Why You Need an Experienced MVA Attorney After a Car Accident
If you’ve been unexpectedly involved in a motor vehicle accident, or MVA, you may be dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, and other complications due to no fault of your own—and unfortunately, all due to a preventable accident caused by another negligent driver. This may prompt you to search online for “MVA attorneys near me.”
On top of the injuries, trauma, and stress of an accident, the associated expenses can make an already distressing situation even worse. While you're forced to handle a series of unforeseen medical bills, car repairs, and even lost wages due to missed work, you might wonder if a motor vehicle accident lawyer is the right choice to help handle your predicament.
At Morgan and Morgan, we take personal injuries very seriously. With more than 1,000 trial-tested lawyers available, we may be able to find the best-suited MVA attorney to represent you in your legal matter. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.
How Can Using MVA Attorneys Near Me Be Helpful?
Using a local car accident lawyer offers many advantages. The most apparent reason is accessibility, especially if you've suffered severe injuries. However, even while working with a local attorney has many benefits for anyone involved in an accident, we don't believe individuals severely harmed in a car wreck should worry about making office visits. Our attorneys will come to you, even if it means seeing you in the hospital.
Beyond ease of accessibility, a local lawyer can give you the upper hand in other ways. Here are just a few examples to consider:
Expert Knowledge of Local Laws - A deep understanding of local laws and ordinances in your area is crucial since they can have a considerable impact on the outcome of your case. For example, if you live in a state that observes negligence laws pertaining to the fault for a car accident, you wouldn't want a lawyer who has only ever practiced law in a no-fault insurance state, and vice versa. The reason is that both doctrines have specific differences—and experience matters.
Insight into the Local Court System - Relationships and knowledge of the local court system can be helpful to clients. Although all court officials, such as judges and court staff, are bound by ethics, having a positive working relationship and prior experience with them usually doesn't hurt. Likewise, a local lawyer will be familiar with other lawyers in the area who may provide assistance should the need arise.
Access to Local Resources - Car accident lawsuits involving serious injuries frequently require outside experts to reinforce arguments to a jury. For example, if the cause of your accident is hard to explain, an accident reconstructionist can illustrate and spell it out plainly so the jury understands your lawyer's argument. Likewise, your local Morgan and Morgan attorney will have access to other specialists, such as medical and expert witnesses, to aid your case if needed.
Generally speaking, our MVA attorneys can provide numerous advantages that include knowledge and understanding of local laws, the local court system, and easy access when you need them most. These benefits can help secure the compensation you're entitled to when a negligent driver causes you harm. As the nation’s largest personal injury law firm with offices all over the country, Morgan and Morgan has MVA attorneys near you.
Do I Really Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Engaging a lawyer for a minor car accident with no injuries and little property damage may not be necessary. Still, you're probably on the hunt for MVA attorneys near me for a reason. You may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the claims process or have doubts about your claim being approved.
While legal counsel isn't required for a simple insurance submission, it can be comforting to know someone will have your back every step of the way. A lawyer will handle all communication with the insurance company, which will take a lot of stress off your plate. You won't have to worry about making mistakes that could hurt your claim.
Should the other driver contest the fault for the accident (a huge indicator you may need a lawyer), Morgan and Morgan's MVA attorneys are adept at gathering vital evidence to prove the other party's negligence and presenting arguments that minimize your own.
We understand you may be undecided about using an attorney for your car accident. Still, our legal expertise will ensure you follow the correct protocols and submit the necessary paperwork within important deadlines. Even minor mistakes and mischaracterized statements can jeopardize your claim.
However, a lawyer's value isn't just about insurance paperwork and processes. We can help you gather the necessary evidence to strengthen your claim request, accurately calculate your damages to include all your losses, negotiate for fair compensation, and advocate on your behalf during a trial if no out-of-court settlement can be reached.
How Can a Lawyer Help if I Am Seriously Injured in a Car Accident?
Frequently, serious injury is the reason car accident victims reach out for legal help. When there are significant financial consequences for all involved, it becomes a high-stakes situation. The other party's insurance company will pull out all the stops to minimize your payout to protect the company's bottom line. On the other hand, the issue of recovering compensation is of great importance to you so you get the medical treatment you need and obtain the damages you deserve. A lawyer can help in a number of ways if you've been seriously injured or disabled in a car accident. Here are a few:
Assessing the Extent of your Injuries - While you're dealing with critical injuries, you may need help understanding the long-term effects and impact they will have on your life. Your lawyer will take charge and work with healthcare experts to accurately assess and put a dollar value on ongoing treatment, including rehabilitation, future surgeries, and any other expenses linked to the accident.
