Do I Need to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

When someone is in a car accident and suffers an injury, it can be an extremely confusing time. Car accident injury victims know they’re going to have to deal with medical bills. Add to that missing work and losing out on income for several days, weeks, or even longer. But an injury victim may not be sure how to go about getting the money they need to compensate them for their monetary losses. These losses are known in the legal field as damages. So if you’re injured in a car accident, should you hire a car accident attorney?

The law firm of McEwen & Kestner has a team of skilled attorneys who will be more than happy to answer all of your questions. We have years of experience helping injury victims obtain the compensation they deserve for the suffering they’ve been forced to endure – through no fault of their own. Give us a call at (651) 224-3833 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more about what we may be able to do for you.

Questions to Ask After Your Auto Accident

When determining whether or not to get legal help, you should first ask yourself some questions regarding your injury, and who will pay for them. These include the following.

How Severe are My Injuries?

The more severe your injury, the more complicated your case will be. For example, if you suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, you will be eligible for more compensation than if you suffered a broken finger that will heal within a few weeks.

How High are My Damages?

The amount of your damages (monetary losses) will help determine how much money you may be able to receive. The higher the losses, the more you can potentially get through legal action. But that means the stakes will be higher as well. And the negligent driver’s insurance company will do everything it can to reduce your compensation or deny it outright.

Am I Going to Recover Quickly?

If you have an injury that will lead to long-term debilitation, such as a spinal cord injury or back injury, your medical treatment will be much more extensive than if your accident resulted in just a strained neck.

But even if your injury is relatively minor, it’s still going to require medical treatment. And that’s going to get expensive. If you want the best chance possible of getting the money needed to pay for that treatment, you’re going to need the help of a personal injury attorney.

Instances Where You May Not Need a Car Accident Attorney

Not every car accident requires the help of an attorney. If any of the following apply to you, there’s a very good chance you won’t need legal representation.

• There were no injuries. A minor fender-bender usually doesn’t require the help of an attorney. You’ll probably just file an insurance claim and move on with your life. However, if your insurance company denies your claim, you should hire a car accident attorney to negotiate your insurance claim.
• The accident was your fault. Unfortunately, if you’re to blame for the accident, a personal injury lawyer may not be able to help your case. However, your insurance company will defend you from claims filed by the other driver as part of your policy.
• There was no damage. While this is rare in a car crash, there are some minor accidents that don’t result in damage to the vehicles involved. Or, the damage is so minimal that neither driver wants to pursue an insurance claim.

5 Reasons You Do Need a Car Accident Attorney

On the other hand, if you or the other driver was hurt, and there was extensive property damage, you’ll definitely want to hire an experienced lawyer. Here are five reasons this is the case.

1. Their Knowledge of Law

There are a lot of complexities involving a car accident that results in a severe injury. You’ll need the help of an attorney who has a deep understanding of the law, and can navigate all potential obstacles that could keep you from getting the money you deserve.

2. Their Ability to Handle Insurance Companies

You’ll be going up against an insurance company with deep pockets. They have a team of incredibly skilled adjusters who will do everything they can to keep you from obtaining full and fair compensation. An experienced car accident attorney will be able to shield you from these professionals. This will ensure that you don’t accidentally make a mistake that could ruin your case. Additionally, your personal injury lawyer will negotiate insurance claims on your behalf. Adjusters will sometimes frame questions in a way that is guaranteed to make an injury victim admit blame. When that happens, the victim has no chance to get the money they need.

3. Their Connections to Industry Professionals and Expert Witnesses

Skilled attorneys can call on professionals, as well as expert witnesses, who can testify on your behalf. They can, for instance, spell out the severity of your injury, or explain how the accident occurred in language that a jury can easily understand.

4. They’ll Negotiate Your Settlement on Your Behalf…

Seasoned lawyers also know how to negotiate with an insurance company to maximize your compensation. They know how to show insurers that it will not be worth their time – or money – to take your case to court. With an experienced auto accident attorney working on your behalf, you’ll be able to settle your personal injury claim much sooner. This means you get the compensation you need for your damages faster so you can focus on your recovery.

5. …or Take Your Claim to Court if Needed

But there are times where an insurance company won’t make a fair settlement offer, and the case will have to go to trial. A strong attorney will be more than ready, because they would have already gathered the evidence needed to prove you’re entitled to every penny you’re demanding.

Speak with a Talented Car Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve suffered serious harm due to another driver’s negligence, please don’t try to go it alone. At the law firm of McEwen & Kestner, we’ve seen far too many instances of accident victims trying to act as their own legal representative. To put it mildly, this decision doesn’t go well in the vast majority of instances.

If you would like to learn more about what we may be able to do for you, we urge you to get in touch with us as soon as you can. Use our online form or call (651) 224-3833 for a free case review.