How a Lawyer Can Help After a Car Accident - Part One

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Jason Krebs

People often tell me that contacting a lawyer after an accident can be intimidating.  Many people either don't want to look like they lack knowledge and need help, or they don't want to appear to be trying to sue just for the money. Neither reason should prohibit an injured person from contacting an accident attorney and I'll cover why that is so in this two part series.

A Car Accident is Not a Do-It-Yourself Project
Calling an experienced car accident lawyer to represent you after an accident is like calling in a licensed electrician to do major wiring in your house.  Sure, you can swap out a light fixture, but adding wiring to a new wing of your house is completely different. You not only want it done so it works, but beyond that, you also you want it to be safe.  

Similarly, a lawyer can handle all the issues after your car accident so that things are not just taken care of, but that you are also safe.  By safe I mean, you have all of your medical expenses covered, including any that may occur in the future related to your current injuries; you recover all expenses related to damage to your car or other property; you recoup any lost wages; and you are compensated for your pain and suffering.  Just as you don't want the electrical wiring to cause a fire down the road, after a car accident you want to be sure there are no surprise expenses in the future.  A car accident lawyer can work with the insurance company and ensure all details are covered and can ensure your rights are protected. 

Get More Respect with a Lawyer
Using a good car accident attorney immediately makes the insurance company realize they can't take advantage of you. Without a lawyer, the insurance company will twist your words and use something innocent that you said to justify a reduction in the compensation offered (link: See what not to say to your insurance company); will bully you into taking a lower offer; or will just wear you down by being unresponsive and unwilling to negotiate.  Conversely, with a car accident lawyer investigating the accident, using expert witnesses, controlling the flow of information, submitting proper medical reports, negotiating from a position of knowledge and strength, and using the legal system as leverage, the insurance company has less power and control.  This can result in better compensation for you and nothing being overlooked or missed.

Use Your Energy to Get Well
Sure, you could deal with the insurance company yourself, but it can get complicated and time consuming and as mentioned, you won't get as good of a deal.  Instead of worrying about all the details and getter frustrated with the insurance company, use your energy to get well, get back to work and get back to your family.  Let a lawyer chase down the necessary documents and information about the accident and your injuries and argue with the insurance company while you get your life back.  

In Part Two, I'll cover the other reason people hesitate to call a lawyer after a car accident--they don't want to look like they just want money.

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