Motor vehicle accidents can have disastrous consequences, leaving victims of these crashes suffering from serious injuries, extensive pain and suffering, and astronomical medical bills that can affect their whole family. However, even with tragic results, car accident victims continue questioning whether a motor vehicle accident attorney is needed after a car accident.
To clear up some of these uncertainties, we have prepared the below guide, where we will discuss when to hire a car accident lawyer after a car crash and how these legal professionals can help you fight for the justice and damages you deserve.
1. When You Suffered Serious Injuries
If you suffered serious injuries in an accident, you may soon realize that the medical bills can be extensive, leading to significant financial hardships. In these situations, you may want to consider contacting an experienced car accident attorney as quickly as possible.
These lawyers can review the extent of your injuries and the medical bills involved and determine the monetary damages you can pursue. From there, these legal professionals can help you fight for the compensation you need to ensure you get the medical treatments you require now and in the future.
2. When Liability Is Not Clear
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, and you are not sure what happened or who was at fault, you may want to reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer to review the facts of the crash.
Once hired, these attorneys can thoroughly investigate your accident, figure out the cause behind what happened, and gather evidence to show who was responsible for the collision.
3. When You Have to Deal with the Insurance Company
Although you may want to believe that the insurance company is there to support you after a car crash, this is far from the truth. The insurance company, like any other business, wants to make money.
By paying out less in claims, the more compensation these companies make. That is why it is common for insurance companies to try everything they can to minimize payouts by denying a claim or finding something they can use to justify providing less money to a car accident victim.
For these reasons, before you speak to the insurer after a car crash, consider first discussing the collision with a skilled car accident attorney. These lawyers can help you better understand the deceitful tricks the insurance company likes to play and the things you can do to avoid falling for these tricks.
In addition, these attorneys can also take over these conversations with the insurer on your behalf, ensuring that the insurance company does not take advantage of your vulnerable state after an accident.
4. When You Do Not Know How Much Time You Have To File Your Suit
It is important to understand that following a car crash, you only have a limited amount of time to file a legal suit. This period is known as the statute of limitations, and it dictates how long an individual has after an alleged offense to pursue legal action. If individuals do not file their suit within this time, the court can stop them from going after the money they need.
Yet, while these time limitations will depend on the type of claim and the state, most car accident victims will only have a few years to file their claim. In addition, if there are exceptions that apply to this rule, these deadlines can also change. For these reasons, if you want to make sure that your legal claim is filed before time expires, consider discussing your accident with a knowledgeable car crash attorney.
Your lawyers can review the state statutes and the facts of your case and determine how much time you have to file your legal claim. They can also make sure they submit all the required motions and files to the proper court before this time runs out.
5. When You Want To Know What Types of Financial Damages You Can Be Entitled To?
Depending on the circumstances of your car accident, you may be entitled to certain financial damages. These damages are usually split into the following categories:
Economic Damages
These damages refer to the actual losses that result from an accident.
They include:
- Medical bills related to hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription medications, surgeries, and other types of medical services
- Ongoing medical treatments
- Lost income, business opportunities, and reduced earning capacity
- Personal property damages, such as repair and replacement costs related to vehicle damage
- Replacement domestic services costs
Non-Economic Damages
These damages refer to the non-quantifiable losses that result from an accident.
They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of life quality
- Humiliation and inconvenience due to the injuries that resulted
- Loss of a limb
Depending on the circumstances, punitive damages may also be available. However, the court only awards these damages when the defendant's actions are so egregious, or they want to punish the wrongful party and deter others from committing the same act in the future. Yet, because of the complex requirements to obtain these damages, the victim of the accident needs to provide clear and convincing evidence that establishes the defendant's actions were willful or wanton.
Consequently, to determine which damages you can pursue after a car crash, consider discussing the collision with an experienced car accident attorney. These lawyers can review the facts of what happened, determine which damages may apply to your case, and help you fight for the financial recovery you are entitled to.
6. When You Need Help Collecting Evidence After the Accident
After a motor vehicle crash, the last thing you want to worry about is collecting pictures or documents to help support your legal case. In many instances, due to the injuries involved, it is not even possible to secure this evidence. Fortunately, when you hire a legal professional to handle your legal claim, you will not have to look for this evidence alone.
