What Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me With?
If you are in a car accident, you may wonder if a car accident lawyer can help you win your case.
Yes, they can. A car accident lawyer can help you with many things that will result in you recovering all of the compensation you deserve if someone injured you in a crash.
A car accident lawyer can help you with various legal matters relating to the accident, including dealing with underinsured or uninsured motorists, multiple parties, the vehicle owner if they are not the driver, or the city that maintains the road. In addition, a car accident lawyer can help you file suit against the company that owned the vehicle.
They can also help you figure out who the responsible parties are, whether it is the driver, the vehicle owner, a property owner, or even the city that maintains the road. With their help, you can ensure you get the compensation you deserve. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you with your case.
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Understanding Your Rights After a Car Accident
When involved in a car accident, it is important to understand your rights. After a vehicle accident, it is important to remember that regardless of who was at fault, you still have the same rights while the investigation is ongoing. One of those rights is to have an attorney. Your attorney can protect other essential rights, too.
The Right to Remain Silent
One of your most important rights is the right to remain silent. This is just as true in a potential personal injury case as in a criminal case. Just because your Miranda rights are not read to you does not mean that you do not have a right to exercise them. In car accidents, what you say can and will be used against you. Therefore, it is best to remain silent until you have an advocate or lawyer.
The police may try to get you to sign away your rights after a car accident and attempt to question you, but as soon as you ask for an attorney, they must stop. Anything they try to get you to say after that is typically not admissible in court.
Many people think it is okay to talk to law enforcement or an insurance adjuster if they are not at fault for the accident. The reasoning of many is that, after all, they truly did not cause the accident, and they rightfully deserve compensation.
But if you are the victim of a vehicle accident, you need a lawyer to help ensure that words do not get turned around and that you do not say anything that the other party could use against you. It is just as essential to hire a lawyer if you are innocent—if not more so.
Your rights also include seeking compensation for damages sustained in a car accident. A qualified lawyer can help negotiate a fair settlement that covers all types of damages incurred from the accident. This includes emotional damages, medical costs, lost income, and more. It is vital to have an experienced lawyer who can protect your rights and help ensure you receive a just settlement.
The Right to an Attorney
If you are involved in a car accident, hiring an experienced attorney is crucial. An advocate on your side who understands the law and the nuances of car accident cases can help your case. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal process, fight for your rights, and pursue the maximum possible settlement.
You can seek many types of damages in a car accident case, such as medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. An attorney can help you understand your rights and determine your situation’s best course of action. Additionally, they can advise on how to proceed and represent you in court or during settlement negotiations. With the right lawyer, you can have confidence that your case will be handled professionally and with a suitable outcome in mind.
The Benefits of Hiring a Knowledgeable Car Accident Attorney
When you are involved in a car accident, you need an experienced attorney who can provide legal support to protect your rights. Enlisting the help of a car accident lawyer comes with many benefits. It can make the difference between a successful and unsatisfactory outcome.
A qualified car accident lawyer can advocate for you during the legal process. They can provide sound legal advice, negotiate for a fair settlement, represent you in court if necessary, designate someone to investigate the case, assess damages, and call on professionals to testify as an expert witness if required.
An
Insurance Research Counsel study found that accident victims who hire a lawyer usually walk away with more money than those who choose to represent themselves. This study also found that a paid personal injury attorney spearheaded the shortest cases.
An attorney understands all types of damages that may be recoverable and can help ensure you receive appropriate compensation for medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other costs related to the accident. Hiring a car accident lawyer may at first seem like an unnecessary expense. However, in the long run, it is likely more expensive not to.
Many people are concerned about their ability to pay a retainer after an injury, especially if medical bills pile up and you have missed work due to your injury. Most personal injury lawyers know this reality, so many of them will work on a contingency basis. Contingency-based payment means you do not have to pay any fee if they cannot provide enough evidence or convince the jury to rule in your favor. Only when they win your case are they then paid.
What Does a Car Accident Attorney Do?
When you have been involved in an accident, hiring a car accident lawyer can help you obtain a suitable possible outcome for your case. Car accident attorneys are professionals who understand the law and can effectively advocate for you to ensure that you receive fair compensation for any damages you have suffered.
