Different accident scenarios generally call for different reasons to get an accident attorney. There are some reasons why you wouldn’t need one, i.e. the accident was very minor and no injuries are involved. If you incurred minor injuries, then your car insurance should be covering the bills anyway.

There are certainly exceptions to this rule, which is why you should read this guide to know ahead of time. The most obvious case would be that serious injuries are involved and you need to guarantee that you get the best representation possible. Insurance companies don’t like to hand out big checks, so you shouldn’t take them for their word, no matter how good the settlement sounds.

There was a motor vehicle injury every 14 seconds on average in 2013. Accident and injury lawyers have seen it all, so they know what to focus on when proving your case.

Here are some more reasons why you need a lawyer by your side in the event you have an accident.

Serious, Life-Altering Injuries

If you get into an accident that is serious enough to alter your normal way of life, then you need an accident attorney. There is no way that you’ll ever get what you truly deserve from the initial offer of the insurance company. In fact, you’ll be exceeding whatever their maximum payout is.

This is because whatever you think is a fair amount that covers medical bills, inconveniences, and expenses, it’s not enough. The only way to accurately gauge what you are owed is through experience. A personal injury attorney can calculate your losses based on history.

This includes your financial losses and your loss of quality of life. Not only regarding your future earning potential but your ability to enjoy normal everyday activities. Only a lawyer can get the settlement that you deserve.

Exceeding At-fault Policies

This happens for two different reasons:

1) Your injuries are so serious that the cost of repairs and surgery exceed payout amounts on their policy.

2) Your time spent in recovery has resulted in more expensive medical bills.

Either way, the insurance company will only try to pay a fraction of your actual loses. You will need a lawyer to force them to settle on the exact amount of what you are owed. Don’t let them bully you into anything less.

Disputed Claims and Multi-Party Blame

If there are multiple drivers involved in an accident, then you should hire an accident attorney to avoid self-incrimination. This goes for any other situation where there could be disputed or conflicting information. Insurance companies are much more likely to make mistakes on rewarding claims.

Another reason why a multi-party situation is against your best interests is that settlement money could be split. Now, just imagine whatever money you’re supposed to get, you may never see because claims were filed against you, too. This is just not an easy situation to be in without legal guidance.

Beware of Shady Insurance Agents

No matter how clear-cut your insurance claim can seem, there is always going to be a potential for exploitation. Insurance companies may refuse your settlement offer altogether if they can find some loophole or deem your injuries inauthentic. They may sense weakness and think you’d never be able to win in court.

Nip this in the bud by having a personal injury attorney represent you from the start. These insurance companies will be less likely to ignore your claims if they know that it could mean wasting money in court. This is why most (95%) personal injury cases are settled out of court.

When Settling Is the Best Move

Insurance companies like to take advantage of accident victims a few different ways. The most obvious way is to exploit their situation. People who have just been in an accident are going to be distraught and emotional. They know that most accident victims just want to return to their normal lives.

Insurance companies will sense desperation a mile away. This lets them get away with offering a pittance to the victim, just enough to pay their bills and maybe a little on the side. They also know that people either won’t or can’t take them to court without losing work.

Finally, insurance companies bet on you being unable to understand legal documents and industry practice. An accident attorney can call their bluff and make them pay exactly what they owe. They will get you what you’re entitled to and avoid going to court unless it is absolutely necessary.

Remember, lawyers stand to make more money if all they need to do is handle the paperwork side of things. Nobody wants to go to court, but insurance companies know that they stand to lose more by going to court with a plaintiff that has an experienced attorney.

The most common scenario for a case going to court is when evidence is being withheld or misrepresented by the insurance company. If you know your account is accurate and that the other side is lying, a judge will reward your honesty.

Tips for Hiring an Accident Attorney

Now that we understand how much value an experienced car injury attorney can bring, there are a few things you should know about hiring one. Different people excel at different things, so when it comes to hiring a lawyer you need a specialist. We’re not saying that lawyers can’t specialize in different forms of law, it’s just safer to get one that focuses on auto accidents.

Things like statutes of limitations and other state exceptions come to play here. Obviously, researching local attorneys is recommended, just don’t hire the first local face that you see advertised.

Personal Injury Umbrella

Just to reiterate, some attornies specialize in different forms of personal injury law. The three major categories are slip-and-fall, automobile, and work-related accidents. Each one of these categories requires an intimate understanding with state and federal law.

A personal injury attorney that knows the in’s and outs of OSHA safety rules is not going to be of much help for dissecting a crime scene.

History and References

When researching the best car accident lawyer for your town, look into their history. Find out if they’ve won any recent big public cases. Cross-reference them with any friends and family members you may know who have had to hire an accident attorney.

Online reviews are also helpful, but avoid relying completely on those as they can be skewed. Discover more lawyers who have built up reputations online and follow up with references and history.

Caseloads and Rates

These two areas should be considered after you’ve gotten a good picture of their trustworthiness. Big name lawyers will typically juggle a large number of cases. Smaller lawyers can also carry a big caseload, but you don’t actually want them to. That’s because they won’t have the same access to resources in the event your case isn’t so open-shut for them.

Busy lawyers who are stretched too thin won’t have much contact with you once they receive your case. This can be stressful and possibly lead to miscommunication. Are the lower fees really worth it when the chance for mistakes to happen are higher due to less time spent investigating your claims?

Regional Successes

Is the attorney you’re considering new to the area? Even if they have decades of practice under their belt, they could be lacking local context. For instance, different parts of the country carry different degrees of danger. The most dangerous cities come with the highest insurance rates, but not necessarily highest payouts.

Familiarity with location translates to a higher comfort level with the attorney. An established lawyer will also come with better connections in the legal world. We don’t mean in a bribing capacity, just overall respect among their peers. Insurance companies prey on the younger, overwhelmed, and by-the-book lawyers.

Finding the Best Attorney

If you feel like your case needs a lawyer to determine what your best course of action is, then it’s time to start searching. Follow our advice above and remember time is of the essence. Don’t rush into a decision, but also remember the more immediate your response, the better it looks if it reaches a jury.

Find a lawyer that shows initiative and genuinely seems empathetic to your situation. Even after handling thousands of cases in their career, they should be motivated by justice, not just the numbers of a case.

Hopefully, this guide tips the scales slightly more towards the innocent. If you have any questions or feedback about his article, do not hesitate to contact us. We love hearing opinions and stories from our readers!