Everybody has a right to pursue compensation if they are injured in a car accident through little or no fault of their own. Car accidents can happen to anyone, changing lives in the blink of an eye.
Why Choose Car Accident Attorneys
After a serious accident, you want to find the best possible representation, so you can receive maximum compensation and put all this behind you.
What to do after a car accident
Collect evidence from the scene, including photographs, eyewitness statements, and police reports. Before you forget, write down all the details you can – the date, time, place, lane, direction traveled, speed, weather, and where you were headed.
You also want to be sure you avoid some of the big mistakes people make following a motor vehicle accident. Never talk to the opposing insurance company without an advocate! You may inadvertently provide incorrect information or get trapped into making a recorded statement that can be used against you in court to invalidate your claim. It’s all too easy to jet away from the scene, without calling the police, exchanging insurance information, or taking pictures.
Getting medical treatment after a car accident
Even if you don’t feel like you’re disabled after the crash, seek immediate medical attention to substantiate your injuries. The symptoms of whiplash, concussions, or minor bone fractures can be subtle at first. Follow the attending physician’s orders and appear at all follow-up appointments. It helps immensely to receive care from a respected doctor who can validate your injury claim.
Dealing with insurance agents when filing a car accident claim
You may notice that there is a flood of calls from insurance companies in the days that follow your accident. At face value, it may seem these people genuinely care how you’re doing. However, it’s our experience that the negligent driver’s insurance company wants to settle matters as quickly as possible, for as little as possible. While their initial offer may seem like a good sum of money at first, you have to take into account what future expenses may arise and how much others are getting paid for similar accidents. Why settle for $30,000 if you could receive as much as $3 million? Advocacy from a skilled attorney lets you know what is reasonable to expect and protects your best interests.
What does it cost to hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Contingency fees can range from 33 to 40%, with additional fees for police reports, filing, postage, investigator fees, expert witness fees, medical records fees, trial exhibits, and depositions taking. However, to offset some of these costs, you can sometimes negotiate to have these legal fees included in the final settlement or jury award to maximize what you collect.
Contact one of our Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers to Discuss your Auto Accident Injuries
If a car accident flipped your world upside-down, a car accident attorney is a great friend to have at this point in life. You may not be sure if a lawsuit is the best course of action, but speaking with an experienced lawyer can help you figure out the next steps to take following serious injury to ensure your future options are not hindered by inaction today. But at the same time nobody can guarantee specific results.
