While much depends on the specifics and the complexity of your car accident case, a car accident attorney (in general) can: communicate with the other driver’s insurer, gather the necessary evidence with respect to fault for the accident. Call us today at (470) 268-5802 If you have been injured in a car accident that occurred due to someone else’s negligence.
Being involved in a car accident can be quite devastating, especially if you have suffered serious injuries. Car accidents can occur at any time, anywhere on the roads. You may be considering hiring a car injury attorney near me to help you in that process of seeking compensation and perhaps, not sure how to choose the right one, and even how the attorney will help you. Call us today at (470) 268-5802 or get in touch with us online to schedule your FREE, no-obligation case review/consultation.
Being involved in a car accident can be quite devastating, especially if you have suffered serious injuries. Car accidents can occur at any time, anywhere on the roads. If you have been involved in a car accident, you’re probably thinking of filing a claim or a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your damages. Further, you may be considering hiring a car injury attorney near me to help you in that process of seeking compensation and perhaps, not sure how to choose the right one, and even how the attorney will help you.
Usually, victims of a car accident involving serious or long-term injuries require an experienced attorney to get the most desirable outcome for their car accident claims. The right lawyer can be key in getting the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
An experienced car injury lawyer can be extremely helpful in navigating the often complex, chaotic, and confusing world of insurance claims and injury settlements following a car accident. Here is what you need to know:
If you have been injured in a car accident and wondering exactly how an attorney can help you, read on to find out what a car accident lawyer brings to the table, including:
While much depends on the specifics and the complexity of your car accident case, a car accident attorney (in general) can:
Let’s now look at a couple of these things in-depth.
In any personal injury case, your car injury lawyer will open up a line of communication with the insurance adjuster for the other party (or parties) involved. The adjuster has the pocketbook, so it is critical for your attorney to have good communication and a good relationship with the adjuster.
A good car injury attorney near me can help obtain all of the evidence that you will need to prove liability in a car accident claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
While you may have already taken photographs of the accident scene, your lawyer will probably go back to the scene him/herself to see what it looks like. While a picture may be worth a thousand words, actually seeing the scene can be worth a thousand pictures.
The attorney will make sure to get all of the accident or police reports in the case and will often speak with the investigating police officers and witnesses. A good attorney will leave no stone unturned when it comes to gathering evidence of liability.
This is where a good lawyer can be essential to your case, especially when you have suffered significant car accident injuries.
It’s critical to obtain all documentation related to your injuries, but it isn’t always easy to get your hands on those records and bills from health care providers. Although the records are technically yours, and you have an absolute right to them, sending medical records to patients and lawyers is just not a health care provider’s first priority.
Large hospitals may have specific procedures that must be followed to respond to medical record requests. If you do not follow their procedures (which they often don’t publicize very well), they simply won’t respond to your request.
On the other hand, small doctors’ offices may not have the staffing or the time to respond to medical record requests on a timely basis.
Then, when the health care provider does respond to the request, the records may be incomplete. Any attorney’s secretary or paralegal will tell you that they often have to request the same records more than once and that they have to follow up endlessly with the provider’s office.
Finally, it may turn out that the doctor didn’t use the “magic words” as to causation, prognosis, and disability in his or her notes. To successfully prosecute any type of personal injury claim, you must be able to prove, through medical evidence,
Doctors often don’t mention causation and extent of the injury or disability in their medical records. If this happens in your case, your car accident lawyer will write the doctor and ask for a special letter in which the doctor gives his/her opinion that the accident caused your injury or disability and that, as a result of the accident, you will be hindered or disabled for a specific period.
If you received benefits from a health, disability, or workers’ compensation insurer, that insurer will have a lien on your claim. A lien means that the lien holder gets paid before you do, out of any settlement or judgment you receive.
A good car injury attorney near me will work with the lien holder to try to get the lien holder to reduce its lien. This is important work. Every dollar less that the lien holder takes is one more dollar that goes into your pocket.
Negotiation is a very specific skill (some might even call it an art). An experienced car injury lawyer is always going to be far better at settling a car accident case than a layperson would be.
A good attorney knows how much your case is worth and knows how to work the case and conduct the negotiations to arrive at the best outcome for you.
Hiring a car accident attorney to represent you after a car accident means you will have a professional working for you—one who is extremely knowledgeable about the relevant laws and procedural rules that may affect your case.
An attorney can advise you of the shared fault rules in your state and how they might affect your case if your own carelessness (negligence) played a part in causing the accident.
An attorney will also be familiar with time limits (called statutes of limitations) that can bar you from filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. For instance, in many states, you must file your lawsuit within two years of your car accident, or you will lose the right to take the matter to court. A lawyer will also be able to inform you about any special exceptions to the statute of limitations—for example, a minor often has more time to file a lawsuit than an adult.
Your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and will know how to respond to defenses raised by the other side. In addition, once your case gets underway, your lawyer will play an invaluable role in preparing your case for trial—and even going to trial if your case doesn’t settle.
Even though a lawsuit is rarely necessary, the threat of legal action offers strong leverage when negotiating a fair settlement.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, having a car injury lawyer near me who is knowledgeable about the law evens the playing field, especially when you are going up against the experience and vast resources of a large insurance company.
A lot of work goes into negotiating an insurance settlement, not to mention filing a personal injury lawsuit. After you have been in a car accident, taking on this time-consuming work might be the last thing you want to do, even if you can do it. Handing things over to an experienced attorney can reduce your stress and increase your chances of a good outcome.
While this is likely your first time dealing with the ins and outs of an accident claim, car accident attorneys have dealt with all manner of claims and have faced the full range of insurance company tactics. They have experience gathering the necessary evidence to support your claim, including police reports, witness statements, medical records and bills, and employment and lost wage information.
Your attorney will also be able to organize the evidence and write a settlement demand letter to send to the insurance company. If you are unable to settle your accident case, your lawyer can take care of filing the necessary paperwork to start a court case and deal with the defense attorneys on your behalf.
Having a seasoned professional car injury attorney near me navigate the day-to-day work of your case eases the burden on you so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
If you have been injured in a car accident that occurred due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file a claim/lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries. Bobe & Snell Law Office LLC is a trusted law firm with over 25 years of experience representing and fighting for victims of car accidents in Atlanta to get the compensation that they deserve. We are ready and more than happy to fight for you as well.
Call us today at (470) 268-5802 or get in touch with us online to schedule your FREE, no-obligation case review/consultation.
