Should I Get an Attorney for a Car Accident?

Many people suffer due to vehicle accidents every single year. Being hurt in a car accident could lead to a range of injuries, from minor injuries with quick recoveries to more severe injuries with life-long impacts. 

But no matter how large or small the accident may be, when you find yourself dealing with an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be wondering, "Should I get an attorney after a car accident?" 

A car accident attorney is someone who assists you with the legal aspect of your case, including communication with the insurance company or filing suit against another driver for their negligence. 

Not every accident necessarily warrants contacting a personal injury lawyer. However, if you were hurt and may be owed compensation, a car accident attorney may be essential for helping you recover maximum benefits and compensation post-accident. 

Very serious car accidents have the potential to turn your life upside down: medical bills, a long and painful road to recovery, or missed time from work are just a few examples of the hardships you may face. Your decision to get an attorney for a car accident will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood of future medical expenses and other losses.

For more information, you can contact Morgan & Morgan, America’s largest injury law firm, for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

What to Know About Accidents in the United States?

Although cars get safer every year with new technologies, fatalities on U.S. roadways continue to climb. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 13 car accidents happen every single minute, generating over $474 billion in losses to the economy each year, according to the National Safety Council. 

Even when you take appropriate safety precautions to minimize your chances of being hurt in an accident, like practicing defensive driving, you cannot always fully protect yourself from these devastating injuries. In 2021, nearly 43,000 people died in vehicle accidents, and another 4.8 million were seriously injured in automobile collisions. 

What to Do Before Filing a Lawsuit After Getting in a Car Accident?

After you've been seriously hurt in an accident, your primary concerns should be going to your medical appointments, following the doctor's instructions, and doing everything you can to maximize your chances of making a full recovery. As many people who have been seriously hurt in vehicle accidents can tell you, you must be prepared for the potential of long-term recovery periods. 

The car accident attorneys at Morgan & Morgan work with many different vehicle accident victims throughout each year and recognize that it can be hard to figure out if you should get an attorney after an accident. Some of the first steps you take immediately following a vehicle crash will substantially influence your chances of being successful in a lawsuit or in an insurance claim. 

For example, you should get a police report and go see a doctor, even if you are not yet sure you have been injured. A doctor can diagnose more difficult-to-identify medical conditions like a traumatic brain injury or internal bleeding. Whether or not you get medical attention immediately after the accident, note any changes in your physical, cognitive, or emotional symptoms in the days following the accident. Any major changes in your underlying condition should be reported to your doctor, as these may be indicative of more serious medical problems. 

Get a copy of the police report as soon as you can after the accident and notify your insurance company about the incident. Do not make any firm statements with your insurance company or sign any paperwork with your insurance carrier until you've had a chance to speak to a car accident lawyer. The attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are very familiar with some of the common issues around working with your own insurance company, especially when it comes to communicating with the other party's insurance company. You may be eligible to win compensation in a settlement discussion or in trial if you can show that another person is responsible for your injuries. This typically comes up in the context of negligent actions or inaction.

When Is Somebody Else Responsible for My Injuries?

One of the big reasons to consider working with a personal injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan is because you believe you will have costly injuries, such as those in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to these direct economic damages, depending on the state in which you live and applicable fault laws or inapplicable fault laws, you may be able to recover damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. You won't know for sure, however, until you've had a chance to speak with a car accident lawyer at Morgan & Morgan. 

If you can show that another party caused the accident, either in part or in full, they may be held liable. It is also the possibility that more than one entity or individual is responsible for your injuries. Imagine that you were rear-ended by a semi-truck driver who was under the influence of alcohol. You may have a claim against the semi-truck driver operating the truck that hit you, as well as his or her employer for failure to supervise, properly train, or run background checks before hiring. Likewise, if a defective part in your vehicle malfunctioned and caused you to get into a wreck or made a major wreck with another person more serious, this may come up in the context of a third-party claim. 

As a victim, you need to be able to show that another driver breached the duty of care they owed to you on the road and that in doing so caused you to suffer substantial injuries. In some cases, this is easier than in others, such as showing when someone was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or when a person was distracted because of their cell phone. However, as personal injury attorneys at Morgan & Morgan, we often have to engage advanced techniques like accident reconstruction to get a clear handle on exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the accident. This is helpful if reliving those moments is traumatic for you, or if you don't remember the details of the accident.

How Soon Should I Get Legal Help? 

Your first priority after an accident is to get screened for any medical conditions. You may discover in telling your symptoms to your doctor that further tests are required for diagnosis, and this can help you understand the extent to which your injuries May influence you for the near future. Continue to attend all of your medical appointments and report any new symptoms or worsening problems to your doctor. 

Although you have time to file a lawsuit per your state's limitations, it is in your best interest to speak with a lawyer sooner rather than later. The more time that elapses, the more difficult it can be to remember the details of the incident that led to your car accident and to gather the evidence needed to bring a claim against someone else. 

Before deciding which law firm to work with on your car accident claim, develop a short list of law firms that have good reviews and a strong background in handling similar cases. Not every personal injury attorney focuses on the same types of cases or has a track record of working through these cases in settlement conversations or in court. You can then use your shortlist to set up initial consultation meetings with the law firms of your choosing, during which you should evaluate whether or not this seems to be the right fit for you. It is not enough to choose an attorney based on their background alone, as you also want to make sure that their communication style and ability to handle your case is enough that you feel confident in selecting them as your legal representation. 

What to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney?

Personal injury attorneys have different levels and areas of experience when it comes to car accident cases. You want a law firm with substantial resources and the commitment to handle your case with care and attention. The lawyers at Morgan & Morgan know that each victim has had their life changed in different ways. We sit down with you at the outset of your case during an initial consultation meeting to discuss your primary concerns and other pertinent legal issues like the statute of limitations. This gives us a good idea of the biggest concerns in your case and helps us to begin preparing materials that may be needed for your lawsuit. 

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means we're only successful in recovering funds to pay ourselves for serving on your case if and when we are successful in settlement or in trial. This is why we put great effort into the initial consultation conversation to make sure you are clear about what's at stake and to help decide if the case is strong enough to proceed forward. If you're concerned about your options and need further support, work with the lawyers at Morgan & Morgan. We can help you define your legal strategy and move forward with the best chance to fight and win compensation for your claim. 

To get started, contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.