5 Reasons To Hire An Accident Attorney After An Auto Accident

Getting into an auto accident is a stressful, terrifying time, especially if you have injuries. While you focus on recovery, however, the insurance carrier is trying to get you to accept a fast settlement. Instead of struggling to heal and get your fair settlement, hire an accident attorney. They'll handle the hard work of fighting for and negotiating a fair settlement. If you still aren't sure whether you need an attorney, check out these five reasons you may need one.

They'll Help Prove You Aren't Responsible

If you caused the accident, you may want to hire an attorney to help protect your best interests. If the other driver hires an attorney, you may find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit. However, in some cases, you may disagree that you caused the accident. If this is the case, you definitely need an attorney to fight your case for you and prove you didn't cause the accident. By collecting witness statements, police reports, taking photos and talking with both insurance agencies, the attorney can help prove you didn't cause the accident. Without an attorney, you may not get any money.

They'll Protect You If You're Partially Responsible

In other cases, the other driver may accuse you of being partially responsible for the accident. Even if the other driver caused the accident, their insurance carrier or attorney may argue you weren't paying attention, you were driving too closely, you weren't defensive, etc. Their stance is to twist the blame onto you by claiming that if you had been paying attention, the collision could have been avoided. In many cases, this can affect how much money you are awarded. In this case, an attorney could help prove that your actions did not help lead to the accident by arguing your involvement was so minimal and the accident so severe that any action taken by you could not have avoided the collision.

They Talk to the Insurance Company for You

Depending on the severity of the accident and injuries, it's usually a good idea to hire an attorney even if you are simply filing a standard insurance claim with the other driver's insurance carrier. This is because your attorney will do all the work for you, including speaking with the other insurance carrier. The insurance carrier is looking for anything to put the blame on you or reduce your settlement, and unless you have experience in speaking with insurance agencies, you may inadvertently give information they can use against you. Your attorney knows exactly what to say and what not to say. Even admitting to something as simple as noticing a dog on the side of the road may be used to argue you were distracted.

They'll Fight for Physical Pain and Suffering

After an auto accident, you may have soft tissue damage, broken bones, etc. However, while many injuries heal completely, others leave lasting effects. This type of injury is known as pain and suffering, and it is often difficult to prove unless you have an attorney with experience in these types of cases. Pain and suffering can include physical and emotional symptoms, but the physical symptoms are often more noticeable and tangible. A physical injury that may qualify for pain and suffering is a permanent limp, new scar, etc.

They'll Fight for Emotional Pain and Suffering

Emotional pain and suffering are tricky to diagnose and prove because these types of emotional scars aren't as easy to see as a physical scar. They can include mood disorders, including depression, anger, anxiety that develop as a result of the accident. However, they can also include loss of interest in sex, loss of interest in old hobbies and activities, reduced enjoyment of life, etc. Many of these terms and symptoms are subjective, which is why they are hard to prove. However, an attorney knows what documents are needed to prove the extent of your injuries.

If you've been injured in an auto accident, you need to seek medical attention to mitigate your injuries. While you focus on getting better, you need someone to help win your case so you can pay your medical bills and become whole once more. If you would like more information regarding accidents and settlements, contact an attorney in your area today.

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