According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 95% of personal injury cases, including car accident injuries, are settled out of court, largely because it’s easy to apportion blame in such accidents. However, even if the at-fault motorist takes full responsibility for an accident, you should still hire a car accident lawyer due to several reasons. For instance, your attorney would be able to negotiate for a higher compensation on your behalf, something that you may not be able to do, especially if you lack the necessary knowledge and experience. Keeping this in mind, here are four situations where you should hire an experienced auto accident lawyer.
When Your Injuries are Severe
Whether you suffer minor or major injuries in a car crash, you should hire a lawyer to help you pursue the damages you deserve. Take note that even seemingly minor injuries can eventually develop into serious health complications that require expensive treatments and medications. Your lawyer will help you navigate the complex claims process and ensure that your compensation is high enough to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, legal costs, and other financial losses resulting from the accident.
When You’ve Suffered Emotional Distress
Unlike physical injuries, psychological injuries are generally more difficult to diagnose and quantify. This means that if you only suffer emotional damage in a car accident, you will likely need help proving that you’re indeed a victim who needs compensation. That’s where a car accident lawyer comes in handy. Having handled similar cases before, an experienced lawyer would be able to prove to the court that you suffered emotional trauma because of the car crash, and therefore, the defendant should compensation you accordingly. Symptoms of emotional distress after a car crash include, among others, high levels of anxiety and stress, depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
When You are the At-Fault Party
If you’re the at-fault motorist, you should seek proper legal representation as soon as possible, preferably before you talk to the authorities. This is because you may unknowingly implicate yourself further, making it difficult for your lawyer to prove the plaintiff’s fault in the accident, and therefore, minimize your liability. Whether you’re wholly or partially responsible for a car crash, a good car crash attorney can help you navigate a complex car crash claim.
When the Case Involves Liability
While determining who’s at fault for a car crash may be easy, calculating the cost of liability can be a daunting task. In case you’re partly at fault, the insurance adjuster will assign you a certain percentage of the blame. Without legal representation, you may be assigned fault or liability unfairly. To ensure this does happen, hire a car accident lawyer.
Conclusion
Four situations where you should hire an experienced person, like this car accident lawyer NY option, include when the case involves liability, when you’re the at-fault motorist, when you’ve suffered emotional distress, and when you’ve suffered any sort of bodily injuries. A good car accident lawyer will help you win the compensation you deserve, allowing you to return to your pre-accident lifestyle.