What An Auto Accident Attorney Can Do For You
Being involved in a car accident is stressful and scary. If you have been injured, you need time to heal, and depending on how serious the injury is, it could be a lifetime battle. You also need to figure out how to get your vehicle repaired. In addition, you may have concerns about who was at fault and if you are going to have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. Although car insurance is required, your coverage may not take care of all the expenses of the accident, whether you were at fault or not. The best way to ensure you are treated fairly, receive any compensation you deserve, and are rid of the stress so you can spend your time and energy healing is to hire an auto accident attorney. Here are just some of the things a lawyer can do for you.
File All Paperwork
There is going to be paperwork that needs to be filed with your insurance company and the insurance company of the other driver. Everything needs to be prepared and turned in on time. Your lawyer understands the time requirements of the matter and will be sure to have everything done correctly and on time. If you were to file on your own behalf and there was a mistake in the paperwork, the whole case could be dismissed and you would not receive any compensation.
Investigate the Accident
An auto accident lawyer has seen a lot of accident scenes. They have worked with many police officers and insurance adjusters. Your lawyer will go to the scene of the accident, talk with any witnesses, and look over all police reports about the accident. This will give them a very good indication of exactly what happened. Your lawyer will be on your side and will stand up for you if the other driver tries to put excess blame on you. If your state allows for the blame to be placed on both drivers, you want to be sure you are only responsible for the percentage you were at fault.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Your lawyer will collect all your medical records and any repair bills for your vehicle. They will be able to look at everything and determine how much the medical bills will come to both now and in the future, how much it will cost to repair your car, and how much time you will miss from work. They will also consider your pain and suffering and then add everything together to come up with a fair settlement. If the insurance company disagrees with this amount, your lawyer will continue to negotiate on your behalf. You can be sure that when your lawyer tells you to sign the settlement papers, it will be for the best amount you can expect out of the case.
Go to Trial
While the vast majority of automobile accidents are settled out of court, there are some that need to be heard by a judge and jury. An auto accident attorney has experience in the courtroom and will be there every step of the way. They will lead you through the process and make sure you understand everything that is happening. Finally, they will argue your case with professionalism and experience.
Unless you have been involved in many auto accidents, you do not have any idea what to expect. You may not consider how much time and money it is going to cost you to get better and go back to work. The insurance companies are going to try to offer you a settlement at the very beginning. If you take this, the case is over, and any expenses not paid for by the settlement will become your responsibility. Let a lawyer handle everything for you so you do not end up with a big pile of debt.
Call an auto accident attorney for more information or assistance.