Driving is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Most of the time, we get behind the wheel and get to our destination without incident. Unfortunately, however, many people–about 2 million per year–sustain permanent injuries from car accidents. These permanent injuries create a ripple effect that most people are, understandably, not financially prepared for. They can lead to medical debt, the loss of income, and more. If you’re dealing with a serious injury after getting into a car accident, you may want to consider filing an auto accident claim. We’re here to share the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer if you do.
Read on for the five biggest benefits of working with an experienced personal injury lawyer to fight for financial compensation after an auto accident.
1. Objectivity and Legal Expertise
When you’re suffering after a car accident, it’s difficult to remain objective about your case. It’s even more difficult to try to learn enough about California’s personal injury laws to put together a compelling case. Working with an experienced attorney can solve both of these problems.
An auto accident attorney won’t accept your case unless they believe in it. This prevents accident victims from investing time and energy in cases that don’t involve an at-fault driver and therefore won’t result in a win.
Once an auto accident attorney does accept your case, they will take over the process of establishing the facts. Thanks to years of experience and legal expertise, they will know exactly what you need to establish the negligence of the at-fault driver as well as the damages you’ve suffered.
2. An Even Playing Field
After getting into an accident that clearly wasn’t your fault, it’s easy to assume that the claims process will be cut and dry. Maybe the police report states that the defendant caused the accident or you have tons of witness statements to confirm your side of the story. However, it isn’t going to be as simple as you may think.
When you file a personal injury claim after an auto accident, you’re filing the claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Insurance companies have tons of money to spend on experienced defense attorneys that will work aggressively to cast doubt on your claims.
By hiring your own personal injury lawyer, you even the playing field. Don’t go up against experienced defense attorneys without someone in your corner who is just as knowledgeable about the law.
3. Prevention of Major Mistakes
Let’s talk more about the defense team you’ll face when you file a personal injury claim. The moment the claim is filed, you’ll enter into a period of discovery and communication. During that time, the defense will want to contact you to retrieve any information you have about your claim.
You should never engage with the defense team without consulting your own lawyer, first. The defense team may try to request information that could be damaging to your case, and your lawyer will spot these tactics right away. For example, they may ask for all of your medical records, rather than the records pertaining only to the accident, as a way to establish that you had pre-existing conditions that contributed to your current condition.
Without legal experience, you can walk into critical traps that upend the validity of your claim. Work with a lawyer to prevent this from happening.
4. A Chance to Focus on Recovery
When you’ve sustained serious or permanent injuries, the most important thing to do is focus on recovery. Without proper medical treatment, those injuries can become worse, creating more serious conditions moving forward.
The problem is that you’re also racing the clock. In the state of California, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years from the accident or one year from the time that the related injury became apparent. The statute of limitations protects defendants while putting pressure on the accident victim to get the ball rolling.
By hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can worry less about your claim and stay focused on recovery. In fact, our auto accident lawyers can help you to find medical care in Moreno Valley if you are struggling to find the right professionals for your injuries.
5. Compiling a Sound Case
When you’re filing an auto accident claim, you will need to establish the following:
- The accident was caused by the defendant’s negligence.
- The accident left you with serious injuries and other damages.
- Those serious injuries and damages impacted you financially.
In order to prove all three of these things, you will need to compile quite a bit of evidence. This includes photos of the accident scene, witness statements, medical records, medical bills, pay stubs, and more. This is a lot to keep track of, especially when you need to share all of this evidence with the defense team.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will help you to track down all of the evidence you need. They will also help you to quantify your damages and negotiate with the defense team to reach a fair and reasonable settlement. While no case ever has a guaranteed outcome, your chances of success improve greatly when you have the right people in your corner.
Don’t Overlook the Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer as an Accident Victim
We rely on our cars to get everywhere from work to vacation spots to loved ones’ homes. Getting into an accident is traumatizing and can lead to serious or lifelong injuries and financial hardship. Don’t overlook the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer as an accident victim.
Are looking for legal help in Riverside County? Contact us and we’ll get started with a free case consultation. We’re here to fight for you.
