
viii. Cost of Physical Therapy
Therapy can help those who were injured recover. This includes physical therapy, speech therapy, etc. Physical therapy includes exercises and rehabilitation sessions that helped in the treatment of an injury.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
After an accident, you may be overwhelmed with thoughts running through your head. Probably you have sustained an injury that needs a doctor’s attention, at the same time trying to figure out how to recover from your losses. Still, yet, you have the insurance adjusters to deal with.
In this situation, the idea of negotiating with the insurance agencies may not appeal to you and you need someone who understands the tactics of these insurance adjusters. Then you are left with one option and that’s hiring a lawyer. But you are not sure if hiring a lawyer for a car accident is really worth it.
So in this blog post, we will find out whether or not it makes sense for you to hire a lawyer.
The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Case
1. Gathering Evidence from Your Collision
When you decide to file a claim with the insurance company for compensation or even a lawsuit, you need a good lawyer to help you gather evidence that will strengthen your case. Doing this in your recovery will be stressful and time-consuming.
So, rather than taking on the case alone, you will need a professional lawyer to help you do the job. A lawyer will help you to get a police report, take pictures of your injuries, take pictures of the accident scene, interview witnesses, etc.
2. Determine liability for the accident
The involvement of a lawyer makes a whole lot of difference in a car accident case. A lawyer will help determine who is liable for the losses and injuries and ensure you file a complaint with the insurance company or with the court.
3. Keeping Deadlines
Most of the time, you only have a time limit to make a claim and get your compensation. Lawyers are knowledgeable in this regard and will ensure that you work within the stipulated deadline for your state.
4. Negotiate With The Insurance Company
Hiring the services of a good lawyer will be of immense help to you when it comes to negotiating with an insurance company. This is because insurance companies have a team of adjusters at their disposal and are ready to “fight” your car’s accident claims.
Since these insurance adjusters are experienced in evaluating claims and notorious for offering low compensation. It can only take a good lawyer who knows how insurance companies work and be able to match up their tactics.
Also, studies have shown that hiring a lawyer can get you 40% higher compensation as compared to when you do the negotiation by yourself.
But when you do the negotiation yourself, there’s a high chance you will leave the negotiation table with less than you deserve because they will not hesitate to use their bargaining power to twist every situation to their advantage.
5. Calculating Your Damages Accurately
A good lawyer will help you calculate your costs and damages accurately, thereby preventing you from accepting a low settlement. They will calculate your damage, bearing in mind both the economic and non-economic damage.
Calculating economic damages such as medical costs can be easy, unlike calculating non-economic damages like pain due to an accident. Letting your lawyer determine your damages ensures you do not shoot yourself in the leg.
6. Lawyers Can Explain Complex Legal Terms So You Can Make The Best Decision
Both the physical and psychological effects of an accident can prevent one from making accurate decisions. But when you hire a lawyer, the lawyer can guide you in making the best decision for your case. The lawyer can help explain your rights, the options you have to choose from, as well as the statutes of limitations guiding each state with regard to car accidents.
7. Your Lawyer Can Take Your Case To Trial
When all attempts to settle fail, your lawyer can represent you in court. Sometimes the possibility that a case could go to trial will make the insurance company sit up and offer fair compensation. They know that trials are expensive and probably drag on for some time, and they may not be cut out for such.
Types of Compensation Available After a Car Accident
i. Medical Costs
Paying for your medical bills can be the most crucial aspect of your recovery. This includes every medical expense incurred from the date of the accident to your recovery.
ii. Future Medical Expenses
Future medical expenses cover the costs of medical care you will incur in the future. It is difficult to provide an exact amount as to how much these expenses will cost, but a lawyer will help you estimate this cost.
You should consider any future surgeries, ongoing physical therapy, rehabilitation sessions, and even any new medications that may be necessary for your treatment.
iii. Lost Wages
Lost wages are an amount that covers the money you would have made in between the accident and the time you would have been able to return to work.
iv. Loss Of Earning Capacity
This is the amount that covers your loss of future income. For example, if you are an accountant and suffered an injury as a result of a car accident, your income as an accountant will go down hence losing some income in the future. This needs to be in your claim for compensation.
v. Pain And Suffering
You should receive compensation for the pain and suffering that you endured after your accident. This will include any emotional distress you may have felt as a result of the accident.
vi. Emotional Distress
Emotional distress is a type of compensation that is awarded to an accident victim who experienced a form of mental trauma as a result of their car accident. This may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Emotional distress can be a difficult factor to prove, but with the help of a lawyer, you should have no problem proving that the trauma is a result of the accident.
vii. Disability
After an accident, some are maimed for life. They will not be able to go about their normal life again or be bedridden. This should be properly compensated. This is because disability is considered a loss of earning capacity, and thus should be determined by the percentage of your earning capacity that was lost as a result of the accident.
viii. Cost of Physical Therapy
Therapy can help those who were injured recover. This includes physical therapy, speech therapy, etc. Physical therapy includes exercises and rehabilitation sessions that helped in the treatment of an injury.
Conclusion
To answer the question if it is worth getting a lawyer for a car accident, yes, it is. The advantages of hiring a lawyer far outweigh those of negotiating by yourself. After all, two good heads are better than one.
So when next you or your loved ones are involved in an accident, it is recommended to hire a good lawyer to handle your case so you can get the financial compensation that you deserve.