Long Island witnesses a significant amount of car accidents, and if it occurs, it becomes overwhelming to deal with the subsequent proceedings. The complexity of legal and insurance processes alone can be sufficient to bring on confusion.
This is where the expertise of Long Island car accident lawyers becomes crucial. They help unravel the muddles involved with filing complaints, dealing with insurance agents, and arranging medical expense settlements.
What should you do after an accident? Most importantly, you’ll want to know how your lawyer can help you in particular ways. We’ve compiled five questions that victims frequently ask, allowing you to have a better understanding of what is at stake and how your lawyer can help you recover.
1. Do I need an attorney after a car accident?
Maybe you will want to handle a car accident claim internally. Who needs all the lawyers when you know the facts, have the proof, and your injuries, right? That’s not true, because insurance companies only exist to make money from their policies, and at your expense if possible. When you sign the papers or settle, it may very well be too late to turn back the clock on the situation you have gotten yourself into.
A car accident lawyer, therefore, is your shield. They protect your rights and ensure you recover what you deserve, and it could be medical and hospital bills, loss of wages at work, or compensation for pain and suffering, among other things. Without a car accident lawyer, you will probably get shortchanged while going through a complicated and legalistic process.
2. What is the value of my claim?
The value of your claim depends on several factors: the severity of your injuries, liability, your medical treatment, and even the long-term effects of the accident. Determining a fair settlement can be tricky, especially when you’re dealing with doctors, insurance companies, and car repairs.
An attorney will help you analyze your case by considering the total cost incurred during your accident. They take into account immediate medical costs, potential treatments, emotional distress, and lost income-all factors that are hard to estimate on your own. Furthermore, they also consider long-term recovery costs, which might be more significant than one would have anticipated.
3. How long will the process take?
In reality, you may not even have your claim resolved on the spot, as you would so much like it to be. Claims originating from car accidents can run from months to years till their resolution. The process never moves as fast as we wish it to. The insurance companies will do anything in their power to stall or may sometimes negotiate. Sometimes it may take more time if the claim goes to court.
A car accident lawyer can speed up the process by taking care of all the important work, from gathering evidence to communicating with insurance companies. While they cannot guarantee a speedy settlement, they will do everything in their power to make sure that proceedings go as smoothly as possible.
4. What if I can’t afford to hire a lawyer?
One of the most common misconceptions is that it costs a fortune to hire an attorney. The reality is that most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This basically means that they do not get paid unless you win your case. This really makes legal help accessible to everyone, regardless of social status. Usually, the lawyer’s fee is a percentage of the settlement or award, so you only pay if you win.
If you are concerned about initial expenses, do not allow that to prevent you from obtaining legal counsel. With a contingency fee arrangement, the financial risk is minimal, and you will have professional assistance advocating for your rights.
5. What happens if the insurance company offers a settlement?
At some point, the insurance company may come to you with an offer. They might try to convince you it’s the best you’re going to get but don’t be too quick to accept. Often, these offers are much lower than what you’re actually entitled to. Your attorney will review the settlement offer carefully, advising whether it’s in your best interest to accept or continue negotiating. Acar accident lawyer knows exactly when an offer is too low and can advocate for a higher settlement that properly reflects the damages you’ve sustained.
