Why You Need to Speak With an Attorney Following an Auto Accident

One of the key questions that victims of traffic collisions struggle with is whether to speak with an attorney. The truth, however, is that consulting with an attorney is almost never the wrong decision, especially if you’re in an accident involving physical injuries or property damage. In fact, failing to speak with an attorney can leave you vulnerable.

Let’s take a closer look at why you should seek legal help and the best way to start that process.

The Benefits of Consulting with an Attorney After an Auto Collision

A serious traffic accident can be one of life’s more traumatic experiences. Given that there are more than six million such accidents in the U.S. annually, it’s also a distressingly common scenario.

Knowing how to react in the wake of an accident is critically important. There are a few key areas where the experience of an attorney can prove invaluable. These include the following:

• Negotiating with an insurance carrier. Insurance companies may wish you well after an accident, but their goal is to get you to settle for as little as possible. To do so, they employ people who are skilled in negotiation. This creates an unbalanced playing field for auto accident victims who are not familiar with the basics of negotiation. Having an attorney onboard can help ensure that you’re not taken advantage of and that you’re not leaving compensation on the table by settling.
• Determining the value of fair compensation. Just as victims of collisions are rarely experienced negotiators, they also typically have little experience in terms of identifying a fair dollar figure for a settlement. An experienced legal advocate can help calculate damages accurately, which ensures that victims will have enough money to recover, and that they will not be stuck with having to pay out of pocket costs.
• Providing litigation as an option. Settlement negotiations often fail. Insurance companies may try to shift liability for an accident or refuse to come forward with an offer that meets expectations. In cases such as these, it is critically important to have the option to pursue litigation. Moving toward litigation often catalyzes an insurer to offer a more reasonable settlement and provides an additional avenue for compensation if all negotiations fail.

Your Next Move

If you’re in an auto accident, it’s imperative that you take steps to preserve your legal rights. Such steps include gathering witness statements, keeping track of your medical bills and lost wages, taking photos and videos of the crash scene and contacting law enforcement. Working with an experienced attorney is the final step in that process.

The right legal advocate can help you receive fair compensation for any medical expenses, disfigurement or disability, job-related losses and possible pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment.

Choosing the right attorney, however, is crucial. A local attorney who specializes in traffic litigation will have the necessary experience to handle even the toughest or most complex cases.