So, you are a victim of a car accident due to the fault of another person. Do you know the next steps to follow in order to help yourself out in the best possible way? If you are unsure of anything to do at this time; you can simply call a car accident lawyer to represent you.
Here’s how car accident lawyers assist their clients.
By providing legal counsel –
A lawyer will be able to help you take the next steps soon after your accident. If your injuries are really serious then you may not be in any position to collect evidence or try to jot down contact details of witnesses, if any. You may even forget to note down the number of the car that caused the accident. Whatever may be the case, you can count on your lawyer to provide you with the right legal guidance.
But ensure that you hire an experienced local lawyer. Laws pertaining to car accidents may differ from location to location. So, it is important to choose a lawyer with a practice in your own area.
You can use keywords with your requirement and location for online searches; such as Joliet car accident lawyer. Check the lawyers’ websites to learn more about their expertise and experience. You can do so in a jiffy with online searches as time is of the importance when you are a victim of a car accident. Your lawyer will guide you as to what to do next.
First, you will need to determine if the accident was indeed due to the fault of another person. You may think so. But in reality the case may be different.
The parents will be held liable (depending on the location) if the driver was an underage child. If the accident was due to an auto manufacturing fault then the manufacturers may be held liable. Only a lawyer can determine such causes. It is not possible for a layperson to understand these kinds of legal nuances.
By helping with the claim –
The claim process is not a straightforward one. A lot goes into calculating it. Your lawyer will consider several factors such as –
- Your injuries (type and severity)
- Your loss of income (current and future)
- Your medical bills (current and future)
- The need for any future treatments (for pain, depression, further surgeries)
- Any other expenses
- Mental, emotional, and physical anguish for the victims and their families.
Victims can lose their ability to find gainful employment due to permanent or temporary disabilities (occurring because of the accident). Victims can suffer from depression due to the loss of a job, loss of personal or social life, financial stress, etc.
Calculating the claim is a unique process for each victim. Lawyers try to understand each of their clients’ specific situations to arrive at a claimed figure. The lawyer may speak with your doctors and other medical experts to gain an understanding of your injuries and possible treatments.
The compensation amount may differ from the claim the insurer (your own or third-party) may calculate. In such cases; your lawyer will negotiate with the insurer to get you the claim you deserve.
Insurers also have a team of attorneys. The negligent party will also have its own representative. So, your lawyer will need to deal with them. It can get very stressful for victims and their families to handle all the negotiations along with the claim process.
A lawyer by your side can prove to be of immense help.
By appealing the claim –
Negotiations can fail for many reasons. But you have the option to appeal for a higher claim. You needn’t accept just about any low payout the insurer offers you.
Your lawyer will file the paperwork for the appeal and try to get you a fair compensation amount. In rare cases; the matter can drag in court for a while. Such things happen if the at-fault party tries to play foul in order to derail the case or for other reasons.
But a good car accident lawyer will try his or her best to help the clients. Your lawyer will ensure that you get justice.