Car crashes are constantly going down over the years. Recent data from Statista shows that the car crash rate was 1.28 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2020, which is a good sign. However, car accidents do happen, and they can be devastating.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it can be an overwhelming experience. It’s not only about the physical pain and damage. Many other issues are at play here. You might have missed work because of your injuries or may not be able to drive for some time.
Even after your body heals, monetary damages can still be a concern if the other driver is at fault for causing the accident. If you were injured in an auto accident, here’s what to do next:
The Aftermath of a Car Accident Can Be Devastating
The physical and emotional toll on the victim is immense, as are the financial costs associated with medical treatment and recovery time. In addition, injuries may impact family members.
For example, if you can’t work due to your injuries, that puts an extra strain on your spouse or other loved ones who must step in and take over some of your responsibilities at home or elsewhere.
This can be a bigger problem for accidents involving teens. They may miss school, which can impact their entire career and future. The sad part is that teens are most likely to cause these accidents. The risk of motor vehicle crashes among teens aged 16-19 is the highest in the US. The chances of fatal crashes are as high as 1.5 times in the first month after getting a license.
The Help You Get From a Car Accident Lawyer
A lawyer can help you with multiple things, such as he or she can negotiate with the insurance companies, represent you in trials, etc. Here are some ways in which an attorney can help you.
Lawyers Can Help Find Evidence for Your Claims
A lawyer can help you find evidence that supports your claim. For example, if you were hit by a car while walking across the street and injured, the lawyer can look for witnesses who saw what happened. A witness may be able to explain exactly how the collision occurred or whether there was any negligence on behalf of either party involved in the accident.
Lawyers also know how to gather important documents that show how severe their injuries were after an accident. These documents can be critical when negotiating with insurance companies or filing lawsuits against them.
Suppose a doctor examined you after an injury caused by someone else’s negligence. In that case, their records will contain precisely what happened during those examinations. These reports make it easier for lawyers representing clients injured in car accidents because they provide concrete evidence against insurance companies’ claims that injuries weren’t severe enough to warrant compensation.
For instance, a fatal car crash happened on Highway 87 near Fayetteville, North Carolina. It was a deadly three-car crash. Suppose you were involved in an accident, and the other driver was at fault. In such a situation, a Fayetteville car accident lawyer can help collect evidence from CCTV cameras from nearby places. This evidence can prove who was at fault to help you win the case.
Lawyers Can Better Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Negotiating with an insurance company can be a difficult and frustrating process. You may be dealing with someone who has never negotiated a settlement before, and they might not have the experience or training to know what’s fair.
A lawyer can help you negotiate a better settlement from the beginning and will make sure that your interests are represented throughout the process. They’ll also know how to navigate legal jargon to understand precisely what’s happening as it happens and why it matters to get the best outcome possible for yourself.
Lawyers Can Educate You About Your Right
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, your primary concern is probably getting better. But to ensure that the person who caused your injuries pays for them, it’s essential to understand the legal process. A lawyer can help guide you through this process and ensure everything is done correctly.
A lawyer will know what evidence needs to be gathered and how best to present it in court. Given the factors involved in each case, they will also know what type of compensation is fair. The experience they have gained from representing clients with similar injuries means they can anticipate potential problems before they arise during trial or settlement negotiations.
Lawyers Can Help Calculate Your Medical Expenses
In addition to lost wages and pain and suffering, you may also have to pay for medical expenses. If you suffered an injury in a car accident, these costs could be a significant part of your claim.
A lawyer can help you determine your medical bills and how much they should be worth. Your lawyer will look at all the bills that doctors, hospitals, pharmacies have submitted, and other providers who provided treatment or medication for your injuries, then compare them with similar cases to arrive at an appropriate valuation for each item on the bill. This process is called “lien analysis.”
Lawyers Can Bring You a Peace of Mind
Having an attorney can bring peace of mind if you’re involved in a car accident.
- You’ll have someone to help you through the legal process and get closure. Your lawyer will work closely with the insurance company to ensure they pay as much money as possible for your injury claim.
- They will also try their best to get the best outcome for your case, whether that means getting cash compensation or working out some other form of compensation.
- Attorneys can help find doctors specializing in treating injuries like yours so they know exactly what treatment options are available and what risks may come with each one. This way, any question about whether something needs surgery will be answered before any decision is made about surgery versus more conservative treatment methods like physical therapy alone.
Can You Fight Your Car Accident Case Yourself?
A lawyer’s fee is generally 33-40% of the court award. So, if you want to save on that and are considering representing yourself in your car accident case, there are some things to consider.
While the law does not require an attorney to represent you, you need to know the law and how it applies to your situation. Hence, if you don’t have the proper knowledge, it is best to hire an attorney. This will ensure you get higher settlement amounts and don’t have to go through all the legal hassle yourself.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many reasons why hiring a car accident lawyer can benefit your case. Whether it’s because they have experience handling these cases or access to resources that may help prove your claim, having an attorney on your side makes everything easier for everyone involved.