Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?

The question of whether or not you need a car accident lawyer might not be the first thought that pops into your head immediately following a car accident. However, that question usually arises shortly after the questions of Was anyone injured?  How am I going to get around? are answered.

Sometimes car accidents, while wholly inconvenient, are pretty straightforward and do not require a car accident attorney. In other situations, however, you may need an advocate to protect your rights and make sure you receive an adequate settlement to cover your accident-related expenses.

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In the event you are involved in an accident in which the other driver is clearly at fault, by running a stop sign, for example, and injuries and damage to your car are not severe, you should not need a car accident lawyer.

The other driver's insurance will cover damages and injuries directly attributable to the accident, which is what you are entitled to. A car accident, even an accident with a heavily insured commercial vehicle, is not a lottery ticket.

In the above situation, a car accident attorney will not get you a substantially larger settlement than what you would get by simply talking to the other driver's insurance company yourself.

A lawyer would, however, then be entitled to anywhere from 25-40 percent of the settlement, which means you would end up paying out of your pocket to cover the total cost of your medical bills, car repair bills and legal fees.

Sometimes, however, the accident is more severe, resulting in extensive injuries, lengthy hospital stays or even death. Maybe multiple cars are involved, or there is a question regarding which driver was at fault. In these and other complex situations, it would be wise to have a car accident lawyer on your side.

Whether you are the at-fault driver or if someone else hits you, make sure you fully assess the situation before involving a car accident lawyer.

In simple, minor accidents you are much better off handling things yourself. But if you are facing significant out-of-pocket expenses, severe injuries or other complex problems, a good car accident lawyer can be a lifesaver.

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