Getting into a car accident is often an overwhelming experience—especially when the collision wasn’t your fault. You might be dealing with significant pain and suffering on top of mounting financial expenses. As a result, you might wonder how to go about getting compensation from the responsible party.
This is where hiring an experienced car accident lawyer may be in your best interest. Ultimately, your attorney’s goal will be to maximize the amount of money you receive, whether through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Read on to learn about some of the primary benefits of hiring an attorney after a car accident.
Handling the Insurance Company
Most car accident cases are resolved through settlement negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Insurance companies make a profit by accepting premiums, not by paying large claims—they’ll do whatever they can to escape or minimize liability.
Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators, but so are car accident attorneys. If you hire a lawyer, they can handle all of the communications, negotiations and procedures related to your claim on your behalf.
Since insurance companies have entire legal departments on their side, hiring an attorney will even the playing field. A qualified car accident lawyer won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you and will help you make the most of your claim.
Access to Experts
As the injured victim, you must provide evidence in support of your claim. You’ll need to establish that the accident was the other driver’s fault as well as the extent of your damages. It can be difficult to submit enough proof without assistance from an attorney.
Car accident lawyers can hire leading experts as needed to help you through the process. An accident reconstructionist may be able to assist in proving fault, for instance, while a forensic economist may help by demonstrating the extent of your financial losses.
Without this type of assistance, you might walk away with less money than you are entitled to under the law.
Protecting You From Blame
In almost every circumstance, the opposing party involved in your case will try to blame you for the car accident. If they succeed, your compensation could be reduced or even eliminated entirely based on the principle of contributory fault.
According to James D. Payer, an Orlando car accident attorney, most lawyers know how to deal with these kinds of allegations. They can respond to accusations of shared responsibility effectively, working to ensure you recover the maximum compensation available.
Giving You Time To Recover
You probably have a lot on your plate after being involved in a car accident, especially if you’ve suffered a serious injury and have had to take time off work. The resulting impacts of a crash can impact you and your family financially, mentally, physically and emotionally—all at the same time.
Pursuing a legal claim on top of these consequences might seem highly difficult, if not impossible. If you have legal representation, your attorney can take care of your claim from start to finish while you focus on your health and well-being.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Car Accident Lawyer
At the end of the day, it’s almost always best to at least seek legal advice after a car accident. Most car accident attorneys offer free consultations, so you can have a lawyer review your case and offer some initial guidance at no cost.
In addition, the majority of lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. They don’t charge by the hour or for a flat rate, and you won’t have to pay them anything upfront. Instead, they only receive attorney’s fees if they successfully handle your case.
With this payment system, you can afford top-rated legal services even if your collision has placed you in difficult financial circumstances. Further, your attorney will be incentivized to increase your claim’s value as much as they can.
James D. Payer is the founder of Payer Personal Injury Lawyers. As an Orlando personal injury lawyer, James D. Payer has over 28 years of experience handling all personal injury matters. Contact his Orlando law office today for a free consultation.