If you’ve been in a car accident and injuries were sustained or property was damaged, you may need a lawyer.
The aftermath of an auto accident can be an overwhelming experience. Sadly, the circumstances are never cut-and-dry, so you’ll have to spend some time figuring out the best course of action. In some scenarios, you may need legal assistance to ensure that you come out on the other side well-compensated.
In this post, we’re going to tell you exactly what a car accident lawyer can do for you. You may not always think a lawyer is the best course of action after a small accident. Keep reading and you’ll realize that dealing with insurance companies and other lawyers requires a professional touch.
Bring Specialized Knowledge to The Table
When you’re looking for a car accident lawyer, always make sure to take training and experience into account. You’re hiring a lawyer because they deal predominantly with accidents like yours.
Car accident lawyers will have specialized knowledge of how car accident laws in your state work. With it, they can build you the most successful possible case. This increases your chances of receiving proper compensation for your injuries and damages.
Without an attorney, you’ll be left to interpret the law on your own. If you hire a lawyer with the wrong type of experience, it may put you at a disadvantage against the insurance company.
Deal With Insurance Companies
Many auto accident victims try to work through the process as quickly as possible to put the accident behind them. The one thing you shouldn’t rush to complete is filing a claim with the insurance company. Handling insurance companies without legal backing will almost always end in under-compensation.
The insurance company doesn’t really have your personal or financial well-being in mind. The adjusters are mostly looking after their company’s profits. You’re going to have to fight for what you deserve.
A good car accident attorney will have a wealth of experience to draw from to deal with the insurer. They’ll be able to negotiate on your behalf to make sure that you’re being compensated. Not just for vehicle damages, but also for your medical bills, lost wages from work, and the trauma of being in the accident.
Your lawyer will look closely at the situation, speak to all pertinent witnesses, and decide on the amount of compensation you should shoot for.
Prove Liability
In the event that the other driver was at fault and you need to prove liability, hiring an attorney is a must. Proving liability, even if witness and police statements corroborate that the other driver was at fault, is no walk in the park. There are four elements of liability that your lawyer will try to prove:
- The presence of a duty that the other driver had towards you
- That the other driver breached this duty, resulting in the accident
- Proof of causation between the presence of duty and breach of duty
- That your injuries/damages are real and were caused by the breach of duty
To provide the necessary evidence, they’ll look at police reports, any available video footage, cell phone pictures, and statements of witnesses. To prove your injuries, they’ll need to get medical records, scans, and tests. They may also require your treating physician to testify or provide written testimony.
Help You Understand When to Settle and When to Fight
A car accident lawyer will help you understand your options when it comes to reaching a settlement. Most car accident cases are settled outside of court. That doesn’t mean it’s always the right thing to do.
After the accident, the at-fault party and their insurer will send you an initial settlement offer. Your lawyer will examine the offer and advise you on whether or not it’s enough.
There are several things to consider in the situations, namely whether it’s worth it for you to file a lawsuit and go through the rigamarole of court. You aren’t guaranteed a bigger settlement by doing this.
On the other hand, once you accept a settlement offer, you can no longer pursue a lawsuit against the other party. You and your lawyer will have to take everything into consideration. Then, you’ll have to sit down and determine what the best course of action is for you.
Help You In Court
Typically, there would be a lengthy negotiation process between your lawyer and the other party to come up with a settlement. If you feel like you’re still being lowballed, then you need to take things a step further.
Should you end up filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, this is where your car accident lawyer will really shine. This can be a time-consuming and emotionally draining experience. With a good lawyer representing you, it could also be life-changing.
First, they’ll help you file your case in court by ensuring that you’ve submitted all of the necessary documents. When your court date comes, your car accident attorney will represent you, answer all of the questions, and keep you in the loop with how things are proceeding.
With their experience and expertise, they’ll present your case and provide evidence in a skillful manner to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your troubles.
Hire the Right Car Accident Lawyer
Now that you know what benefits hiring a lawyer will provide after your accident, it’s time to find the right car accident lawyer. At Cook & Tolley, we’ve been helping Georgians navigate their auto accident cases for well over 50 years. We’ve got the experience and expertise that you need to win your case.
Visit our website to learn more about our long and storied history as some of Georgia’s finest attorneys at law. When you’re ready to talk about your accident, give us a call. We can help you get the compensation you deserve so you can put this accident behind you.
Cook & Tolley, LLP
304 E Washington St
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 549-6111
https://www.cooktolley.com/
