There are many reasons automobile accident victims are stressed after a car accident: the accident itself, injuries, medical bills, and damage to the car. There are myriad things that they need to do to recover from the effects of an accident. Most car accident victims call and hand over their information to the insurance company to manage the claim. This will work adequately if you are looking for a minor recovery involving property damage. Additionally, even if you do not want to take your insurance company’s settlement offer, you can file a claim or a lawsuit against another person or their insurance company for your accident.
If you can do this on your own, why hire a car accident lawyer? A car accident attorney’s experience and knowledge can help ensure you get the maximum recovery for your accident. Some specific times you need to hire a car accident lawyer include:
1. Contact a Car Accident Attorney When Another Party is at Fault but not Accepting Responsibility
Liability can be unclear in situations when another driver may have been negligent in doing something like:
- Failing to yield at a sign
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Passing in a no-passing zone
- Not following traffic signals
- Following too closely
In those situations, the other party to the accident or their insurance company may claim that that the accident is your fault. If you did cause the accident, you do not need to hire a car accident lawyer. Your insurance company will hire a lawyer to defend your interests.
But when parties point fingers at each other, facts are paramount. For that reason, your car accident attorney will make sure your accident is appropriately investigated. A car accident attorney can identify everyone with legal liability for damages. The more parties identified, the better the chances of recovery. A car accident attorney will hire the right experts and look at the true cause of the accident to identify fault. Your attorney will investigate, collect evidence, and organize the information to prove negligence.
2. Contact a Car Accident Attorney Who Specializes in Car Accidents
If you are considering managing your claim, address these factors:
- Time: Do you have adequate time to handle your claim?
- Experience: Do you have the requisite experience to understand the process?
- Knowledge: Do you know what to do?
- Money: Do you have the financial resources to pay for documents, hire experts, etc.?
When you are involved in an already stressful situation, a legal team with a specific specialization is the support you need. General practice, family law, or corporate attorneys do not have specialized experience to get you the best settlement. A car accident attorney with experience and expertise in vehicle accidents knows appropriate laws, procedures, and nuances of car accidents. Car accident attorneys and their legal teams and administrative staff focus exclusively on recovering settlements for accidents. An experienced car accident attorney has seen many facts and understands that each accident is unique. In other words, a car accident attorney knows how to get you the money you deserve.
3. Contact a Car Accident Attorney to Negotiate with an Insurance Company
After an accident, your own insurance company is one of your first sources of compensation and sometimes your main source of compensation. In other instances, the insurance company of another car involved in an accident will pay you. In both scenarios, these insurance companies are businesses focusing on making a profit. Customer service in insurance companies (even the insurance company of the vehicle which hit you) is generally exceptional. This responsiveness and courtesy help you trust them and feel like they have your best interest in mind. Even if the courtesy is genuine, the bottom line of the business is profit: that the less money that insurance companies payout, the more they keep for the business.
A car accident attorney has experience managing personal injury claims and working with insurance companies. Accordingly, insurance companies are more likely to extend better settlement offers to a car accident attorney than when they negotiate directly with the victim of a car accident.
Before making a statement to an insurance company, talk to a car accident attorney. Saying the wrong words may create long-term consequences that work against you. Similarly, before agreeing to a settlement from an insurance company, make sure to consult a car accident attorney. Usually, there is no opportunity to collect more money once you accept a settlement.
4. Contact a Car Accident Attorney to Ensure You Meet Deadlines
Georgia law sets forth a statute of limitations by which you need to file a lawsuit. In addition, other deadlines must be met. As soon as insurance companies hear about an accident, they enlist their attorneys and adjusters to begin working on the claim.
The time commitment of managing a personal injury case is significant. Consider whether you have enough time to study and learn what a car accident attorney does. After you learn what they do, understand whether you have the significant time needed to manage your case, including making phone calls, getting documentation, and filing the appropriate paperwork.
The insurance claims process can take many months. While insurance companies proceed at their own pace, your medical bills might be piling up. Under these circumstances, your response may be delayed as you evaluate your accident or research relevant laws, taking even longer to reach a settlement. Hiring a car accident lawyer can ensure no additional delays from your end. Your car accident attorney can also put appropriate pressure on the insurance company or other attorneys to be as responsive as possible.
5. Contact a Car Accident Attorney to Evaluate Serious or Complex Situations
If you have been hurt due to someone else’s fault, you should recover. But recovery is not automatic, nor is it fair. Hire a car accident lawyer to be on your side, especially invaluable with serious or complex accidents such as:
- Construction zone accidents
- Dangerous road conditions
- Multiple vehicles were involved in the accident
- Drunk driver
- Unique injuries
- The insurance company refuses to return your calls or pay you a fair settlement
Your car accident attorney can handle the process of getting a fair settlement while you can focus on recovering.
6. Contact a Car Accident Attorney When You Have Serious Injuries
You probably do not need a lawyer to help you in your claim if you were not hurt and do not need compensation for your injuries from an accident, and you need to get your car fixed. You can handle this communication with the insurance companies on your own.
However, if you have significant injuries, especially if those injuries can affect you in the future, a car accident attorney’s expertise can help you get the recovery you need. Examples of injuries from an accident include:
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Concussion or head injury
- Hospital stays
- Long-term physical therapy or chiropractic care or modifications to your home due to those injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Surgeries
- Death of a loved one in an accident
It is not always easy to determine how much your case is worth, even if you list your costs in an online calculator. A car accident attorney has the knowledge to include out-of-pocket costs, future costs, harm, etc. After all, you do not want to leave potential settlement money on the table.
Call the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, the Car Accident Attorney on your Side
The injury and accident attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm have experience working on your behalf after a car accident. Car accident attorney Ali Awad takes cases on a contingency fee basis, so you need not pay any money for your lawsuit. We understand all that you are going through. The CEO Lawyer is the professional car accident attorney in Atlanta who can help you receive the recovery you deserve. Call us today for your free consultation!
