Many people think that if a car accident wasn’t their fault, they don’t need to get a lawyer. However, having an expert by your side to guide you through the whole legal process and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure that you get the justice you deserve can be very helpful.
Your Damages Are Reduced by Your Percentage of Fault
In most cases, if a car accident you’ve been in isn’t your fault the money you recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if you happen to be more than 50% at fault, you will not be able to recover compensation for your injuries. This is why finding a good lawyer can be helpful. Your attorney will be able to help you prove that the accident was caused by the other driver. Keep in mind that the other driver’s insurance company will also be working in order to show that it was your fault the accident happened. And if they succeed, your compensation can be reduced significantly. Thus, it is crucial to have a lawyer who can provide you with the arguments that will back you up and minimise your percentage of fault.
Your Lawyer Can Advocate for your Case to Help You Reach a Favourable Settlement
Even if the other driver doesn’t claim that it was your fault, the insurance provider will most likely offer you the lowest possible settlement amount. They will probably go for the most realistic amount that they expect you to accept. This can, however, turn out to be problematic if you’re not familiar with the law. It’s highly likely that you don’t know an appropriate compensation amount for the specific damages that you are dealing with. It’s simply because you’ve never had to deal with something like this before and you don’t have the experience that your lawyer has.
Insurance companies will try to trick you by saying that the money they’re offering is all that they are legally allowed to offer you in this case. This statement is incorrect and is exactly the reason why you should contact your lawyer and seek their professional advice. Your lawyer will not only review all the settlements you’ve been offered but will also negotiate in order to reach a new and better agreement.
The mistake most people tend to make is pursuing their claim on their own because they think that getting a lawyer is just a waste of money. If you work alone, you’re more likely going to make mistakes that will end up costing you a lot more than hiring a lawyer would. On the other hand, by working with a lawyer you will ensure that you find an effective solution and will probably even come out of the claim process with more money than you would end up with if you worked your claim alone. However, make sure to find the right lawyer who knows what they are doing.
A Lawyer Can Make Sure Your Compensation Reflects the Total Extent of Your Damages
In addition to the previous argument, knowing how much your case is worth is also very important. It’s highly likely that your vehicle needs some repairing and that is going to cost you. The body shop will send you an itemised bill providing you with the information on how much the damage your vehicle has suffered costs. You will also get the medical bills for the treatment of your injuries. However, in most cases, this is just one small part of all the damages you suffered. This is why getting a specialised car accident attorney can be helpful because they will be able to give you additional information specific for your case.
Alongside the vehicle repairs and medical bills, you will have the right to recover compensation for several other things. Firstly, future medical expenses are included in this list. Your lawyer can estimate the cost of any additional treatments you might have to get done in the near or far future because of the injuries you got in this accident. Lost wages is also something you are entitled to recover compensation for. In case you weren’t able to go to work during your recovery period and your paycheques have reduced because of it, your lawyer can evaluate the value of these lost wages. You will have that amount of money included in the damages that you receive.
Also, if the injuries caused by the accident are preventing you from doing your job and you have to find another job that offers you a lower salary, you can recover compensation for that difference in salary as well. You will also be able to increase your compensation if your account for damages that are associated with the pain and suffering that has been done. Lastly, even though it is rare, in some cases you can also recover your punitive damages. Your lawyer will be able to estimate whether you are allowed to ask for this based on your specific situation.
Your Lawyer Will Handle the Legal Aspects of your Car Accident Claim
Lastly, hiring a lawyer will allow you to focus on your recovery. You need to make sure you are taking your recovery process seriously and that your injury is healing properly. While you focus on your health, your lawyer will handle all the legal aspects of your car accident claim for you. Hiring a professional who will gather all the relevant evidence to support your claim and make sure that negotiation runs as smoothly as possible, will help you stay relaxed knowing that everything is taken care of. Your lawyer will also make sure that your claim doesn’t miss any of the important deadlines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even though it might seem unnecessary, hiring a lawyer can be very helpful even when you know that the car accident is not your fault. The lawyer will guide you through the whole legal process and help you better understand each and every step of it.