Negotiating With the Other Party's Insurance - When you've sustained severe injuries, you may not have the emotional capacity or physical strength to fight with an insurance company. Few would, which is probably why you're researching "MVA attorneys near me." Your lawyer will do all that is necessary to negotiate a meaningful settlement that not only includes your immediate and future medical expenses but also takes into account any lost wages and earning capacity, along with pain and suffering.
Investigation - When both sides have much to lose, the evidence will have a major impact on how the claim unfolds. Serious injury accidents may require more investigation than merely reviewing pictures and a police report. Your accident may involve third parties, which would expand the number of legal opponents. For example, suppose a vehicle defect played a role in the accident. In that case, the car manufacturer or reseller might be implicated. If the road was poorly maintained leading to the accident, the city might bear some responsibility.
Serious injuries can be excessively expensive, so you owe it to yourself to work with an attorney that will investigate all aspects of the accident to identify contributing factors and increase your chances of recovering adequate compensation.
Court representation - Generally, car accident claims are settled out of court for various reasons, including time, aggravation, and money. However, when an insurance company is facing a significant financial loss, as is often the case when serious injury is involved, they may call your bluff and risk the outcome with a jury. Usually, a claim turns into a lawsuit when an insurance company refuses to pay fairly on a legitimate claim. That's why it's crucial to work with a lawyer who is prepared to go the distance for justice.
You may not realize that some lawyers have never tried a case before and will do all they can to avoid it, even if it means compromising your financial future. At Morgan and Morgan, we have a network of more than 1,000 lawyers who are experienced and ready if your legal matter requires escalation to a judge and jury.
Can MVA Attorneys Near Me Prove Fault in a Car Accident?
Proving fault is a crucial aspect of any car accident dispute. Depending on your state, it can even make a difference in your ability to recover any compensation period. In other states, any measure of fault you have can reduce the compensation you receive proportionate to your share of responsibility. That's why it's vital to work with someone with the skills to properly investigate and frame the evidence in your favor. Here are some common methods our lawyers use to establish fault:
Physical Evidence - Along with the other party's insurance adjuster, your lawyer may also do their own examination of physical evidence to understand and explain how the accident unfolded. This may include analyzing the accident scene for debris and skid marks, along with damage to both vehicles. In some instances, your lawyer may employ the talents of an accident reconstructionist or other investigative professionals.
Police Report - Facts recorded in a police report are frequently used to prove fault in a car accident, although not always conclusively. The police report will include important information your lawyer may use to represent your side, such as the responding officer's opinion and other observations.
Eyewitness testimony - The accounts of eyewitnesses can be compelling in proving fault in a car accident. Contact information for eyewitnesses is usually included in a police report if there are any. Still, for particularly difficult cases, your lawyer may use different methods to get eyewitnesses to come forward, such as canvassing the area and soliciting residents and businesses for anyone who may have observed the accident.
Medical records - It's important to link injuries to accidents when the fault is in question. For instance, suppose the other party's insurance is contesting your injuries were the result of the accident. In that case, medical records can outline the timing of the injury. Doctors can typically distinguish old injuries from new ones through testing. Even if the accident worsened a pre-existing injury, medical records would accurately reflect the extent of the recent damage and the treatment received.
Why Should I Work With Morgan and Morgan’s MVA Attorneys Near Me?
We understand you have many choices for legal representation, but not all law firms are alike. Morgan and Morgan has been advocating for injured parties for over 35 years. During that time, we've recovered over $20 billion for clients who were hurt through no fault of their own. We believe wrongdoers should be held accountable for their negligent actions, and we have the skills and experience to make that a reality.
We also understand that many people hesitate to work with an attorney because they're already facing an unexpected financial crisis. That's why we work on a contingency fee basis. No money upfront and no payment for services if we're unsuccessful. You don't owe a thing if we don't recover compensation on your behalf. However, working with an attorney usually results in more winning outcomes and increased settlement amounts. That's a fact that even insurance companies understand, and it’s also why they try to convince claimants to work without the advice of legal counsel.
When you have a strong, experienced advocate working to protect your interests, the likelihood of a favorable result is considerably heightened. With tens of thousands of satisfied clients, hundreds of capable attorneys, and an army of supporting legal staff, you can feel confident entrusting us with your important legal matter.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Injured? Getting the compensation you deserve starts here.
Deep Dive
Explore more information related to the case process.