If you’ve never been in a major car wreck, you might wonder what car accident lawyers do. This might be your first time needing legal help, so you might want to know how an attorney will seek the compensation you deserve from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
The following is a look at what car accident lawyers do and why an attorney will provide your best chance of winning your case.
Understanding Car Accident Lawyers
A car accident attorney is a skilled professional who is passionate about justice. When someone suffers a severe injury in a wreck that wasn’t their fault, they have a right to pursue compensation from those whose negligence led to their harm. One of the most essential things car accident lawyers do is to help them get that compensation.
Consulting With the Client
You’ve no doubt seen countless ads on television for car accident lawyers. You’ve also heard them ask you to call or contact them online for a free consultation. What happens when you take an attorney up on that offer?
The purpose of the consultation is for you to decide whether or not you’re comfortable trusting the lawyer with your legal representation. The attorney uses the consultation to determine the validity of your case and decide whether you have a good chance of winning.
The lawyer will ask a lot of questions to find out everything you can remember about the wreck. They’ll want to know as many details as you can provide them. Once they get the answers and both of you decide to work together, the attorney will investigate the accident.
Investigating the Accident
Of all the things car accident lawyers do, none are more important than conducting an investigation. The only way you’ll obtain maximum compensation is to provide solid evidence you weren’t to blame for the wreck. That’s why your attorney will investigate – to gather that evidence. These are some ways they’ll work to get the proof you need.
Getting Evidence from the Accident Scene
Many people are too injured to gather anything from the accident scene, but other parties, including witnesses or authorities, might take photographs or give statements. Your car accident attorney can seek this evidence to support your case.
Finding Video
If the wreck occurred in a populated area, the chances are excellent that a surveillance camera has footage. Your lawyer will look at nearby convenience stores, restaurants, office buildings, and other areas with cameras. Not just anyone can get that footage, but an attorney can. If the property owner doesn’t want to provide that footage, your lawyer can obtain a court subpoena forcing them to do so. This footage can show exactly how the accident occurred, proving that you weren’t to blame.
Other Evidence
A lawyer can obtain other pieces of proof to support your case. Here are just a few:
- The police report can be a powerful piece of evidence to insurance companies. In most states, those involved in a car wreck must call the police if there are severe injuries, deaths, or significant property damage. Your lawyer can obtain a copy of the report containing the officer’s opinion of why the wreck occurred.
- If witnesses saw what happened, your attorney can contact and interview them. They can corroborate your version of the accident, greatly enhancing your chances of obtaining maximum compensation.
- Your lawyer can also get your medical records to show the extent of your injury and the treatment you’ll need. These records will prove your medical expenses, which your attorney will work to obtain so you don’t have to pay for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Determining Your Damages
It won’t do a lot of good to demand compensation when you don’t know how much your case is worth. Another critical thing car accident lawyers do is calculate the value of their client’s financial losses or damages.
Many damages are easy to calculate. An attorney must only obtain medical bills and pay stubs to show your economic damages. But what about damages that aren’t black-and-white? You also deserve compensation for the pain and mental anguish you’re experiencing.
That’s where a skilled lawyer can be invaluable. Experienced attorneys know how to calculate intangible damages. They’ll know exactly how much you should receive and take that figure to the at-fault party’s insurer.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
Yet another essential service car accident lawyers provide is handling all communications with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Insurers have one priority – to make the most significant profits possible. If you win your case, you’ll cut into their profit margin. So, you can assume the insurer will do everything possible to prevent that.
However, if you have a skilled attorney working for you, they’ll force the insurance company to pay every penny you deserve. Your lawyer will use the evidence they’ve gathered to convince the insurer the amount of money you’re asking for is fair. The insurance company will have little choice but to agree to an equitable settlement.
Going to Trial
Only about five percent of cases like yours find their way to a courtroom. However, if the insurer in your case stubbornly refuses to give you the money you deserve, your attorney will be ready. Armed with evidence, they’ll make a compelling argument to prove your case to a judge or jury. Attorneys often bring in experts in accident reconstruction to show how the accident happened. They may also call upon a medical expert to prove the extent of your injury and how much your treatment will cost.
Please Contact a Car Accident Attorney Immediately
Now that you know what car accident lawyers do, you realize why you need one. The faster you hire a personal injury attorney in McLean, VA the better the chances they’ll get the evidence you need to win. Please don’t hesitate to get legal help – it will likely be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.