Car Accidents Lawyer
The aftermath of a car accident is an overwhelming life episode, especially when it entails serious injuries, financial losses, and legal matters. A car accidents lawyer can help you in this dark time by navigating the legal processes with you, protecting your rights, and ensuring you get fair compensation.
Focus on your recovery during your car accident case with Sweet Lawyers! Let our team of expert car accident attorneys take on your case to make sure you’re paid well and get the justice you deserve.
A Closer Look into the Work of a Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident lawyer represents people involved in vehicle collisions and focuses on cases where victims want to be paid for their injuries and other losses. While a personal injury lawyer takes on a wide range of injury cases, such as medical malpractice, slips, falls, and workplace accidents, a car accident attorney knows the nuances of motor vehicle accidents, maneuvering insurance policies, and traffic laws.
Here’s how these lawyers help car accident victims:
Investigation
Car accident lawyers investigate your case by compiling medical records, police reports, witness statements, and photographs from the accident. They can strengthen your case with the information they have. They’ll go over every factor of the accident, such as road conditions, driver behavior, and vehicle defects, to determine who’s at fault.
Negotiation
Experienced car accident lawyers can talk and negotiate with insurance companies to secure a big payout for their clients. Sometimes, the insurance company will give you a low offer and pressure them to accept it.
However, the lawyer ensures that the victim will be compensated fairly for the medical bills, lost wages, property damage, emotional damage, and vehicle repairs the accident caused.
Litigation
The lawyer goes to litigation if a settlement isn’t possible through negotiations. They will represent you in court, present all the compiled evidence, and argue your case before a jury or a judge.
The litigation process can give you the highest compensation possible by establishing the other party’s liability and showing how the accident changed your life.
What Causes a Car Accident?
Car accidents can happen at any time with a sudden swerve of the steering wheel. They’re traumatic events that can leave a lasting impact on your memory.
The common causes of car accidents include:
- Distracted Driving: Texting, adjusting the radio, and munching on some snacks take your attention away from the road.
- Drunk Driving: Being drunk after a night of enjoyment is risky. Alcohol can blur your coordination and judgment when you’re on the road.
- Reckless Driving: Tailgating, ignoring traffic signals, and weaving through traffic can cause car accidents.
- Speeding: Driving above the speed limit minimizes your control and reaction time when something happens on the road.
- Driver Fatigue: When you’re drowsy while driving, there’s a higher chance you might get into a car crash.
- Weather Conditions: Ice, snow, fog, and rain can reduce visibility and make the roads slippery.
- Mechanical Failures: Blown-out tires, faulty brakes, and engine problems can increase the likelihood of a car accident.
Following traffic rules, maintaining your vehicles, and focusing on the road can prevent accidents.
Common Car Accident Injuries
These are the injuries you could sustain after you get into a car accident:
- Broken Bones: Your ribs, legs, and arms could get fractured due to impact.
- Whiplash: This neck injury happens when your head is jerked forward and backward during an accident. It strains your neck muscles and ligaments.
- Cuts and Bruises: Debris and shattered glass can cut your skin or hurt you anywhere in your body.
- Head Injuries: You can sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI) when your head hits the dashboard, window, or steering wheel. TBI may cause short-term problems in brain function, and the serious ones can lead to death.
- Internal Injuries: Collisions can cause internal bleeding in the liver, lungs, and spleen, which may need prompt medical attention.
- Chest Injuries: Hitting the steering wheel can bruise your chest, break your ribs, or damage your internal organs.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Sudden movement during impact can cause sprains and strains, damaging muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- Spinal Injuries: The spinal cord and nerves get damaged after the accident due to the impact, which can lead to paralysis if it’s severe.
What to Do After a Car Accident
You should take these immediate steps after the accident:
Seek Medical Assistance
Make sure you and the others are safe after the accident occurs. If you can, check for injuries and report the accident to emergency services so they can provide medical assistance.
After assuring your safety, document the scene by taking photos of the accident’s environment. Note anything that might add weight to your car accident claim later.
Collect Evidence
Evidence is a crucial part of the post-accident episode. Focus on taking photos of the points of impact, evident signs of damage, and all the vehicles involved. Get contact information from any witnesses who were present at the scene, as their statements can support your case. Obtain a police report to document details that may help determine liability and settle any claim.
Get Medical Documentation
Seek medical attention even if your injuries aren’t clear yet. A medical professional will document any injuries that arise from the accident and evaluate your condition.
This documentation helps treat your injuries and provides records connected to the accident, which is important for potentially pursuing legal actions and dealing with your insurance claim. Keep a record of all your medical bills, treatments, and the impact of your injuries after the accident to present a viable case in court.
Call a Lawyer and Insurance Company
Notify your insurance company about the accident and give accurate information to avoid discrepancies that can complicate the processing of your insurance claim. Call a car accident lawyer to help you with legal and insurance complexities.
