Car accidents often occur as a result of a third party’s carelessness. This may be in the form of several inappropriate behaviors such as distracted driving (e.g. texting and eating while driving), driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, knowingly driving a vehicle with malfunctioning parts and other acts that constitute disobedience of traffic regulations.
In car accident injury cases, these inappropriate behaviors that lead to injury and damage to property are classified as negligence. Victims of car accident injuries due to negligence may file an injury claim against the at-fault party. To file a successful injury claim, you need to hire a competent car accident lawyer who has dealt with and won a significant number of similar cases.
Although one of the benefits of hiring a car accident attorney is receiving relevant pieces of information about your case from your lawyer, it may be beneficial to learn about some key facts about filing a car injury claim such as:
Don’t Sign Anything Without your Lawyer
During the course of a car injury lawsuit, insurance personnel may send over voluminous paperwork for you to go through and sign. However, it is important to refrain from signing anything until you have received the affirmation from your legal counsel.
Insurance companies often try to find loopholes that allow them to avoid paying settlements and let them save money. In this case, it could be in form of a potentially damning clause hidden in the large amount of paperwork sent by them. Therefore, it is important to have a competent accident injury lawyer in your corner to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of.
Accident Injury Claims May Take Time
If you decide to file an injury claim, you should be prepared for the possibility of it taking a long time to resolve. Although some cases take longer to resolve than others, insurance companies generally tend to drag the case out to safeguard their profits. This is one of the reasons why hiring a car accident attorney is important, they have the knowledge and experience required to anticipate and navigate the tactics of insurance companies.
Do Everything at The Right Time
Usually, several events transpire at the same time after a car accident, such as recovery from injuries (physical and mental) and the replacement of damaged properties. However, it is critical to work on your injury claim as soon as possible.
Generally, the sooner you start, the better your chances of recovering helpful pieces of evidence. You’d also stand a better chance of getting accurate statements from potential witnesses because their recollection of the event is still fresh. Furthermore, insurance companies may try to use your delayed action time against you.
No Need to Worry About Legal Fees
One of the benefits of hiring a dependable personal injury lawyer is the enactment of the “contingency fee” protocol. This means that you will not have to pay your attorney until they have successfully secured your settlement fee.
Car injury lawsuits may take a long time to resolve, however, your prior knowledge, coupled with your lawyer’s expertise, can make the process move along much quicker.
