Being injured in a car accident is a stressful experience. You are struggling with your injuries, no income, medical bills, and managing car repairs, all while negotiating with an insurance company looking to pay out as little as possible. The car accident may not be your fault, but what happens after a car accident can be up to you, depending on the steps you take.
If you were injured in a car accident, the insurance companies will look at the facts to determine fault, and then offer you a settlement amount to compensate for your damaged property, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Often it is in the best interest of both you and the insurance company to arrive at a settlement for your car accident case outside of court. Trials can be stressful, expensive, and time consuming. After you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible. They will need time to gather all the information needed to negotiate a fair settlement. This may include pictures, witness statements, documentation of your injuries and treatment, medical records and bills, property damage information, and other damages including lost wages as a result of your recovery. The insurance company may pressure you to settle quickly for less money than you are entitled to receive, so an attorney can help level the playing field. Most car accident cases will not go to trial, but if the insurance company is not willing to be fair, a trial is the leverage you and your attorney have to hold their feet to the fire.
Although the majority of car accident cases will settle without going to trial, this doesn’t mean you don’t need an attorney. If you have been involved and injured in a car accident that was not your fault, it is always best to at least consult with an attorney before accepting any offer from an insurance company.
Insurance companies care about their bottom line, so their first offer is the one they hope you will accept, because it is usually the lowest dollar amount they believe they can get away with. Once you sign a settlement release, you cannot go back and ask for additional compensation later. Hiring an attorney will ensure that you have someone who understands the nuances of your personal injury claim, and he or she is best able to negotiate a better settlement on your behalf. If your car accident case goes to trial, you will have an experienced attorney ready to fight for you in court.
If the negotiations fail and you need to take your case to court, you and your car accident attorney will need to gather evidence and build a strong case carefully. Your attorney can advise you and help prepare you for what to expect, so it’s important that you are candid with your attorney about all the facts of your case to allow them to be ready. Since you will need to testify, your attorney will help prepare you on what questions you may be asked. Often, even if your case does go before a judge or jury, the case may still settle before a final verdict is rendered. Your car accident lawyer is required to present you with all settlement offers and advise you on how best to proceed, and it is up to you as to whether to accept, or reject any offer. Likewise, any counter-offer that is made must be approved by you as well.
Without a car accident attorney, you may not receive adequate compensation for your lost wages, damaged property, and medical bills. We know what you are up against, and we want to help you get a fair settlement. We believe no one should be financially burdened by a car accident that wasn’t their fault, so we fight hard for what is right. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, contact Arthur Law Firm right away (419) 782-9881 for a free consultation to discuss your options for getting the compensation you need to move on.