Have you suffered physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses due to a motor vehicle accident that was not your fault? You have the legal right to claim compensation from the responsible party. However, most insurance companies will drag their heels about coughing up the money and use their formidable legal teams to employ delaying tactics. They may try to fob you off with less than what you asked for or try to get out of paying you altogether.

Unless you have an in-depth understanding of the law and accident law, in particular, it is not generally a good idea to face the insurance company’s lawyers on your own. You will do better to consult and hire a lawyer to represent you.

By hiring an experienced car accident lawyer Joliet IL residents can ensure that they will have a competent legal authority in their corner to handle their concerns and get them the fair settlement they deserve.

Here are some reasons why you might want to hire a car accident lawyer:

They will support and protect you

The car accident may have taken a physical and emotional toll on you. At such a point in your life, when you are at your most vulnerable, you need to have a competent legal authority in your corner to provide assurance and handle your concerns. By hiring an experienced car accident lawyer Joliet IL residents can ensure that they will be protected and that the insurance company’s lawyers won’t be able to take undue advantage of them.

They understand legal regulations

Given their experience in the legal field and with handling cases similar to yours, the car accident lawyer will be able to evaluate your case and give you an honest opinion of how it might fare in court. They will know how to file an injury claim within the stipulated period and about the filing fees to pay. They will also understand how to build your case and use the right legal tactics to get you justice.

They will investigate the accident

To build your legal case, the car accident lawyer will investigate the accident and gather strong evidence to prove that you were not at fault. The evidence might include CCTV footage, videos and photographs taken by passers-by and witnesses, footage from the black box cameras of the accident-causing car and other nearby vehicles, and a car mechanic’s detailed report of the accident-causing car. They will also collect written or videotaped statements from witnesses. Additionally, they will talk to your doctor and gather medical files and photographs of your injuries.

They will evaluate your claim

After evaluating your case, the car accident lawyer will calculate how much compensation you can claim from the insurance company. For this, they will consider the extent of your injuries. They will also assess how much the accident impacted your personal and professional life. Perhaps you have lost your job or several months of salary after becoming temporarily or permanently incapacitated. Maybe you can no longer support your family. Or, you may require round-the-clock care and now have to pay hefty medical bills that you can ill afford. The lawyer will base a compensation claim on these and other issues.

They will negotiate a settlement

The car accident lawyer will meet with the legal team of the insurance company. After presenting your case, they will try to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. The success of this will depend on how much hard evidence you have about the accident-causing party’s culpability and the lawyer’s ability to put pressure on the insurance company. Sometimes negotiations fail, though, and in such a situation, the car accident lawyer must prepare to take the matter to trial. They will advise and guide you on what to expect in court. They will also offer tips on how to make a good impression on the jury and the judge.

When hiring an experienced car accident lawyer Joliet IL residents need to inquire if they offer their legal services on a contingency basis. That means they will accept payment from you only after they win the case for you. Some lawyers also work pro bono for clients who cannot afford legal fees.