How to Find the Right Car Accidents Lawyer
Choosing the best car accident lawyer can help you achieve a positive outcome in this legal journey. Here’s how:
Gauge Experience in Car Accident Cases
The experience of a lawyer specializing in handling car accident cases can assure you that yours will be well taken care of. Your chosen lawyer should understand the intricacies of these cases. Their background can determine the depth of their knowledge of laws and procedures in personal injury.
Research the Lawyer’s Record
A lawyer’s record of successful settlements and court wins is an excellent indicator of their capability to win your case. Research their performance in past cases to gain valuable insights into their effectiveness and the chances of getting favorable results for clients. Ask the lawyer about how the previous cases went to assess whether they’re the best fit for your predicament.
Check Reviews and Referrals
Read online reviews of the lawyer to evaluate their reputation. Look for testimonials that could detail their professionalism and communication skills. Positive feedback from former clients can make you confident that the lawyer can effectively work on your case.
If applicable, ask for referrals from your family and friends who had a similar experience with the lawyer. They might have a few things to say about the lawyer.
Determine If They Have Connections
Your lawyer should have access to medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts. These people can establish an excellent case with substantial evidence and expert testimony, bolstering your case during negotiations and court trials.
Prioritize Communication and Transparency
Make sure the lawyer is communicative and can explain legal terms in simple words. They should also be responsive to your inquiries and be transparent about their fee structure. You can make informed and sound decisions when your lawyer is honest about their fees and their dealings with you.
Our Proven Track Record
Our clients can attest to the kind of work we do. We always do our best to prioritize their success and best interests, unloading their burden of dealing with the case head-on.
Carlos
Car accident
Client was a passenger in a family member’s car after both left a bar. Driver crashed the vehicle causing severe injury to client. Client came to us after several others firms passed on this case because they did not think they would win against the bar. However, we were able to place fault on the bar for serving alcohol to a minor, and settled the case for $1,000,000.00.
Godofred
Motor Accident
A motorcyclist was turning left when he was hit by a car who ran the red light causing a left clavicle fracture and rib fractures. By utilizing our client’s impact statement as well as our litigation strategy, and what our private investigator found about the defendant, defense raised their offer from almost $0 to the full policy limit of $250,000.00.
As a law firm, Sweet Lawyers’s 98% success rate speaks of its efficiency in handling clients’ various cases. Attorney Mark Sweet’s 40 years of experience in the legal field has built a solid foundation and trust among his clients.
Awarded “National Top 100 Trial Lawyers”
We Get Hired Because We win for our clients – Over 40 Years Experience – 100% Free Phone Consultations
All Awards Granted To Attorney Mark Sweet
Photo grabbed from Sweet Lawyers
Talk to a lawyer today if you or someone you know has been involved in a recent car accident and needs legal help.
Common Questions
The time to file for car accident claims depends on each state’s statute of limitations. You usually have two to three years from the accident date to file car accident injury claims. Failure to file within this window period can prevent you from seeking compensation.
This rule may be waived if minors and government entities are involved in car accident cases or if the injured party is incapacitated. The statute of limitations might be extended if the injuries from the accident weren’t apparent at first sight.
If the other driver has no insurance or if their coverage isn’t enough, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can protect you. UM/UIM can cover your lost income, medical expenses, and other damages when the driver who’s at fault doesn’t have enough insurance. It can be used for hit-and-run accidents, when the other driver can’t pay, or when their insurance can’t cover your expenses.
How long it takes to settle a car accident lawsuit can depend on whether the case goes to trial and its complexity. If both parties can agree on compensation, it might take several months to a year.
If the case is brought into court, it can take one to three years to settle it fully. Some factors that could affect the case’s timeline are evidence compilation, court schedules, negotiation processes, and medical treatment.
The state’s comparative negligence laws can determine the amount of compensation you can recover if you were partially at fault for the accident. In comparative negligence, the amount of compensation you’ll get is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
For example, if your total compensation is $30,000 and you’re 25% at fault in the accident, you’ll get $22,500.
Yes, it’s typically free to consult with a car accident lawyer about your situation.
March Your Way to Justice with a Car Accidents Lawyer
Car accidents can become life-altering events, depending on the extent of your injuries. They can put your life on hold temporarily while you’re recovering. During that phase, you need a car accident lawyer to handle all the legal work and get rightfully compensated.
Here at Sweet Lawyers, we know and understand the damage car accidents bring to your life physically, mentally, and emotionally. That’s why our team of veteran lawyers can protect your interests and rights during legal proceedings. They’re well-versed in personal injury law and have dealt with many car accident cases throughout their career. Our lawyers will advocate for you in court and work with you so you’ll receive justice.
Let us help you restart your life after the car accident. Message us today for any inquiries!