When Should I Get An Attorney for a Car Accident?
After you get into an accident, there are a few things that you need to do right off the bat. The first, and absolute most important, is to make sure that you get all of the medical attention that you need for your injuries, to avoid future complications and get started on the path towards recovery as soon as possible.
If another driver is responsible for the accident, then you will need to file a car accident claim with their car insurance company, at which point the company will assign a claims adjuster to your case. Many people believe that the best time to hire a car accident attorney is before even filing your claim.
Many personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee, meaning that the client will not pay for the services unless they win their case. This means that whether you hire an attorney immediately, or if you wait until the insurance adjuster completes their claim, you will not be paying more for their services. However, you will be benefiting from the help of an experienced legal professional through this process, which is when a lot of concrete evidence and information about your accident is recorded and the insurance company begins to understand the entire picture around the crash.
Since this period of time can be so crucial, it makes sense to work with someone who is familiar with the process as soon as possible.
Hiring A Car Accident Lawyer
Once you have decided to hire an attorney, you will need to find one that works for you. Law firms that offer free initial consultations are a great place to start because you will be able to speak with a member of the team and have an opportunity to ask specific questions about your case at no cost. The hope is that you will know whether or not you would like to work with the law firm by the end of your consultation as well as leave with a better idea of what to expect for your case.
Once you hire an attorney, you can begin to focus exclusively on your own health and life, knowing that you have legal representation who is fighting on your behalf through this complex and frustrating process.
Finding An Attorney After a Claim Has Been Filed
If you decide that you would like to wait to hire an attorney until after you have filed your insurance claim, it is important that you understand the risks that you are accepting. When you wait to hire a lawyer, you are missing out on valuable time that could have otherwise been spent gathering information and calculating a fair settlement amount. If you bring an attorney in after the insurance company has made their offer, your lawyer will have less time to gather information on their end in order to determine the best path forward in negotiations.
An insurance company’s first offer is simply the start of a series of negotiations, a series that you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed with if you do not have an attorney on your team. This stress can have a serious impact on your physical recovery from your injuries, while also making your chances of getting a fair settlement more difficult because of your lack of experience.