Should you hire a car accident lawyer?
You must contact a personal injury lawyer right away if you have been injured in a car accident so that you are on the same level playing field with the insurance company. They have attorneys who represent the billion-dollar insurance companies and are highly qualified professionals, and it is not a good idea to face them on your own. They could offer you a few thousands of dollars just to get rid of you. Or may even deny your claim because you may not be aware of all your legal rights or what your options are.
Expert attorneys
Various lawyers are experts in their fields and represent car accident victims. They have the financial know-how and the resources to stand up to the lawyersthat represent the insurance companies. Their job is to ensure that the car accident victim are fully compensated for their losses.
If you have been injured in a car accident, the first step that you should take is to file a claim with your insurance company and with the insurance carrier of the other party.
File a claim
Once the claim has been filed, it is now the job of the insurance company to determine the value of the claim. A lot of the insurance companies deny the claim altogether. If the injuries, which you have sustained, are minor, then you may want to handle your case yourself. However, if it is severe, then you can consider hiring a personal injury lawyer.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer
You must hire an experienced and competent lawyer if you have been physically injured in a car collision. Many people do not bother getting a lawyer and like to represent themselves, and they end up failing miserably. When people decide to handle their own claims, the insurance company usually offers them a minimal amount as settlement so that they can get rid of you as soon as possible.
Most companies make such offers within a few days to take advantage of the victim. This is the time where you do not know precisely what the extent of your injury is and are unaware of future diagnosis or medical treatments that you may need.
When the victim is unrepresented, they get bogged down by the expert lawyers and end up taking minimal settlements. However, if they end up requiring further medical treatments later, it is usually too late as they have already signed away on their legal rights.
Unrepresented claimant
When a person is unrepresented by a proper attorney, they are at a major disadvantage since they lack the training and experience necessary to negotiate with the insurance carrier. They may not understand the complexity of negotiating the medical bills that come as a result of treatments related to injuries in the car crash.
Bottom Line
Anyone who is a victim of a car accident and suffered significant injuries should contact a lawyer right away, so that the large insurance firms do not take advantage of the victim. The lawyer will make sure the victim is properly compensated.