Car accident attorneys are incentivized to fight for maximum compensation on their client’s behalf. They also know the various tactics insurance companies use to evade liability and how to counter those.
A lawyer will visit the scene of your crash, review police reports, and interview witnesses. They will also examine the severity of your injuries and calculate your current and future damages.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies seek to maximize profits, often resulting in lowball settlement offers for claimants. An auto accident law firm protects against these tactics and helps you understand your actual costs from the accident. They also consult with experts, including investigators and accident reconstructionists, who work to show exactly how a crash happened. They also help you understand what evidence makes a stronger case, such as a driver’s history of traffic violations.
When building a claim, they consider your current and future medical treatment expenses, lost wages, emotional impacts, and other related costs. They may hire medical specialists to verify the severity of your injuries and assess any long-term consequences. Lastly, they know how to use the most substantial evidence to their advantage during the settlement negotiation process. Your accident reports witness accounts, medical bills and records, employment and wage loss information, and other supporting documentation are all included.
Legal Expertise
Lawyers for car accidents have the knowledge, expertise, and experience to assess the specifics of a case and establish who is at fault. They can also estimate non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, to ensure victims are fairly compensated for their suffering. In addition, they understand insurance laws and policies and deeply understand coverage limits. They can then use it to their advantage to assess and negotiate with the insurance company on behalf of accident victims. They know when to push back and how to negotiate to obtain the maximum compensation possible for their clients. A good lawyer will even work to reduce lien holder claims on personal injury settlements. Every dollar less paid to the lien holder is another dollar that can go toward the injured victim’s recovery.
Negotiating With the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company
Car accident attorneys are legally required to have your best interests in mind at every stage of the process, whether dealing with insurance companies or presenting your case to a judge or jury. They will serve as your advocate, ensuring that your side of the story is heard and you are compensated for all your losses. They will review evidence, including police reports, eyewitness accounts, and medical records, to strengthen your claim. They will also calculate your total damages, which may include special compensatory damages (e.g., cost to repair or replace your vehicle and other property, medical expenses, ongoing treatment, lost wages, future earnings, and more) as well as general compensatory damages (e.g., pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience).
An inadequate settlement offer from the at-fault party’s insurance provider could be an attempt to undercut you. Your attorney will negotiate aggressively, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your losses.
Filing a Lawsuit
Although many car accident claims are settled without the need for court, your lawyer must be prepared to take the case to trial if necessary. It is particularly true when an insurance company is not negotiating in good faith. When building your case, your attorney will review all available evidence. It includes obtaining a copy of your crash report and medical records and hiring accident reconstruction specialists to recreate the scene. In calculating your damages, they will also consider the accident’s effects on your emotional and financial well-being.
In addition, your lawyer will file a complaint with the appropriate courts and conduct depositions, where they ask questions of witnesses, police officers, and anyone else with information related to your claim. They will be aware of the various time limits that apply to your case and will ensure you file all essential paperwork within the specified period.
