Car accidents are the most common causes of death in the United States. In fact, every year, there are over 37,000 deaths caused by motor vehicle-related accidents, whether because of car collisions, commercial trucks, or even harm to pedestrians and cyclists.
Wrongful deaths or serious injuries caused by car collisions are considered civil wrongs, which means that the victim or their families can seek compensation and damages from the at-fault party. The court can grant them relief in these unfortunate situations.
However, getting compensated is easier said than done. Wrongful deaths or injuries are difficult to prove in court, which is why it’s important to hire a car accident lawyer who can help you gather your evidence, analyze your case, and build a solid defense that will increase the chances of you receiving the compensation you deserve.
Time is of the essence when it comes to filing a claim for injuries or wrongful death caused by a car accident. Hiring a lawyer early on can significantly help your case and increase your chances of getting favorable results and receiving compensation.
Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Immediately After Your Car Accident?
It’s highly recommended that you engage the help of an attorney immediately after your accident. But it shouldn’t come before you seek medical attention. After you receive medical treatment, begin your search for a car accident lawyer who can help you gather your evidence, search for witnesses, and begin building your solid case.
Hiring an attorney too late after your accident can expose you to risks that can harm your chances of receiving compensation and being awarded damages. The at-fault party’s insurance company may try to deceive you to reduce their payout and ask you to sign documents or offer recorded statements. They might also offer you a deal that’s much less than what an experienced attorney could have negotiated.
With an attorney with you from the get-go, you can be guided to making the best decisions and protecting your rights and interests. If you have been involved in a car accident, contact our lawyers right away.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
There are a lot of things that can get in the way of you receiving compensation from the at-fault party after your accident. This includes the lack of evidence, the lack of witnesses, or efforts of insurance companies to mitigate your payout. Even the slightest mistake can harm your case and eliminate your chances of getting compensated.
But with a car accident lawyer, you know that you have an experienced professional helping you investigate your case, determining liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and providing aggressive representation in court.
Among other things, here are some benefits of having a car accident lawyer by your side.
Negotiate a Good Settlement Value
Before a car accident case is litigated in court, most go through settlement discussions where you and the other party can discuss paying a certain value as compensation. If you accept, you no longer have to go to court to litigate the case.
Sometimes, the other party and their insurance company will try to offer you an unfair settlement. So it’s important to crunch the numbers here to determine how much you really are entitled to receive before settling on the offer.
An attorney with a good track record can negotiate on your behalf and help you receive a good settlement value based on your economic and non-economic damages, as well as your case value (which is your chances of winning your case). A 75% chance of winning your case would entitle you to a settlement case value of 75%. A lawyer would know how to compute for a fair and favorable amount.
Prove Liability in Court
If you and the other party do not agree on a settlement value, you can decide to take things to court. An attorney can litigate your case aggressively, proving the negligence of the at-fault party.
Negligence can be difficult to prove because of the four elements that need to be established:
- That the at-fault party had a specific duty of care to prevent harm to you and other motorists
- That the duty of care was breached
- That the breach is the direct or proximate cause of the injury you sustained
- That you suffered actual damages
A car accident attorney who has a track record defending personal and company car accident victims can help you identify and prove these elements in court, which paves the way to you being awarded compensation and damages.
Receive Compensation for Damages
An attorney knows exactly what you deserve and how to ask for it in court. They can help you receive economic and non-economic damages for your serious injuries. Economic damages include:
- Past and future hospital bills
- Costs of surgery or treatment
- Therapy bills
- Lost wages
Non-economic damages are harder to establish because they involve:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Decreased quality of life
- Loss of earning capacity
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
A car accident lawyer can help you prove both economic and non-economic damages to increase your chances of getting higher compensation.
Contact Our Lawyers Today
If you have been involved in a car accident, hiring an attorney is one of your top priorities. Engaging a lawyer early on can increase your chances of getting a fair settlement or litigating your case in court to achieve the most favorable results.
Our car accident lawyers are backed by years of experience handling cases like yours. We are ready to help you navigate your case, provide aggressive representation, and retrieve the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today and get started.