Your car accident lawyer will deal with the insurance companies for you should you decide to have one represent you in settlement negotiations. While there is no requirement to hire an attorney after a car accident, some victims choose to do so when seeking compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may have suffered severe injuries due to someone’s negligence on the road. These injuries may entitle you to pursue financial recovery for economic and noneconomic losses you accrued as a result.
Some people believe they would only hire a lawyer if they choose to pursue a lawsuit, but that is not true. You have the right to legal counsel and representation from the beginning of a case, starting with making a claim with your insurance policy or the at-fault driver’s. If the negligent driver who hit you was on the job, you might even have a case against their employer. A lawyer can help you determine the liable parties and file a claim with their insurance companies.
If you choose to hire legal representation, you would not have to contact an insurance company directly. You will be able to focus on your health and recovery while your attorney handles all the communication with both your insurer and that of the negligent driver.
What an Insurance Company Will Want to Know
As USAGov explains, many states require drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, which covers the other driver if you are found liable for the accident.
Some states classify as no-fault states, which require victims to make a claim through their insurance policy first, regardless of fault for the accident. Other states may follow a comparative negligence law, which allows victims to pursue a percentage of compensation from the other driver’s insurance policy based on their degree of fault.
Regardless of whether you pursue a claim with your insurance policy, the other driver’s policy, or both, the insurance adjusters will want to question both parties about the details of the accident.
If you choose to hire a lawyer, you do not have to give your account of the accident or answer any questions from either insurance company. Your lawyer will likely document your account of the accident and provide it to the insurance companies.
How a Lawyer Can Help with Communications
If you wonder why your car accident lawyer will deal with the insurance companies for you, it has a lot to do with the questionable tactics that insurers use to avoid paying claims or lessen whatever settlement they ultimately pay out.
After a car accident, investigators and adjusters from insurance companies must determine what led to the accident and who holds liability for the resulting injuries. Part of the evidence they use to make their liability decision involves your statement.
When insurers call you, they may ask small-talk questions like, “How are you feeling today?” Any answer you give to these seemingly commonplace questions can factor into their determination of fault for the accident as well as the extent of your injuries. A car accident attorney can bypass the small talk and deliver your account of the accident to the insurance adjuster, along with the evidence they have compiled in your favor.
Other Ways a Lawyer Can Help
Besides communicating with insurance companies on your behalf, a car accident lawyer can perform many services when handling your claim. Some of these services include:
- Gathering the needed evidence to establish the liability of the other driver.
- Accurately assessing your losses, both economic and noneconomic.
- Estimating fair compensation based on your losses.
- Negotiating with insurance companies for fair compensation.
A car accident lawyer may suggest that you decline an insurer’s initial settlement offer if it does not fairly cover your losses, including those you might accrue in the future due to your injuries.
For example, a lawyer can show how you suffered a permanent disability due to the accident to ensure that you seek a payout that can accommodate you fairly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents result in severe injuries that lead to hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits each year.
If your injuries prove so severe that you exhaust the coverage afforded to you through your insurance policy or a claim on another driver’s policy, a lawyer can help you file a personal injury lawsuit to recoup the remaining losses. Your lawyer will know your state’s deadlines for filing a lawsuit and take timely action to start your case before the statute of limitations runs out.
Seek Legal Representation with Ben Crump Law, PLLC
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident, you do not have to fight for justice and compensation alone. You can employ the help of a car accident lawyer who will deal with the insurance companies for you.
For a free no-obligation case review, contact a car accident lawyer today.
