If you have been involved in a car accident, there are chances you need to prove your injury claim to your insurance company. To prove such a claim, it’s in your best interest to hire an attorney.
If you have been injured by a motorist, or if your car sustained damages in an accident due to the fault of another motorist, you need to claim insurance, and that process can be lengthy and complicated.
If you are not familiar with the whole process, it can also be confusing. Whether you win or lose the claim, a car accident lawyer, like San Antonio Attorney, can be a very important deciding factor. Also, none of us want to go through the hassle and dilemma of a lengthy process just after an accident.
So, how can an attorney help you? Read on to find out exactly how an attorney is valuable in claiming your insurance.
When Should You Contact A Car Accident Attorney?
You should contact a car accident attorney when you have a real claim to an injury caused by another motorist. How can you tell if your claim is significant enough and you need the help of an attorney?
It is best to hire an attorney if you have suffered any injuries in the crash, especially if your injuries are long-lasting or permanent. You also need one if your liability is contested, and the insurance company is refusing to pay, or it has been asked of you to provide a statement and your medical records and you need an attorney to represent you.
You should also hire an attorney of the settlement offered by the insurance company that does not cover your expenses.
Remember, most law firms work with a contingent fee, and if your case doesn’t get the desired outcome, you don’t have to pay. Make sure to discuss with the firm about payment before you make any final decisions.
Manage All Communication With Insurance Company
One of the first tasks you need to do after your car accident is to make contact with your insurance company. An insurance adjuster will take over your case and negotiate on behalf of the company.
Insurance adjusters are highly-trained negotiators. They will do everything in their negotiating power to pay less or none of the insurance settlement, even if you have a valid claim because insurance companies are businesses, just like any other profit-seeking business.
If you haven’t managed claims or faced insurance companies before, it will be anything but a pleasant experience for you to face a trained insurance adjuster. There are also chances of the adjuster tricking you into issuing a statement or a comment that can hinder the chances of you receiving a settlement.
An attorney can make the difference between winning and losing your claim. A good car accident attorney will know very well of all the tricks and the tactics of the adjusters.
An attorney’s main responsibility would be to communicate and negotiate with the insurance company and handle all the details and paperwork of your claim. The paperwork includes your written or verbal statement.
Your attorney will make sure the statement works to your benefit as it is a decisive factor in your claim. A car accident attorney will, to his/her best ability, make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Prove Your Claim
The most difficult and complicated part of your claim is how you prove your injuries have been caused by someone else’s negligence. You are only eligible for compensation if you can prove that you have been harmed.
Here’s where it gets complicated. All parties will obviously try to blame each other, and therefore, it can become very difficult to prove your claim. A personal injury attorney can take over that responsibility to prove your case by analyzing all the evidence.
A good attorney will consult outside medical experts to confirm how serious the injury is, recreate or reconstruct the scene of the incident, and gather an accident report. They will also interview witnesses and obtain all your medical records.
A car accident attorney knows exactly what steps need to be taken and how to gather and analyze all evidence. Someone who is not trained in this field will struggle and have a very hard time to gather evidence or prove the claim by themselves.
Put A Value On Your Claim
How can you tell what’s the true worth of your injuries? What compensation is right for the seriousness of your injury? The answers to these questions are also another complicated part of your claim. How do you put a value on a claim? A personal injury attorney will know exactly how to answer these questions.
Insurance companies are notorious for paying off settlements less than their values. They will convince and negotiate the value of your claim and try to pay as little as possible. And, if you do not know the true value of your injury, you might just settle.
A car accident attorney won’t budge on the negotiation unless the settlement covers the full extent of the losses. Your attorney will take into account your past and future medical bills, the wages or salary you lost while injured, and any future lost income. They will put a real value on your pain and suffering.
File A Lawsuit If Needed
The best aspect of hiring a personal injury attorney is that you have all your legal options open. If negotiations fail and the insurance company refuses to settle fairly, then you can file a personal injury lawsuit.
Sometimes, this step is taken just to knock the adjusters back to their senses before the claim goes to court and becomes an expensive mistake for the company. They will offer a fair settlement at this point.
Conclusion
A car accident attorney will also explain to you all the laws and regulations that apply to your claim. They will decipher your contract with the insurance company and get the best deal out for you. They can guide you through the whole legal process and make sure you receive what you deserve for all the ordeal you went through, so you can sit back and relax while they do all the work for you!
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