4 Reasons to Call a Personal Injury Attorney After Being Involved in a Car Accident [+ Infographic]
When you are involved in an automobile accident, many variables are set in motion that may not lean in your favor – even if you’re not the one at fault for the crash.
The first thing to do after an accident occurs is to tend to your own health and the health of everyone else involved in an accident. Seeking medical treatment is vitally important as your physical well-being should be addressed before anything else.
After that, even if the accident is minor, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to learn your legal rights and to determine whether or not you have a case. In most scenarios, contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer should be a high priority if any of the following apply to your situation:
- You suffered injuries in the collision.
- The crash caused a significant, permanent, or long-lasting injury – anything from broken bones to paralysis – or a fatality.
- It is unclear who is at fault for the accident.
- The crash involved other motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists.
- The collision occurred in a construction zone, school zone, or any other protected area.
- The police accident report does not accurately describe what happened at the accident scene.
- There are concerns regarding your insurance status, liability limits, or lack of auto insurance.
- You have been asked to provide medical records or a statement.
- Your insurance company is sending mixed messages, bringing up issues you weren’t aware of, or connecting you with their attorney.
- The insurance company has offered a low settlement that does not cover your full expenses related to the accident.
- The negligent insurance company refuses to pay you at all.
Even if your scenario doesn’t fit any of the descriptions above, it doesn’t hurt to seek a consultation with a car crash lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys – including the team at Sutton Slover Law – offer a free consultation with no strings attached. During the consultation, the attorney will listen to your story and then give you a straightforward, honest assessment of your case. From there, you can decide if your unique situation would benefit from hiring an attorney.
In this article, we will discuss the 4 most important reasons to call a personal injury attorney after a car accident.
1. A Personal Injury Attorney Can Protect You Receiving From Unfair Treatment and Lowball Settlement Offers From Insurance Companies.
Insurance companies have lots of money and legal resources at their disposal; they also have a default position of paying you as little as possible after a car crash. Insurance companies make money by collecting premiums, not by paying out claims. Therefore, they will rarely pay you the amount of money that you’re entitled to after a crash if they can help it. As a result, insurance companies often offer unfair compensation to accident victims in efforts to save money.
If you attempt to work directly with insurance without an attorney’s help, chances are the company will try to underbid you for the damage and you may be left with unpaid medical bills, property damage expenses, and more. Insurance adjusters are highly trained at negotiating insurance settlements and will do everything they can to minimize what they pay, even to the point of denying a valid claim.
While the insurance companies may act as though they have your best interest in mind, don’t be fooled! Insurance companies are looking out for their own best interests only, and they want you to accept the lowest settlement possible. The insurance company may also discourage you from hiring an attorney. They’ll tell you that hiring an attorney only makes things more complicated and that you can easily settle your case directly with them. Remember, they have their own interests in mind, not yours.
If you have an attorney involved, insurance companies are generally more cooperative. As such, having a personal injury lawyer represent you before the insurance companies can have a significant impact on your claim. Once involved, your car crash attorney will:
- Negotiate with your insurance adjuster
- Handle all details of your claim for you
- Help prepare a written or verbal statement that is carefully crafted to your benefit
- Represent your best interests and fight to obtain the compensation you deserve
At The Law Offices of Sutton T. Slover, our knowledgeable car accident team is ready to fight for your fair compensation against the insurance companies. As an Atlanta based auto accident law firm, The Law Offices of Sutton T. Slover has a skilled team who are ready to deal with the in’s and out’s of both local and corporate insurance companies. Most of the time, a proper settlement can even be reached out of court. Call us today at 404-585-3583 to receive a free consultation with a member of our reputable auto accident law firm.
2. Many Car Accident Injuries Don’t Reveal Themselves Until Later and a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Prevent Surprise Medical Bills.
If you have been in a car accident, injuries may be as minor as a few cuts and bruises, or as serious as paralysis or some other permanent disability. However, many people walk away from accident believing they are fine, only to find themselves experiencing pain and symptoms some time later. There are many injuries that may not produce symptoms initially but require medical care down the road. For example, internal injuries or spinal alignment injuries don’t always make themselves known right away. It is important to undergo a thorough medical examination immediately following a car accident if you believe you have been injured in any way. If you’ve already settled with insurance or waived your rights in some way, you may be stuck with a pile of medical bills with no help in paying them. Medical expenses brought about from a car accident many include (but are not limited to) any of the following:
- Physical and/or cognitive therapy
- Ambulance fees
- Consultations with health care professionals
- Permanent disability
By consulting an attorney after an accident, you have a professional in your corner who will help ensure you don’t give away your rights until you’re sure you’re okay.
