Traffic accidents always occur unexpectedly. Car accidents can be caused by various reasons, but the most common thing is negligent driving. The most common driver errors causing accidents are lack of attention, exceeding speed limits, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, aggressive behavior, failure to yield or sleep-deprived driving. If you have suffered from a car accident caused by a driver’s distraction, alcohol intoxication, drowsiness or simply lack of attention, the best way out of the situation will be hiring a proficient lawyer specialized in handling car accident cases.
Once you are involved in an accident, consider planning an appointment with an experienced lawyer. A real professional will help you deal with recovering losses caused by the accident and will take care of all the paperwork and insurance issues. If you know which steps you should take to receive legal aid, you can avoid unnecessary hassle, time and money loss. Take your time reading the tips below and learn everything you should know about getting legal assistance from a law specialist.
Main Reasons Why You Should Consider Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
It’s sad but true that vehicle accidents occur daily. In the USA, a great number of personal injury claims are related to traffic accidents caused by cars, motorcycles, and trucks. In many cases, only small damages occur, and the problem can be solved with a few phone calls through an insurance service. Minor damages include scratches, dings, or a cracked headlight, for example. More serious car accidents that cause bodily injuries or even death are important reasons why an experienced lawyer should be involved as soon as possible. A competent legal advisor should be able to help you claim compensation to pay back the losses dealing with the accident: repair service, medical costs, salary loss, etc. In some situations, depending on the state, a vehicle accident attorney can help you get financial compensation in case of a family member’s death.
What You Should Expect from an Experienced Traffic Accident Attorney
You can hire a car accident lawyer depending on the issue you are having. It can be property damage, bodily injury, wrongful death or determination of liability. In order to hire a reliable specialist, take into account their skills, pricing, experience, and look for the feedback from previous clients. It is important that your lawyer is well informed about the local and national laws about transportation infrastructure. The attorney has to know how to handle insurance procedures and paperwork, as well as everything about case settlement. Take your time making sure the attorney is certified, has a decent background and positive reviews from other customers. Last but not least, a reliable lawyer with strong skills works based on the principle of “no win, no fee”. Simply put, this means that if you don’t get any compensation, you don’t pay. So, check their pricing before hiring. In most cases, if your lawyer wins, you have to pay a certain amount of your compensation, depending on the total sum paid back to you. It may vary between 30 and 50 percent of the money you receive in case of success.
When Is It Better to Hire a Traffic Accident Attorney
The earlier you find a lawyer, the more money you save in the end. In the US, there are different terms of registering personal injury claims depending on the state. Try to call the lawyer as soon as you can, because you may start covering various expenses right after the car accident. The best time for contacting your attorney is about 1-2 weeks after the accident. But make sure to do it before the insurance negotiation process starts. Prepare all necessary documentation to show your lawyer. You will need your car insurance policy, medical papers, and information dealing with the accident itself.
Types of Car Accidents, and their Consequences
Accident caused by a truck: If your car, you or/and your passenger have suffered in an accident caused by a truck, the case should be thoroughly investigated to find potentially responsible parties. Sometimes, transportation companies may come up with a settlement offer. In this case, your lawyer should make sure if this offer is fair before you sign any agreements. You might also need a lawyer’s advice if the insurance company of the party at fault is trying to dispute your claim.
Personal injury in a car accident: In case bodily injury is caused by the error of another driver, the victim can get compensation depending on the severity of their injury. The work of an experienced lawyer should result in covering medical expenses, aches and suffering, emotional pain, appearance defects caused by scars, burns, or amputation. Loss of income due to inability to work and loss of a family member should also be compensated with the help of a professional legal advisor. It is a rare case if only one person is totally responsible for a car accident. In some situations, both drivers are responsible to different degrees for the car crash. You can still get compensated for your losses if your fault is no more than 50%. The sum of your compensation will depend on the degree of your liability. If you are 30% responsible for the accident, you will receive 70% of the initial amount of your award.
Motorcycle accident: Being less protected, motorcyclists are more often exposed to the risk on the road than car owners. That is why, when a motorcycle-car collision occurs, the car driver is usually at fault. Motorcycle accidents are the most likely to result in severe personal injuries or even death. That is why it is extremely important to hire an experienced accident attorney to thoroughly investigate the case and make sure that the rider, or their family receives a decent compensation.