Is It Worth It to Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident?

If you were recently involved in a car crash, you might wonder whether it is worth it to get a lawyer for a car accident. Hiring experienced legal representation can be crucial for getting what you deserve. Serious car accidents can cause life-changing physical and emotional injuries with devastating consequences on your home life, career, and finances. Recovering adequate compensation for your damages can be far from straightforward, even if another is clearly at fault for the crash. 

However, an experienced car accident lawyer at Morgan & Morgan can protect your legal rights and assist with recovering damages such as medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, and others. We can gather the relevant evidence, build your case against the responsible party, and move your claim forward while you are recovering. Contact us today to find out if you are eligible for compensation.

Do You Have a Car Accident Case?

A car accident lawyer’s first task is to determine whether you have a case against another driver or another liable party. Getting hurt in a car accident does not necessarily give you the right to sue. The other party in your collision must have caused your accident carelessly or deliberately for you to have legal recourse. Some accidents are far from clear-cut, especially when several vehicles are involved. A lawyer will examine the circumstances of your accident and may engage investigators or accident reconstruction professionals to understand a complicated accident. 

If you got hurt in a car accident recently and are unsure whether you qualify for compensation, our car accident lawyers can advise you and move forward with a claim. 

A Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights After a Car Crash 

Crucial steps you can take to protect your legal rights after a car crash include seeing a doctor and gathering evidence of your accident and damages. However, your most important step could be contacting a car accident attorney as soon as possible after getting hurt in a car crash. 

An experienced car accident attorney at Morgan & Morgan can work on protecting your rights and building a comprehensive case right away. They can:

• Determine the facts of your accident
• Identify the liable party or parties in your car crash
• Communicate with the insurance company
• Secure a fair settlement 
• Present your case strongly and passionately at trial

Common Car Accident Injuries

If you suffered the following common car accident injuries or others, a car accident lawyer could help you collect damages. 

Whiplash

Whiplash is a classic car accident injury caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the head during impact. While whiplash is common in rear-end crashes, it can potentially occur in all types of car accidents. A whiplash injury typically develops in the hours and days after an accident, with pain increasing over time. If you are experiencing headaches or neck stiffness after a car crash, see a doctor immediately to evaluate your symptoms. 

Concussions

Like whiplash, a concussion may not develop symptoms until a few days after a car crash. While some concussions are mild, others can be severe and significantly affect brain function. If you suffer from memory loss, confusion, or headaches after a car crash, seek medical advice immediately.

Fractures

Bone fractures in the arms, hands, legs, and feet can be prevalent in car accidents. While broken bones are rarely life-changing injuries, they can cause prolonged absence from work and require expensive surgeries. 

Internal Injuries

Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding can be life-threatening. Since internal injuries are invisible, a prompt medical evaluation can be vital after getting hurt in a serious car accident. 

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Musculoskeletal injuries affect muscles, ligaments and nerves. Such injuries can be painful and require lengthy and costly rehabilitation therapies.  

Emotional Injuries

While we tend to concentrate on physical injuries, emotional injuries after car accidents can be highly damaging to an accident victim. Traumatic accidents can cause debilitating anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

All injuries from car accidents can cause a great deal of physical discomfort, emotional suffering, and ongoing medical bills. Moreover, victims could lose a considerable amount of income or may never return to their careers. 

If you need medical help or advice regarding your medical bills, lost income, and other damages, our car accident lawyers can help.

A Lawyer Can Prove Negligence in Your Car Accident

Handling a lawsuit on your own, while possible, can be full of pitfalls. To receive compensation, you will have to provide the necessary evidence showing the negligence of the other party. The four elements of a personal injury case include:

1. The other driver owed you a duty of care
2. They breached the duty by driving dangerously, for example
3. The breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injury
4. You have damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, or others)

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most accidents happen due to driver negligence or error. Negligent driving behaviors can include, among others:

• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Texting while driving
• Violating traffic laws
• Ignoring traffic signals and signs
• Driving recklessly and dangerously

Proving negligence of another driver can be a challenge. However, our car accident attorneys know how to prove your case and gather the evidence needed. We have dedicated our lives to fighting for the compensation injured victims and their families need to go on with their lives.

Why It Is Worth It to Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident

Knowing that another driver caused your crash does not guarantee that you will receive compensation for your injuries and expenses. The insurance company could simply refuse to pay your claim or reduce your payout. Therefore, it can be worth getting a lawyer who knows how to fight for the compensation you need after getting injured.