3. After an Accident, You May Be Entitled To Receive Compensation From the Insurance Companies to Cover Expenses, as Well as Pain and Suffering.
After being involved in an automobile accident, many people mistakenly believe the other party (or their insurance company) is simply responsible to cover all of their medical bills or replacement costs for their damaged property. However, there are several types of damages you may claim in a personal injury lawsuit after being involved in an auto accident. While claims for medical expenses are key among these, you may also be entitled to other benefits such as loss of pay from work, diminished employment opportunities, emotional distress, or long-term physical suffering (also known as, pain and suffering).
Pain and suffering damages are based on the type of injury incurred, the seriousness of the pain suffered, and the prognosis for future pain associated with an auto accident injury. Pain and suffering may also include mental and/or emotional damage caused by an accident, such as anxiety or stress. To learn more about how pain and suffering is proven in court, visit our blog How is Emotional Pain and Suffering Proven in Court?
As a result of injuries, you may also suffer from lost wages after a car accident. This may include an inability to work due to physical therapy sessions, time spent in hospitals, problems with mobility, or other factors that prevent you from earning your usual wage.
These are just a few of the criteria taken into consideration when determining if compensation is available after a car accident. For a more in-depth look at personal injury damages check out our blog What Kind of Personal Injury Damages Can I Claim? It is important to contact an auto accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident so they can review your case with you. Hiring an attorney helps you ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve.
To answer any questions you may have about the process of receiving compensation during a personal injury settlement, visit our blog How To Receive Compensation For A Car Accident In Georgia or watch the video below from our weekly YouTube series, Q&A with an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney. In this video, our lead attorney, Sutton T. Slover covers all the information you need to know about how to receive compensation from a car accident.
If you have been injured in an automobile accident in Atlanta or the surrounding areas, contact The Law Offices of Sutton T. Slover today at 404-585-3583 so we can help you understand how you may be compensated for the harm you have suffered in your accident.
4. Many Car Accident Injuries Don’t Reveal Themselves Until Later and a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Prevent Surprise Medical Bills.
Remember, in an accident, the other party is looking for fault, too. If fault is unclear in an accident situation, sometimes the insurance companies will attempt to assign a percentage of the blame to each party, sometimes unfairly to you. If you were clearly at fault, the victim may try to accuse you of negligence in an attempt to get more money.
Often, one of the most complicated parts of a car accident injury claim is proving who is negligent. However, this is a very important part of every car accident claim. Parties involved may attempt to shift blame, making it difficult to prove exactly who is liable for the injuries sustained. An accomplished personal injury attorney will be able to sift through the evidence to determine exactly who caused your injuries and then build a strong argument on your behalf. This evidence can include:
- Consulting medical experts to validate the seriousness of your injuries
- Reconstructing the accident scene
- Obtaining the accident report
- Gathering your medical records from all of your doctors
- Interviewing witnesses
For more information on how fault is determined in an auto accident, read our full FAQ blog on the topic.
Our Atlanta Personal Injury Law Firm is Here to Help!
In any of these above scenarios, hiring an attorney to defend your interests just makes sense. Granted, there are minor accidents in which no attorney’s help is needed, you should never simply assume this is the case.
If you start to pursue legal action on your own and discover that it’s more complicated than you originally thought, have no fear – you can still get help from a personal injury attorney. Although, it’s best to start working with your car crash lawyer as soon as possible after your crash, an attorney can enter the process at any point to formulate a strategy to improve your odds of getting the best result possible.
A reliable auto accident lawyer can help you get the compensation and treatment you deserve after an accident. The road to recovery starts by calling The Law Offices of Sutton T. Slover for legal advice and representation. Let us help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve after a car accident related injury. If you’ve been involved in an accident, the team at Sutton Slover Law will evaluate your case for free to determine whether you actually need a lawyer. To receive a free consultation today, call 404-585-3583.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be constructed as legal advice on any subject. If you have been legal questions or concerns, it is best to contact a board certified attorney.