Being in a car accident is a stressful experience. Whether you have minor or more serious injuries, you may wonder if you should hire the best car accident attorney to handle the claim. Don’t attorneys cost a lot? Will the attorney really get you more money? Let’s take a lot at a few key points that determine if you need a lawyer.
The most important issue is when you are seriously injured. Serious injuries mean anything that requires you to recover for more than a few days. If you will be going to the doctor or physical therapy for weeks of follow-up, you have more serious injuries and should always hire the best car accident attorney to represent you. Your injuries will require thousands of dollars of treatment, so you know it is in your best interest to have an attorney.
If you attempt to negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster on your own, you will almost always leave money on the table. Why? Most of us are not skilled negotiators, and insurance companies negotiate every day. You want to have an attorney who knows how to negotiate with the insurance adjuster.
Next, if you are not a medical professional or work in personal injury law, you probably do not know what your injuries are worth. For instance, if you herniated a disc in your back in the accident, you could have months of pain and physical therapy. You could even need surgery! You probably will not know these things when you are first injured. Negotiating with the insurance company on your own is probably going to be a mistake.
Another reason to hire the best car accident attorney is when there is severe property damage. Are there thousands of dollars of damage to your car? Was it totalled? It is often beneficial to have a car accident lawyer negotiate for you.
After the accident, you should see your doctor right away and will know how serious your injuries are. The doctor can probably advise if it is worth hiring a lawyer or not. Most attorneys offer free consultations, so it never hurts to talk to them.
Last, keep in mind that the best car accident attorney works on a contingency fee basis. Many injured parties fear what the lawyer will cost, but car accident lawyers do not bill by the hour, as many other attorneys do.
Instead, they are paid a portion of your settlement or award at the conclusion of your case. In many cases, you will pay between 33% and 40% of the settlement to the attorney for their fee and expenses.
That may sound like a lot of money, but car accident lawyers are skilled in getting their clients more money for lost earnings, medical costs, and pain and suffering. Even though your attorney will take part of your settlement or award, you will almost always wind up with more money by hiring an attorney.
