If possible, it is wise to speak with a lawyer before you talk with the insurance company for the negligent driver. If the damage you sustained is minor, you may not need a lawyer. When you have minimal injuries, an experienced lawyer will advise that it is not in your best interest to retain an attorney, because there may not be enough money to recover damages to pay an attorney. We understand how to properly use the comparative negligence laws, which are critical in a car accident lawsuit. If you have suffered more serious injuries than just bumps and bruises, having an attorney on your side can make a huge difference. Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations to accident victims. You should always consult an experienced lawyer before you decide to file a case.
There is no scientific answer to exactly when you should and should not hire a lawyer to represent you in a car crash case. If you do not feel that you are able to handle your claim on your own, for any reason, you should consult with and hire an accident lawyer. There are no hard and fast rules about when you should or should not hire a lawyer if you suffered only minor injuries in the car accident and have only a property damage claim against the driver who caused the accident. This is because insurance companies typically do not try to reduce the value of a claim because they want to deceive you to recover a smaller amount of money.
Moreover, if you are seriously injured in a car accident, you will want to hire a car accident lawyer. There are situations when you can handle your own claim on your own. You may be able to handle your own claim if your injuries are not severe enough to require more than a few weeks of treatment (i.e. surgery), but if you do not need any major medical treatment, you should be able to handle that claim on your own.
Insurance companies do not like to play games with the amount that people are claiming for minor injuries. If your medical bills total less than $10,000.00, you may be able to settle the matter on your own without the help of a lawyer.
If you were seriously injured and/or if your treatment has lasted for more than a couple of weeks, it is probably time to call a personal injury lawyer. There are high chances that the amount of your claim will increase, and therefore insurance companies will try to minimize the value of your claim as much as possible. If you are dealing with medical bills that are over $10,000.00 or if you have a major injury, like a herniated disc or a broken bone, it is probably time to hire a lawyer.
Regardless of whether you are injured or how much your medical bills are, if you feel that you cannot handle the process on your own, it is time to speak with an experienced lawyer.
When plaintiffs are injured in an auto accident, their insurance company often tricks them into settling their claim right away. Some insurance companies offer to pay you quick – in my experience, around $500 to $2,000 – for your property damage. However, they will not offer any money more than that – there will be nothing for your medical bills, pain and suffering, or lost wages.