Lawyer for Car Wrecks

You have been involved in a car wreck. You are unsure whether or not to call a car wreck attorney. If you watch the TV, browse the internet or listen to the radio quite often, you will likely come across commercials encouraging accident victims like you to contact an attorney immediately. Precisely, these commercials will make it seem like you are entitled to compensation regardless of the specifics of the accident.

That is not necessarily true. The question of whether—or not—you need an attorney will depend on the specifics of your case. This article covers everything you need to know about lawyers for car wrecks, including when to contact them.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Car Wrecks?

The answer to this question will depend on the specifics of your circumstances. The truth is that not every accident requires the attention of a lawyer. But this also does not mean that you shouldn't do anything about the accident.

Let's say you were making a right turn at an intersection, but an impatient driver cut you off, scratching your car. You leave the car and notice just a few scratches, nothing major. In that case, do you really need an attorney?

Chances are you will not need an attorney when you get injured in such an accident. But even so, you will still need to take the right steps after the accident regardless of whether it requires an attorney's attention.

What Should I Do After a Car Wreck?

When involved in a car accident, many people do not like the idea of contacting 911, especially if the accident is minor. But did you know that in some states, it is illegal not to call the police regardless of how minor the accident is? Of course, you may have to wait a few minutes by the side of the road for the police to arrive. But that wait could be the best decision you ever made.

Why Is It Important to Contact the Police After a Car Wreck?

When you do not involve the police after the accident, the other party could simply walk away after offering their insurance information, driver's license, and any other relevant information you need to file a claim with their insurer. What could possibly go wrong if the other party already accepts liability for the accident?

The unfortunate truth is that everything could go wrong within hours or days. Because you failed to call the police, the other party could file a claim with your insurance company, seeking compensation for the accident. They could claim that you were at fault for the accident and that they suffered certain injuries due to the accident.

It would likely be a case of your word against theirs when that happens. And depending on the strength of their argument, they could easily win the claim.

So what happens when you contact 911? The police officer who responds to the accident scene will collect crucial information about the accident, including the names and contact information of everyone involved, and then establish facts about the case, such as:

• Date, time, and location of the incident
• Witness information
• Type of injuries sustained by both parties
• Party at fault for the accident

When you have this kind of information, you will have a much easier time seeking compensation for the damages to your vehicle. In addition, the insurance company will likely believe the police officer's report more than your version of the story.

The decision to contact an attorney will depend on the specifics of your case. Let's take a look at a slightly different scenario that could warrant the need for such an attorney.

Suppose the other driver hit your vehicle, sending your body off your seat and back. In that case, you may need to contact an attorney even if you do not feel pain or discomfort. This is because you might have suffered a whiplash injury.

What Is a Whiplash Injury?

A whiplash injury is the kind of injury that sends your body in a rapid back-and-forth movement due to impact. The name 'whiplash' derives from the quick back-and-forth movement of a whip.

When your body suffers whiplash injuries, you may not feel any pain at that moment. Rather, you will feel pain days or weeks after an accident. And depending on the nature of your injuries, you may need several surgeries. That is where an experienced whiplash attorney comes in.

Why Should You Hire a Lawyer for Car Wrecks?

Hiring a lawyer for car wrecks comes with numerous advantages. Here is why:

Insurance Companies Have Their Lawyers - So Should You

Insurance companies are a business like any other. They aim to collect as many premiums as possible and minimize the compensation they pay to accident victims. For this reason, you should not expect the insurance company to pay you what you truly deserve, especially if you do not have an attorney. Even if the insurer agrees to settle, the settlement might not reflect the actual value of your case.

An experienced car wreck attorney will review the specifics of your case to determine the amount of compensation you may be entitled to. Precisely, they will review your injuries and damages and then calculate the most reasonable settlement. The attorney will then compare this value with the insurance company's initial offer. If there is a huge difference, the attorney will negotiate with the other party on your behalf.