Instead, your lawyers can promptly investigate your accident and obtain evidence to prove what happened, including through photos and videos of:
- The automobiles involved
- The damage these cars endured in the crash
- Their placement on the road after the accident
- Skid marks, road debris, or potholes on the street
- The traffic and weather conditions at the time of the crash
- Nearby traffic signs and signals
- The visible injuries that resulted from the accident
These lawyers can also look into whether there were any witnesses present at the time of the accident. These individuals can not only provide valuable details that can help the attorney understand more about the accident and what happened, but they can also provide helpful testimony that can be used to corroborate a legal claim.
7. When You Need Help Identifying All Sources of Compensation
Depending on the car crash, there may be more than one party to blame for the accident. In some instances, parties that were not even there can be blamed for the crash. For example, in a trucking accident, victims of a collision may be able to hold the trucking company or the truck manufacturer responsible for their injuries and losses and pursue compensation for this harm.
However, determining which parties can be held liable may require a detailed investigation. Fortunately, when you hire a skilled car accident attorney, these lawyers can handle this investigation on your behalf, check trucking logs, look into employment records, and figure out which parties can be held answerable for the injuries and losses you suffered.
8. When Your Loved One Passed Away Following a Car Crash
Although no amount of money will ever help you get over the hurt of losing a loved one, obtaining compensation after this devastating accident can help ensure you and your family are taken care of and that you obtain the justice your loved one deserves.
A wrongful death claim is a civil cause of action brought by the decedent's survivors after a loved one dies because of another person's reckless, negligent, or intentional acts. However, pursuing this suit is complex and requires detailed evidence and strong legal arguments.
If you lost a family member in a car accident, contact an experienced car accident attorney as soon as you can. These lawyers can help you determine whether you are able to pursue legal action after a wrongful death, the legal steps you should take next, and what needs to be done to help you fight for the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
9. When the Insurance Company Offers You a Settlement
While it may seem like great news when the insurance company offers you a settlement offer, in reality, you should be careful about accepting this amount until you have all the facts.
Remember, the insurance company does not want to ensure you get the most money you can. They only want to make money. As a result, it is common for these companies to provide a meager settlement offer shortly after a car crash in hopes that you do not review this amount or verify that it covers all of your losses.
However, usually this amount will barely cover any of your current expenses, let alone future bills, costs, or treatments. Worse yet, if you accept this amount, you cannot go back to the insurance company and ask for more money, even if the expenses stem from the original accident. Once you accept the settlement offer, it is final, and you are stuck with the money you received.
For these reasons, before you accept any offer from the insurance company, consider discussing the amount with a knowledgeable car accident attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can review the settlement amount and figure out if it is fair to you and your needs. If it is not, these lawyers can go back to the insurance company and fight for a just offer.
10. When You Have Questions Regarding Your Legal Options
After a car crash, you likely have numerous questions about your legal options and the remedies you can pursue. Thankfully, you will not have to figure out these answers alone. With an experienced car accident attorney fighting for your rights, this legal professional can go over all your questions and concerns and provide you with the information you may need to decide what actions you want to take next. These attorneys can also provide the legal support you require during this challenging time.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today and Get the Answers You Need
If you or a loved one were involved in a motor vehicle accident due to another person's wrongful actions, consider discussing your case with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can help you better understand whether you have a viable case, the legal options you can pursue, and the financial remedies you deserve.
Furthermore, once hired, these attorneys can also:
- Investigate your collision and secure evidence that can help your legal claim.
- Hire experts to validate your case, such as medical experts, accident reconstructionist specialists, and financial specialists.
- Determine who was responsible for your accident, and hold all those liable accountable for your losses and injuries.
- Handle all the negotiations and discussions with the other party, including the insurer, and fight for the money you need.
- Take your case in front of a judge or jury if the other side is not willing to negotiate fairly, and fight for maximum compensation.
If you want further information regarding how a car accident lawyer can help you, contact a personal injury law firm in Philadelphia today to discuss your case for free.
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Gabriel Levin - Owner/Founder
Gabriel Levin is a highly experienced and credible attorney with over 10 years of practice in Pennsylvania. Known for his tenacity, he has represented clients in a wide range of civil matters, trying hundreds of cases. He prepares each case as if it will go to trial, ensuring meticulous attention to detail.
Unlike many firms that delegate tasks, Levin personally handles every aspect of a case and maintains open communication with clients throughout. He has secured millions in compensation, making him a reliable choice for those seeking legal representation.
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