Communicate With the Other Driver’s Insurer
Your car accident attorney will communicate with the other driver’s insurance company to help ensure that all relevant evidence is collected and that you meet all deadlines. They will also be able to answer questions from the other party’s insurer about the accident so that you can focus on healing and recovery.
Obtain Necessary Evidence Concerning Fault for the Accident
Your car accident attorney will obtain evidence such as police reports, photos of the accident scene, witness statements, medical records, and more. This evidence will help build your case and prove that you are not at fault for the accident.
Organize Your Medical Records and Bills
Your car accident attorney will work with your healthcare providers to make sure they provide the medical information you need so that you can prove the damages in your claim. They will organize and present this evidence to prove liability and damages.
Negotiate a Satisfactory Settlement With the Insurance Adjuster or Defense Attorney
Once all evidence is gathered and organized, your car accident attorney will negotiate with the insurance adjuster or defense attorney to obtain a satisfactory settlement for you.
File Additional Lawsuits
Depending on your case, you and your car accident attorney may decide to file additional lawsuits against other parties—especially if your damages are more than what the insurance limits will pay.
In these situations, your car accident attorney may file a lawsuit against the vehicle owner if someone other than the driver responsible owned the vehicle. If the liable vehicle was a company vehicle, you could collect damages from the vehicle driver’s employer.
How Can an Attorney Help Me After a Car Accident?
A lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement and will represent you in court if necessary. They can help ensure that they have all the evidence needed to present a convincing argument on your behalf. While going over the evidence, they will also assess the full extent of your damages and calculate a fair settlement amount that they aim to fight for. Types of damages may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering.
If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may need to seek compensation from different or multiple parties. They can help you pursue a
claim through your insurance policy, file a personal injury lawsuit, and even seek damages from the vehicle owner if they are not the driver. They can also help you take action against the city that maintains the road if the accident occurred on public property.
By hiring an experienced car accident attorney, you can rest assured that you receive the quality representation and that they will work to protect your rights throughout the process.
What Types of Damages Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me Seek?
When you are involved in a vehicle accident, you may be able to recover damages from the responsible party. There are five main types of damages that you may be entitled to receive. These include medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and wrongful death.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses refer to any costs incurred from seeking medical attention due to injuries from the vehicle accident. This could include hospital bills, doctor visits, rehabilitation services, or prescriptions.
Property Damage
Property damage refers to any destruction or damage done to your personal property resulting from the vehicle accident. This could include the cost to repair or replace your car and damage to other property.
Lost Income
Lost income refers to any income or earnings you may have lost due to an inability to work caused by a vehicle accident. You may be able to recover this as a result of being unable to work due to your injury.
Pain and Suffering
You can seek compensation for physical and emotional suffering due to the vehicle accident. This includes past and future pain and suffering and any mental anguish caused by the accident.
Wrongful Death
If a loved one dies in a vehicle accident, you may be able to seek damages for wrongful death. Wrongful death damages are usually sought in addition to other damages, such as funeral costs and lost income.
Why You Need the Help of an Experienced Attorney After a Car Accident
If you are injured in a car accident and suffer injuries or other losses, you deserve compensation from the driver at fault. Never try to represent yourself. Hiring a car accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve from insurance companies or the negligent party responsible for the accident.
An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal process, protect your rights, and help you get the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries and other losses.
An experienced, local
personal injury lawyer can provide valuable advice and assistance when dealing with those liable for your injuries or for a personal injury lawsuit—a civil suit on negligence against the company that owned the vehicle. Your attorney will evaluate your case to determine if you have any grounds for filing a claim. They will also review the types of damages you can claim.
Do not go through this process alone. Make sure you get the compensation that you hire a qualified and experienced car accident lawyer in your area that will hold the responsible party accountable to ensure you receive fair and just compensation for your injuries and losses.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Edward M. Bernstein, Esq. is the owner and founding partner of Edward M. Bernstein & Associates, and one of the most recognizable figures in Nevada. Ed is one of state’s premier personal injury attorneys and has hosted The Ed Bernstein Show for over 31 years. He has served the Las Vegas community for decades with dozens of community appointments and terms of service. In the year 2000, he was Nevada’s Democratic nominee for the United States Senate.
Ed received his B.A. from Long Island University in 1971 and his J.D. from Widener University in 1975. Since then, Ed’s professional accolades include numerous publications, honors and awards, court appointments, and has been named one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.