Why are car accidents so common? One might argue it’s primarily because of driver negligence, but that’s not always the case. Regardless of how careful a driver you are, your chances of getting into a car crash are one in 366 for every 1,000 miles driven. The reason behind this is fairly simple: You can’t control or even anticipate other drivers’ actions on the road.
After getting into a car accident, the first thing you’ll probably do is ensure your safety and seek medical help if need be. Depending on the severity of the crash, what comes next is a pocket-draining and potentially life-changing series of events as you try to get your life back on track.
If another party caused the accident, you can file a personal injury claim and get compensated. Unfortunately, the legal process is a grueling endeavor best left to lawyers, those experienced at dealing with it.
This article will explore some of the most compelling reasons you need a lawyer after a car accident and some of the benefits you stand to gain.
When Should You Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
You’re not legally required to hire a lawyer after a car accident. If you firmly believe in your abilities, you’re free to represent yourself at trial or negotiations. Unfortunately, this might prove difficult, especially for someone with no legal experience. If you were hit by a drunk driver with insurance, a lawyer can help ensure you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to by handling negotiations and legal complexities. Their expertise can also safeguard you from being taken advantage of by insurance companies.
In most cases, people who try to represent themselves end up getting only a fraction of the compensation they rightfully deserve. That’s because they lack the experience and legal expertise to effectively negotiate with insurance companies who take advantage of their situation to offer a less favorable amount.
If you are ever hurt in a car accident, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will help you gather all the necessary evidence, investigate the accident, and build a strong case. Ultimately, this will help prove liability, maximizing your chances of getting compensated. This is true even for accidents where you only sustained minor injuries and property damage.
Why Should You Hire a Lawyer Immediately After a Car Accident?
While you may not be required to hire a lawyer immediately after an accident, getting one as soon as possible presents a few benefits. Some of the most notable reasons why you should hire a lawyer immediately after an accident include:
Meeting Legal Deadlines
Car accident claims typically fall under personal injury claims, which have clear deadlines that you must adhere to lest you forfeit your claim. For instance, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in the state of Nevada is two years from the date the accident occurred. This means that you need to file a claim within the two-year period.
Besides the statute of limitations, there are other less-known deadlines that could hinder the success of your claim. For instance, most insurance companies require you to notify them of the crash as soon as possible.
Additionally, if a government entity is involved, such as the at-fault driver or government agency tasked with road maintenance, you have to meet “ante litem” deadlines. The Nevada Tort Claims Act (NTCA) stipulates that you must notify the appropriate government agency of any injury or harm within 180 days of the incident. Failure to notify the government might mean forfeiting your claim.
Evidence Collection and Preservation
One of the greatest challenges in any personal injury claim is proving liability. To prove liability, you need sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the at-fault party was negligent or failed to act reasonably, resulting in an accident.
CCTV footage is one of the most credible pieces of evidence you can provide. Unfortunately, most businesses erase their footage every 31 days, which means you only have a few weeks to get it.
Roadway evidence like skid marks, wheel gouges, and car accident debris can also serve as crucial pieces of evidence when determining the at-fault party. Like CCTV footage, they get erased fast, presenting the need to get and preserve them as soon as possible.
Personal injury lawyers are experienced in gathering and preserving evidence. As soon as you hire a lawyer, they’ll most likely visit the scene as soon as possible and preserve these pieces of evidence.
Medical Care
This is one of the most overlooked benefits of hiring a lawyer. If you don’t have medical insurance or a personal relationship with your doctor, getting quality treatment after an accident might prove challenging. However, an experienced personal injury lawyer may be able to point you in the right direction.
Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Lawyers bring a wealth of legal knowledge and experience to the table, maximizing your chances of getting compensated. Still, that’s not the only benefit you get from hiring an experienced lawyer.
Here are some of the most notable perks of hiring a personal injury lawyer.
Negotiating With Your Insurance Company
After a car accident, you’re likely to engage with an insurance company to get compensated. Unfortunately, getting fair compensation from an insurance company is an uphill battle that requires refined negotiation skills.
Experienced personal injury lawyers deal with insurance companies on a regular basis. They know the tricks these companies use to deny accident victims a fair amount. As such, they can leverage their vast experience to negotiate a substantial amount.
Proving Liability
Proving liability doesn’t just involve collecting the right evidence. You also need to tie the evidence to the at-fault party’s actions to demonstrate without reasonable doubt that they acted maliciously or recklessly, leading to the accident.
Determining the Value of Your Claim
A typical personal injury claim is worth way more than just the incurred medical expenses. It should also factor in other monetary and non-monetary damages, such as lost wages and pain and suffering. Without prior knowledge of claim evaluation, you may end up settling for a low amount.
Experienced lawyers can accurately determine the value of your claim, thereby helping you pursue fair compensation.
Lawyers Enable You to Pursue Your Claim Successfully
Hiring a lawyer after an accident is beneficial and vital unless you’re prepared to settle for lowball amounts. Lawyers bring a ton of experience and legal expertise to the table, enabling you to pursue your claim successfully and get fairly compensated.
