A car accident (traffic collision) occurs when a moving vehicle collides with a stationary object, a person, or another driving vehicle. In some cases, these accidents result in severe injuries and even death.
Fortunately, you can have your attorney represent you while collecting evidence, dealing with insurance companies, and filing a lawsuit.
Gathering Evidence
A fender bender can go through the insurance company without much fuss. Still, something more serious will require a lawyer to ensure everything gets documented. This includes the accident scene, witness contact information, and medical records (including bills, receipts, diagnostic reports, or discharge instructions). Detailed employment and loss of income data are also critical for proving economic damages. Assessments of property damage and repair estimates will help establish the actual cash value of your car before the crash.
Your attorney can also collect information about the incident from other sources, such as police or DMV accident reports. These are important because the information can be used as evidence in a settlement dispute or trial, if necessary. Remember that memories fade over time, so you must get the information down as soon as possible. Best injury attorney can also help obtain and compile documentation, including expert testimony.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
You’ll be required to offer a recorded statement to describe what happened when you submit a car accident claim to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. An insurance company may argue that this is necessary to determine liability reasonably.
It is critical to realize that insurance agents are taught to pose provocative or open-ended queries to elicit information that might later be used against you in court. Having an attorney review any recorded statements or documents you are asked to sign.
You will also likely be asked to provide information on medical treatment, employment, and lost wages. You can get help from a lawyer calculating your losses and asking the at-fault insurer for a fair payout. Your attorney can take the insurance company to court if they don’t agree to a settlement. They will have the knowledge and experience to deal with even the most aggressive insurance companies.
Negotiating a Settlement
In addition to paying your medical expenses, car accident compensation can cover your lost income and property damage. Your attorney can help determine your total losses and seek full compensation.
They will also handle all communication with the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf. It would be best not to talk directly to the insurance representatives; they will use anything you say against you. They may even attempt to trick you into giving a recorded statement they can use against you in court.
Your attorney will fight to obtain a just settlement for your case that pays for economic and non-economic losses. Non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, might be more challenging to prove in court. They will consider the seriousness of your wounds and how they have impacted your life. They will use their experience with car accident cases to get you the money you deserve. They will only quit once they have obtained a satisfactory result.
Filing a Lawsuit
Car accident lawyers know the various legal deadlines (called statutes of limitations) and work to ensure that you file your claim within the required timeframe. This keeps you from losing the chance to receive compensation for your accident’s economic and non-economic damages.
The amount of money you can recover depends on the proof you can provide to the insurance company or the court. The person filing the claim (called the plaintiff) must demonstrate that the other party was responsible.
Sometimes it may need to be clarified who is at fault, mainly if there are discrepancies in the police report or among witnesses. You can obtain essential proof of guilt with the aid of an attorney. After completing everything, they can write an official demand letter to the insurance asking for payment for your losses. This includes your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. It also covers your pain and suffering.
