5 Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

Unfortunately, some people do not understand the importance of working with a lawyer after a car accident. If you are injured in an accident due to some else’s negligence, the at-fault party should compensate you for the damages caused.

An Austin car accident lawyer, who has a great deal of experience in handling car accident cases, would advise that if you are ever in such a situation, hiring a car accident lawyer to represent you should be the first step you take. A good lawyer will help you create a strong claim and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer?

1. Well-Versed with State Laws

To win any case, you must understand what the law says about your situation. Many people, even lawyers in the other fields of law, do not necessarily know what the law requires for car accident claims.

Therefore, you need to hire a car accident attorney because they have knowledge and experience in accident cases. They will advise you on the best time to file the claim and come up with the traffic rules violated by the other driver. With such a foundation, you have better chances of winning the case.

2. Calculate an Accurate Value of Your Claim

Valuing a car accident claim without prior experience is challenging. In many cases, clients undervalue their claims. If the insurance company realizes your naivety, they will hurriedly compensate you because they are in the business of making money.

However, a skilled lawyer understands the different aspects to look at before valuing a claim ensuring that you get fair compensation. When valuing a car accident claim, some of the important factors to consider include medical bills, lost wages, lost future earnings, cost of damaged property, emotional cost, and future medical costs.

3. Gather Significant Evidence

Like any other lawsuit, you need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the damages suffered from the car accident result from negligence. Coming up with the facts that connect your damages and the accident is not easy. Many clients representing their own case lose at this point.

To save you this stress–and additional losses–hire a reputable accident attorney who will go to great lengths to collect evidence for your case. They will collect evidence from the police reports, eyewitnesses, expert witnesses, photos from the scene, access security cameras around, and gather other pieces of evidence that are difficult to obtain.

4. Advise You on What to Say

After a car accident, the police and the insurance company at fault will ask you to give your statements. The things you say, especially to the insurance company, can be used against your case. With that in mind, do not say a word before consulting a lawyer.

He or she will advise you on what to say. They will help you understand the trick questions from the insurance company. The insurance company will go to all lengths to make it look like it was your fault.

5. Fight for You

In some instances, car accident claims are smooth, especially when both parties are cooperative. However, some claims are settled in a fight, and your lawyer must be willing to fight for you.

If a lawyer realizes that they will not settle the case through arbitration, they will take the next step of taking it to court instead of settling for the unfair offer.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today

An experienced car accident lawyer will help you with all the above. They will handle the stress and dirt of your case as you concentrate on recovery.

Remember, you have nothing to lose by contacting several car accident lawyers because they offer a free consultation.

Tips on Choosing the Right Car Accident Attorney

A car accident can be a devastating event, both mentally and psychologically. After getting involved in an accident, you may start to wonder how you will recover damages caused by the other person’s negligence. There are many car accident attorneys in the United States and you will need to be extra vigilant to select the best attorney. Your chances of getting a good settlement lie with a strong representation

Accidents in the United States happen quite frequently, and if you happen to be in one, you might need an attorney to represent you. Choosing a car accident attorney is very important. You want an attorney that will represent your best interests as you focus on getting better. There are many qualities of a good car accident lawyers, and during your initial contact, you can easily identify them:

Excellent Communication Skills

An attorney-client relationship is one that needs constant communication for it to prosper. If your attorney barely answers your calls or replies to your message, then there will be a break in communication. 

You want an attorney that will call you with updates about your claim. Attorneys are usually busy, but they always try to return calls they missed. 

Experience

When in the first meeting with the attorney, ask them about their experience. Before you leave their office, make sure you have confirmed they have worked on numerous car accident cases. They should also have experience in litigation because your case might have to go to trial. Some attorneys have websites with their track record; you can visit their website and see for yourself if they have an excellent winning record. 

Legal Fees

Many people believe attorneys are very expensive and will only visit them when they have nowhere else to go. Most attorneys are affordable, and many of them work on a contingency when it comes to car accident cases. 

Contingency means that your attorney will get paid if you get the compensation by deducting legal costs, including their fees. Do not worry about paying out of pocket before the attorney accepts your case, but make sure you discuss legal fees before you agree to hire them for your case. 

Good Negotiator

Insurance companies have a notoriety of offering meager compensations and playing hardball until the claimant accepts it. A good attorney will spot the low offer from a mile away and demand a better settlement. 

There will be some back and forth between your attorney and the insurance company; hence, having good negotiation skills will increase the chances of receiving the insurance company’s best settlement offers. 

Use Referrals

When looking for an attorney to represent you, one of the first things you may consider doing is asking your friends or relatives if they know an attorney who can help you. At times, a family member or friends might have had a car accident a few years back, and a good attorney helped them get good compensation. Visit all the recommended attorneys and select the attorney you think will best serve your interests. Personal recommendations are good because you get to hear their experience instead of reading a client’s testimonial on the attorney’s website. 

You can also check their personality; see how they interact with other people in the office. Your attorney should be a person you can get along with without any friction. You will spend a lot of time interacting with them, therefore do not choose someone with a horrible personality.