When you’ve been in a car accident, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with all the details – from deciding who was at fault to dealing with insurance companies and getting your car fixed. It’s tempting to think that you can do everything yourself, but there are a lot of pitfalls in trying to handle a car accident case on your own that could have been easily avoided with a qualified attorney. Here are 5 reasons why you may want to get a lawyer involved in your accident case right from the start.
1: There may be criminal charges against you.
If you’ve been in an accident, especially one that results in injuries or significant property damage, there’s often the possibility of criminal charges being filed against you. Depending on the seriousness of your collision, this can be anything from a minor misdemeanor that carries no jail time to felony charges that could result in prison time. If criminal charges are filed against you, it’s important to get legal help right away – both for your criminal case and for your civil car accident claims. As such, contacting a California car accident attorney is always a smart choice.
2: An insurance company may try to get you to settle your case early on.
Insurance companies are businesses, and they’re in the business of making money. That’s why it’s always best if you have an attorney involved in negotiations with insurance companies – because he or she will be able to make sure you get what you deserve without settling too soon for too little money. Insurance companies are trying to settle claims quickly and cheaply, so having an experienced California injury lawyer on your side will ensure you get the best settlement possible for your injuries or other damages.
3: You may not be getting all of your medical bills covered.
If you’ve been in a car accident, you know how expensive medical treatment can be. While your car insurance company may offer to help you cover some of your medical bills, they’re only required to offer you what the law requires them to offer. This can often leave a lot of money on the table that could have been used for your expenses. Having an attorney working for you will ensure all of your medical expenses are covered, including things like missed time from work and future medical treatment.
4: You might not get enough for your property damage claim.
When you’re talking about a serious accident that damages or destroys your car, it’s important you do everything you can to get all of your property damage covered. Your insurance company may want to negotiate with you, telling you that the accident wasn’t “that bad” or that your vehicle lost less of its value than you think it did. Having an attorney at this point will ensure that you’re fairly compensated for both the loss of your vehicle and for anything you had to pay out-of-pocket to fix or replace items in it.
5: You may not be getting all of your lost wages covered.
If you’ve been severely injured in a car accident, it’s important you get compensated for everything you have to pay out of pocket as a result of being unable to work. For example, if you are forced to take time off from work, your attorney will make sure that all of your lost wages are taken into account and compensated for with nothing left out.