Speaking of negotiations, chances are the insurer will have their own team of legal representatives to fight for them in and out of court. The last thing you want is to come up against such a team without an attorney. But if you get the right attorney, no amount of legal mobilization from the insurer will prevent you from fighting for what you truly deserve.

Car Wreck Cases Are Complicated

Most car wreck cases are complex. You will have strict deadlines, mountains of paperwork, and other complex processes to follow in your pursuit of compensation. But that is just a standard case.

What happens if there is a dispute regarding certain details of the accident? For example, the issue of fault could make or break your case. To be eligible for compensation, you must be able to prove that the other party was at fault for the accident. But there is a catch—each state follows a certain doctrine when it comes to negligence.

For example, in states that follow pure comparative negligence, you cannot recover any compensation if you were partly at fault for the accident, even if it is a 1% fault. In such a situation, all the other party needs to do is prove that you played a role in the accident, just by 1%.

This is just one of the many complex laws an experienced attorney will need to navigate in your journey to compensation. Bear in mind that the laws change from one jurisdiction to another, meaning there is no standard approach to these cases.

You Should Be Focusing on Recovery, Not Litigation

When you get injured in a car wreck, the last thing you want is to find yourself in endless legal battles as you nurse your injuries. It is difficult to keep up with your medical appointments and court dates simultaneously. It is even worse if you have been hospitalized due to the injuries you sustained.

But you should not be worried about that when you have an experienced attorney fighting for you. Hiring a lawyer allows you to focus on recovery and leave the complex legal processes to experts. The same applies even if you are not the direct accident victim.

For example, if you want to pursue compensation for the death of a loved one, you will likely not be in the right mental or emotional position to fight for them. Some insurance companies take advantage of the situation to offer lowball settlements, hoping you will accept the offer just to end the pursuit. Others will intentionally frustrate the entire process, hoping you will give up fighting and agree to settle just anything on the table.

It Costs You Nothing to Hire an Attorney (Unless You Win)

After an accident, chances are you cannot take care of yourself and your loved ones, especially financially. It is even worse if you cannot go to work because of the injuries you sustained. As a result, you will likely be behind your bills within a few weeks or months.

At such a time, hiring an attorney will be the last thing on your mind. The costs of hiring an attorney, especially from a reputable law firm like Morgan and Morgan, might put you off. But did you know that Morgan and Morgan attorneys do not charge any upfront fees?

In fact, you do not owe anything unless we win the case. When you contact us for a free case evaluation, we will determine whether you have a valid claim. If your claim is valid, we will walk you through the steps of pursuing the compensation you need and deserve. Throughout the process, you will not pay us anything. Instead, you will only pay us back if we win the case.

Why Should You Contact Morgan and Morgan Car Wreck Attorneys?

Experience is one of the most important things to consider when looking for an attorney to fight for your best interests. Fortunately, you can count on us when you need such an attorney. An experienced attorney knows what it takes to file a successful claim or lawsuit. They know the challenges they could potentially face along the way and how to navigate them.

They also understand the different tactics insurance companies use to deny claims. Such an attorney will help you build a strong case against the other party, ensuring you receive the compensation you need and deserve after the accident.

At Morgan and Morgan, we are not all talk without action. To put things into perspective, we have helped our clients recover more than $20 billion as compensation for various injuries sustained due to negligence.

With an army of over 1,000 personal injury attorneys specializing in different injuries, including car accidents, we will always have the right attorney to represent you. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your case is in the hands of experts with a solid track record of winning.

Besides experience and track record, you also need a law firm with powerful legal resources to fight against insurance companies. Because we are the largest personal injury law firm in the United States, serving clients from coast to coast, our attorneys have access to powerful legal resources to fight in and out of court.

How Do I Contact a Morgan and Morgan Lawyer for Car Wrecks? 

Injured in a car wreck? Lost a loved one? We understand your pain, and that is why we are here to help. Let a car wreck attorney from Morgan and Morgan fight for you. Fill out our free case evaluation form to get started.