Many auto collision victims find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances, unsure of what to do after their car accident. While each person faces unique circumstances that require a personalized plan, you can protect yourself by seeking medical attention and hiring a qualified car accident lawyer.
The decision to hire a car accident lawyer serves several purposes. For one, your attorney will bring valuable resources and experience to your case. Second, having a lawyer ensures you can focus on recovery as needed.
A Post-Accident Guide for Victims of Car Collisions
Some of the most important steps to take after a car accident include:
Hiring a Lawyer
Hiring a car accident lawyer should be among your greatest priorities after your wreck.
Hiring a lawyer will:
- Allow you to spend the necessary time resting and receiving treatment
- Protect you from insurance companies and liable parties
- Shield you from the stress and trauma that may come from dealing with the details of your case
- Spare you the time and effort required to complete insurance claims and lawsuits
Seeking Medical Attention and Documenting Your Injuries
Car accidents are associated with serious ailments, including traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and internal injuries.
You must seek medical attention after your accident because:
- Certain injuries may threaten your long-term health or even your life
- You need to document the effects of your accident, including physical and psychological harm
- You need a personalized treatment plan from a qualified medical professional
Your car accident lawyer can even assist in identifying a qualified doctor to oversee your care who works with car accident victims pursuing legal cases.
Interact Cautiously With Insurers
Insurance companies are almost always a factor in car accident cases. These insurers have their own financial motivations, and they may decide to try to pay you as little compensation as possible.
Consult your attorney before giving recorded statements or engaging in any other interactions with insurers. Your lawyer should handle all interactions with insurers to protect you and your case.
Journaling Your Post-Accident Experience
It never hurts to keep written notes about:
- The pain you experience because of the accident
- Mental health difficulties related to the collision
- Sleep problems resulting from the accident
- Other effects of the accident on your quality of life
This documentation may help your lawyer seek fair compensation for your accident-related damages.
How Do I Find a Qualified Car Accident Lawyer?
You can find a qualified car accident attorney online. If you know anyone who has used a car accident lawyer in your area, you may also weigh their recommendations or warnings.
As you look for a lawyer, do not underestimate the potential value of your case. The average cost of an accident resulting in disabling injuries is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
This figure does not even reflect non-economic damages like pain and suffering and can be even higher considering the effects of inflation.
You must receive all the compensation you deserve, and a car accident lawyer will work to ensure that you do.
Damages Your Attorney Will Seek Compensation For
Your lawyer will consider every type of harm that has resulted because of your car accident, including:
- Medical costs, which may be the result of emergency transport, diagnostic imaging, hospital services, medications, rehabilitation, and other healthcare services
- Pain and suffering, which can include lost quality of life, acute and chronic pain, depression, anxiety, sleep disruptions, scarring and disfigurement, and lost quality of life
- Professional damages, including lost income, diminished earning capacity, lost promotions and bonuses, and lost benefits
- Property expenses, including the cost of repairing your vehicle and replacing other damaged property
If you lost a loved one due to injuries suffered in a car accident, a lawyer will seek justice through a settlement or lawsuit. Your recoverable damages may include funeral expenses, burial or cremation costs, loss of consortium, and lost financial support.
The value of each car accident case is entirely unique. Your attorney will account for all your damages, value them accurately, document them, and pursue fair payment from liable parties.
Services to Expect from Your Car Accident Attorney
When you hire a car accident attorney, you can expect them to lead your case in its entirety. Some of a lawyer’s most important duties are:
Securing Evidence from the Car Accident
Your lawyer must tell the story of your car accident using all available evidence. This evidence may include eyewitness accounts, expert testimony about who caused your accident, videos of the collision, photographs of the aftermath of the collision, and other relevant proof.
Obtaining Proof of Your Accident-Related Damages
Your legal team will work to prove your accident-related damages in as much detail as possible.
They may use:
- Doctors’ diagnoses of your injuries
- Mental health professionals’ diagnoses of your pain and suffering
- Medical bills and records
- Medical images
- Past bank statements proving how much income you’ve lost because of the car accident
- Invoices for vehicle repairs and the cost of replacing other damaged property
Your lawyer may also use your account of pain and suffering within their case.
Calculating the Cost of Your Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Your lawyer will calculate a specific value for your case. This value will set the financial bar for settlement negotiations.
Fighting for a Fair Settlement
Your attorney will be your designated negotiator with insurers or other liable parties. They will demand the entire sum of compensation you deserve for accident-related damages.
Your lawyer will also lead any lawsuit or trial required to complete your case. You may need to file a lawsuit if the at-fault party does not have insurance, insurance companies do not offer a fair settlement, or other circumstances warrant filing a legal case.
Do Not Wait to Hire Your Car Accident Lawyer Today
You and your lawyer will face a strict deadline for filing your case if you require a lawsuit. Don’t wait to find a Highland personal injury attorney, hire them, and begin seeking the compensation you deserve. Get a free case evaluation now.