Suppose you were recently involved in a car accident that resulted in injuries and property damage. The other driver was at fault and seems to be willing to take responsibility, and both you and the other driver are insured.
You may be wondering: Should I contact a personal injury lawyer? What does a car accident lawyer do, and do I need their help if all parties have insurance?
It is certainly possible to settle a car accident claim without the help of an attorney – you aren’t required to be represented by one. But in this post, we’ll discuss what an attorney can do for you and why having representation can be so important.
An attorney protects your interests when dealing with insurers
Insurance companies are primarily concerned with their own profits. The way to maximize those profits is to either deny claims or settle them for as little money as possible. Insurers are bound by laws and standards governing the payment of claims, but they have entire legal teams devoted to interpreting those laws in their own favor.
When an insurance adjuster contacts you, they may be looking for evidence or statements from you that reduces the company’s financial obligations. When you hire a personal injury, however, you no longer need to speak to insurers. All communications can be directed to your attorney, who will know how to communicate in a way that does not reduce the value of your claim or compromise the strength of your case.
An attorney knows how much your case is truly worth
Calculating the costs associated with a car accident can be difficult and time-consuming. You need to gather and collect medical bills, anticipate the costs of future care, calculate lost wages, assess vehicle damage and consider non-economic damages like pain and suffering. It is only after doing this level of work that the full costs of your accident become clear.
Insurers will likely offer you a quick settlement, and that settlement will almost certainly be for less than you need. Your attorney will know how much your case is worth and will not entertain lowball settlement offers from the insurance company. They will also be able to anticipate the strength of your case at trial, and will use this knowledge to either negotiate a higher settlement amount or be prepared to take the matter to court.
An attorney carefully investigates your accident
If the other driver denies fault or asserts that you were equally to blame, you are likely in no position to conduct your own investigation into the crash. Your lawyer can, and the evidence they gather will be used to maximize the value of your legal claim.
Our attorneys handle all aspects of your case so that you don’t have to
One of the biggest advantages to hiring an attorney is that they will attend to all of these critical details on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your own recovery and taking care of your family. At Woods Williford, P.C., our attorneys have been assisting personal injury victims for decades, and we are proud to be there for clients in their time of need.
To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.