How a Morgan & Morgan Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Getting a lawyer for your car accident can be worth it, especially if you suffered significant injuries and damages. Our attorneys have helped countless accident victims recover costs for their present and future medical treatments and other expenses. We can:

Offer Legal Advice and Guidance
Our attorneys have the legal knowledge, track record, and experience needed to advise you expertly on your legal rights, options, and next best steps after a car accident. They can ensure you do not miss any essential deadlines in your state and determine the best timing for a personal injury lawsuit.

Calculate Your Economic and Non-Economic Damages 
Our seasoned attorneys can calculate all your costs and damages accurately, preventing you from accepting a lowball settlement offer. Economic damages, such as your actual medical costs, can be easy to tally up with medical statements. However, calculating your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, can be more challenging. Letting an attorney determine your damages can ensure that you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries. 

Communicating and Negotiating with the Insurance Company
Negotiating a fair settlement with an insurer can be tricky without adequate legal representation. Some insurers deny claims outright or employ manipulative tactics to discourage you from seeking the compensation you deserve. Do not let that happen. Our attorneys can negotiate strongly on your behalf and are not afraid to take an insurance company to court if they refuse to pay up. 

Representing You in Court
While most personal injury cases are settled before trial, sometimes you have to go all the way to recover your due. While self-representation is possible, you may leave money on the table without a car accident lawyer on your side. You may have a good case but still lose because you do not know the technicalities of filing a lawsuit or how to represent your case strongly in a courtroom.

Your Lawyer Could Help You Recover Compensation 

If someone else caused your accident and injuries, you should not have to carry the financial burden. The compensation you can pursue will depend on your circumstances but could include:

Healthcare Costs

You could receive the following medical costs and others:

• Hospital stays
• Physiotherapy
• Medical transportation
• Specialist appointments
• Home health aide
• Medical devices

Wage Loss 

If you need time off work to recover from your injuries, you could qualify for awards for any loss of income and future loss of earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering

Serious car accident injuries can cause great significant pain and emotional anguish. If you suffered severe or life-changing injuries, you could qualify for non-economic damages such as:

• Reduced life quality
• Physical pain and emotional distress
• Loss of a limb 
• Disability
• Scarring and disfigurement

How Long After a Car Accident Can I Sue?

How long you can sue after a car accident largely depends on the state you live in and whom you intend to sue. The time limits for filing personal injury lawsuits vary from one state to another. In Tennessee, Louisiana, and Kentucky, for example, accident victims typically only have one short year to file a lawsuit. Maine is on the other end of the spectrum. Here, individuals have up to six years to file a suit. Most other states fall somewhere in between these extremes. 

However, the time limits to file a suit could be lengthened or shortened due to various factors. For example, if you intend to sue a government body, some states require filing notice within 30 or 60 days after your injury. Missing deadlines can make it difficult or impossible for you to get justice and receive compensation. Therefore, if you got hurt in a car accident, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. One of our experienced car accident attorneys can walk you through your options and ensure you do not miss important deadlines.

Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer for a Fender Bender?

As a rule of thumb, car accidents resulting in significant physical injury, death, or other high damages generally warrant hiring professional legal representation. If you experienced a fender bender or other minor accident without injury or significant car damage, you might not need to hire a car accident attorney. 

However, since most car accident lawyers offer free consultations, why not discuss your legal rights with an attorney? Even minor accidents can result in unexpected expenses or injuries further down the line. You may feel fine immediately after the crash but later develop symptoms of an underlying injury. Moreover, an insurance company may deny or underpay your claim. In these cases, an attorney can help fight for a fair settlement. 

One of our seasoned attorneys or legal team members can advise you comprehensively in a free, no-obligation consultation. We will tell you honestly whether you could benefit from hiring a lawyer to fight for what you deserve.

What Happens if the Other Driver Was Uninsured?

Depending on your insurance policy, you could be covered under your own policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. However, if your expenses exceed your insurance cover or you do not have uninsured/underinsured coverage, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Our car accident attorneys can advise you on your options for recovering damages if an uninsured driver caused your accident.

How Do I Know Which Car Accident Lawyer Is Right for Me?

Finding the right attorney to represent you in a car accident case can take some time. However, look for an attorney who:

• Has a track record of successfully handling car accident cases
• Knows the traffic laws and regulations in your state
• Works on a no-win-no-fee agreement
• Offers free first consultations
• Is motivated and determined to fight for you

Our Car Accident Attorneys Are Ready to Fight for You 

It can be worth it to get a lawyer for a car accident. An injury lawyer cannot only help you recover compensation but can also be your best advocate and a shoulder to lean on during a challenging and difficult time. Morgan & Morgan understands that some car accident victims shy away from filing a lawsuit as they have a lot on their plate already. We want to help.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when you work with the largest personal injury firm in the country. We do not charge you a cent unless and until successfully recovering compensation for you. Contact us now to find out for free how our dedicated attorneys can help.