What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do and When Do I Need One?

A car accident lawyer is undoubtedly a car accident victim’s greatest legal advocate. The personal injury attorney that represents you after your car accident should be highly knowledgeable as it relates to car accident laws, or the legal rules that determine the party responsible for the personal and property damage that has resulted from an auto collision. This is particularly beneficial when you are going up against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Your car accident lawyer should also inform you about the statutes of limitations in your state that prevent you from filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver after a specific time period. You must file your lawsuit within two years of your car accident, depending on what state you live in. If you pass the deadline, you will not be able to file a lawsuit, but this along with other exceptions is something your attorney would explain to you.

Because knowing is half the battle, your car accident attorney is expected to use what he knows to file a lawsuit on your behalf. Although a lawsuit is not always necessary to do, the possibility of there being this serious kind of legal action provides the leverage an attorney can benefit from when negotiating a fair settlement. Of course, you can rest assured that your car accident lawyer will thoroughly prepare your case for trial if no settlement is able to be reached. 

Negotiating an insurance settlement as well as trying a personal injury lawsuit surely involves a lot of time, which is what a car accident attorney is equipped to do as he or she has handled all types of claims and worked with many different insurance companies. With experience obtaining the necessary evidence to support your claim, such as gathering police reports, witness statements, medical bills, and lost wage information, your attorney will be able to effectively organize the evidence and draft a detailed settlement demand letter to submit to the insurance company. Should you not be able to settle your auto accident case, your attorney can still file the necessary paperwork to begin a court case and deal directly with the defense attorneys while you focus on recovering from your injuries. 

Essentially, your car accident lawyer is by your side throughout the whole claims process including negotiations as well as in court should a lawsuit need to be filed. Standing before the judge, jury and other legal counsel, your lawyer will help you get fairly compensated for your pain and suffering. He or she will be ready to ask the right questions and investigate your case with the assistance of reputable experts. The bottomline is that you will likely receive a much fairer settlement if you hire a car accident lawyer rather than go it alone.

Best yet, since most personal injury attorneys operate under a contingent-fee basis, they only get compensated if a successful resolution to your claim was achieved. If you have been involved in a car accident in which you sustained serious long-term injuries, you will need an attorney to get the most desirable outcome for your case.