What Are Some Signs That You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?

Going through an accident can be a devastating experience for anyone, and trying to figure out your next steps and moving forward with your life may be easier said than done. It helps if you recognize the signs that you need a car accident lawyer sooner than later. 

For minor injuries and relatively simple vehicle accidents, you might be able to handle your case on your own and may not require the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer. However, for most people who have suffered in these kinds of accidents, they will need a lawyer who has great familiarity with state and local personal injury laws and the typical process of a personal injury lawsuit.

Read on to learn more about some of the signs that you need a car accident lawyer so that you can make an informed decision in your situation. 

You Are Not Sure About the Extent of Your Injuries

If you are dealing with multiple injuries or are waiting for a long term diagnosis about your circumstances, it can be difficult to tell the possible impact it all has on your future. It can also be hard to untangle how the severity of these various injuries will influence your ability to recover compensation. This uncertainty is one of the biggest signs that you need a car accident lawyer who has handled cases like this before and who can help you break down the most important details so you have a big picture of what your case might look like in the courts. It can be hard to figure out this information on your own but when a lawyer has worked with other victims in similar situations, it makes it that much easier for them to give you the big picture perspective on what your case might look like going forward. 

You've Tried to Resolve Things With the Insurance company But Have Been Unsuccessful in Doing So

Trying to handle things on your own is often the first resort for someone who has been seriously hurt in an accident, but unfortunately, some cases are more complex than expected — and you might find this out too late. If you have already tried to work with the insurance company and have found it difficult or impossible to handle the process alone, or if the insurance company doesn't take your injuries seriously, you may need to share this same information with a personal injury lawyer. Having a complicated case where you've already attempted to resolve it on your own is one of the biggest signs you need a car accident lawyer. 

You Have Disabilities or Long Term Severe Injuries

Any type of serious injuries, such as spinal cord damage, brain injuries, and others should all give you a clear sign you need a car accident lawyer. You might assume that the facts of the case are relatively black and white and that the insurance company or any other involved parties will see this quickly and easily. Unfortunately, as many victims have experienced firsthand, it is not always easy to get other parties involved to recognize the impact your injuries have on your life. If the other side of your case diminishes these injuries or denies them altogether, this could further complicate getting the justice you deserve and is also distracting you from your treatment plan to get well. These are the kinds of things that should prompt you to share your insights with an experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyer. Signs you need a car accident lawyer with long term injuries include those cases where you have multiple injuries or when your doctor is telling you that you have reached maximum medical improvement even though you are not fully healed. 

For many people, maximum medical improvement will be different than returning to the physical state the injured were in prior to the accident. In those cases, it is especially important to have your personal injury lawyer working for you as an advocate. This can make a world of difference in your efforts to recover compensation. 

The Insurance Company Is Ignoring You or Denying Your Claim Altogether

Most people assume that their own car insurance company will be in their corner if and when an accident happens. But it can be shocking to discover that virtually no insurance company is looking out for your best interests, especially the insurance company of the other party. Most insurance adjusters are trained to minimize or deny claims, or they can simply ignore you altogether. If you have been trying faithfully to get a response from an insurance adjuster and have been unable to do so, or if they have told you information that is incorrect, you could have grounds for a separate lawsuit altogether. It is best to hand your case over to an experienced personal injury lawyer who will hold these insurance company representatives responsible. 

You Want to Settle, but Are Unsure of the Extent of Your Damages

Many personal injury lawsuits resolve their case in settlement, meaning that you and the other parties can come to an agreement outside of court about a lump sum that would compensate you for most or all of your injuries. This helps avoid the uncertainty of having to go to court for your case but can also be a double edged sword since you will only have the opportunity to receive the payment in a signed settlement amount. Remember that you do have rights, such as to decline any settlement amount offered to you by the other side. 

Even when you are working with a personal injury lawyer regarding your car accident, they must tell you about the settlement amount and cannot agree to it on your behalf. Once you know that you may be interested in settlement but are concerned about protecting your rights, this is a clear sign you need a car accident lawyer. You need to find an attorney who has ample experience in this area of the law and someone who takes your concerns seriously. Your lawyer should evaluate all possible factors in determining whether or not the other side has presented a fair settlement offer to you. 

This includes consideration of the injuries you sustained, the long term prognosis, and any expenses associated with the treatment of those injuries. If your life has been altered in other ways, such as being unable to return to the career you had prior to the accident, this information should also be presented to the court or to the other side in settlement conversations. In short, these are some of the most important signs that you need a car accident lawyer. An attorney who cares about you and your future is an important component of making a full and fair recovery from any parties involved in this accident. 

Given that your chances to recover in full likely depend on the outcome of your settlement or trial case, you need an attorney who will fight hard for you and will not allow you to be taken advantage of in this difficult and time-consuming process. Do not hesitate to reach out to a personal injury lawyer if you identify with any of the signs you need a car accident lawyer, as mentioned above.

When Should a Lawyer Be Hired? 

Although you can hire a personal injury lawyer at any point after your car accident and before the expiration of the statute of limitations, it makes more sense to get legal help sooner rather than later. Schedule an initial consultation with a car accident lawyer to get your questions answered and to determine the best way to move forward. There are also very short timelines for notifying your employer about a car accident that was work-related, so it’s best to move quickly across the board after a work-related accident. 

What if the Insurance Company Says We Should Just Settle?

Remember, the insurance company is not looking out for you. They are mostly interested in their bottom line. If the agent is busy with other accidents or feeling pressure to close out cases, they might tell you that you should just settle your claim so you can move on. Only you can decide when it’s the right call to accept a settlement offer, but you should never do this unless you’ve been able to sit down and calculate all your current and future expenses due to the accident. Only then will you have a clear idea whether your offer is fair and if it will allow you to move on with the treatment you need. Make sure you have a lawyer handle these conversations and review your settlement offer, because it can make a big difference in how you close out your case. 

At Morgan & Morgan, our office has a strong track record working with accident victims who need help seeing all the different aspects of their claims and getting the right help to move forward. We know how hard it is to recover from a vehicle accident, and we are dedicated to giving our clients the focus and fight they deserve. Contact us today to receive a free, no-obligation case evaluation to get more information and to take your first steps toward resolving your case.