Have you recently been in a car accident? If you have, then you are not alone. In the US, there are on average 6 million car collisions every year.
One question you may ask yourself is “should I hire a car accident attorney?” The answer to that question is this: it depends. If there are certain circumstances in your case, then hiring a good accident lawyer is the best move you can make.
You can read more here on how to decide if you need a car accident attorney to help you with your accident claim. Decide if you need a legal professional to help you pilot the legal system to help represent your interests. Then if necessary, you can focus on more immediate tasks like seeking medical treatment to reclaim any loss to your overall health.
What Is A Car Accident?
Believe it or not, there is a legal definition of a car accident. This definition might have legal consequences attached to them as well. To better understand these consequences, consider this definition of a “car accident.”
Car accidents are sometimes called “motor vehicle” or “traffic collisions.” Car accidents happen when motor vehicles collide or strike either a pedestrian, an object or another vehicle.
Licensed drivers are required to demonstrate what’s called a legal duty. A driver’s legal duty means that the driver promises to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicles responsibly around pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers.
Disputes will arise if the driver and victim disagree on whether the driver was negligent or created an intentional act to avoid complying with their legal duty.
What Does A Car Accident Attorney Do?
A car accident attorney provides legal representation to both defendants and victims when a dispute arises. Car accident lawyers specialize in tort law. They use this expertise to navigate the justice system or negotiate with insurance companies.
When Do I Need To Hire A Car Accident Attorney?
Both defendants and victims may find themselves needing a car accident lawyer to help represent their side of a dispute. If you were just in an accident (as either the driver or victim), it’s important to act as soon as you can after the collision occurs. Consult an accident attorney if these circumstances apply to your case:
Conflicting Medical, Police Or Accident Reports
If there is any inconsistent information contained in either the medical, police, or insurance reports on your case, your claim may be denied. A car accident attorney will perform their own investigation into your case. In addition, they will submit your report as well as theirs to compare what’s found.
If you see any records contradicting your own experiences it’s best to call an accident attorney right away.
Dispute Over Who Is Responsible
Most US states are considered at-fault states. This definition refers to state laws that state that injured persons are only 49 percent responsible for their accident if they expect to receive money damages. When disputes arise over these fault factors, the case will most likely reach the courts for either a judge or jury to finally decide.
You should contact an accident lawyer whether you are the victim or a defendant in the matter. An accident attorney can help you decipher your state’s specific laws to see if your case is eligible.
Serious Injuries That Require Hospital Treatment
If you have significant injuries from your accident, you could expect to incur significant hospital costs while you recover. You might also face ongoing medical care well into the future. Costs for this kind of medical treatment are high.
These same concerns apply if you are accused of injuring another person. That person may be unable to return to their current job and lose their income as a result. They may also pay high fees to retrofit their homes to accommodate their new health condition.
Both of these scenarios represent high dollar pay-outs to one party or another. That’s why automobile accident attorneys can help with securing these pay-outs and setting up payment schedules that ensure the transfer of funds.
Multiple Injured Persons
It’s best to contact a car accident attorney if many people are injured in the same accident that you are. This is especially true if those injured are from the same family. Multiple statements and medical records submitted during a legal proceeding can complicate your case outcome.
An accident lawyer knows how to manage these multiple cases and testimony to successfully defend your interests.
Loss Of Companionship And Emotional Suffering
Injuries can create serious emotional distress as well as physical suffering. This is especially true for children involved in a car accident that caused either death in their family or significant injuries. This type of damage is commonly called pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering is a legal term that refers to both emotional and physical stress that is caused by a car accident. Many US states will allow these victims to seek recovery for this emotional damage.
Injury Caused By Dangerous Road Conditions
Accidents that happened because of dangerous road conditions may involve multiple parties to your injury claim. If you’re the victim in an accident in one of these public areas, you’ll file your complaint with a county or city governmental office. An accident lawyer can help you draft and submit this claim.
If you cause injuries to someone else in these public areas, both you and the government office responsible for maintaining safe roads may be at fault. That means there may be multiple disputes filed by the injured party in court. Automobile accident attorneys can track the many proceedings that will most likely occur to make sure you are well represented.
So What Is The Next Step?
Does your car accident case include any of these same conditions? If so, then hiring a car accident attorney is the best move you can make. These legal professionals can guide your claim through the justice system.
If you hire an accident attorney, find someone who has litigation experience. Their torte law experience will be necessary in case you can’t negotiate any settlements. If you can’t negotiate, your case moves forward to the trial process.
Don’t forget to check out our website for other helpful information on automobile accidents. Call our office for a free-consultation at (800)674-7854.
