by Leo ShalitWhen Should You Contact An Attorney After A Car Accident?
Do you need an attorney after a car accident? When should you contact a lawyer after a car crash? These are essential questions asked by many people, and in today’s article, we will answer them so that you know how to proceed legally. The general rule is tht if you have been involved in a car accident and received injuries, you should contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
It is not easy to work with insurance companies because most of them offer low settlements, even on cases involving severe injuries. An experienced attorney understands how insurance companies work and how to negotiate with them for a better settlement.
Insurance adjusters usually start at the low end of a specific settlement range. In this regard, a car accident lawyer will place a fair value on your claim to help you get a deserving compensation.
A car accident attorney can handle a variety of car accident cases. For instance, these include cases about permanent injuries, serious injuries, death, pedestrian involvement, construction zone accidents, inaccurate police reports, apparent fault, no-fault, and an uncooperative insurance company.
When to Contact an Attorney?
It would help if you did a few things before contacting your attorney and telling him about the car accident. Call 911 immediately and report your accident, which helps alert the emergency medical teams and police officials to the accident scene.
Get police and medical report to claim your insurance. Without these documents, it is challenging to establish fault and liability. It is easy to collect evidence these days because we have smartphones. So, take photos of license plates, car damage, traffic patterns, intersections, and record videos of eyewitnesses. The information will help your attorney make the case stronger.
An insurance company usually reduces its liability by offering you a low-ball settlement, which is not enough to fairly compensate you for your car damage or personal injuries. In this situation, you need to contact a car accident attorney immediately to file a claim.
Even iif you have minor injuries or no significant car damage, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Call your attorney immediately when:
· The accident has caused significant injuries
· An accident with no established fault
· An accident involving another driver or pedestrian
· A crash in work or construction zone
· The driver is uninsured or underinsured
· You disagree with the police report
· Uncooperative insurance companies
Don’t forget to provide your attorney with contact information, police report, medical report, facts about your case, photo/evidence of the accident scene, medical receipts, and witness statements or contact information.
Final Words
A professional attorney will investigate all aspects of your car accident and start negotiating with the insurance company. Remember, a personal injury claim has different legal aspects than a car accident lawsuit. An injury claim is between you and the insurance company, which usually involves a series of negotiations. At Leo, Shalit, P.C., our attorneys are experienced and skilled negotiators who will help you achieve the compensation you deserve. Contact us today!
by Leo ShalitHow to Prepare for Initial Consultations with Your Attorney
Do you need an attorney who will ensure protecting your legal rights in court proceedings? It is crucial to seek legal advice early to save time and reduce costs. An attorney represents you in court by presenting evidence and arguing in trials to help you win the case.
Find a lawyer who can meet your specific legal needs, goals, and objectives. Today, it is easy to find a professional attorney in your city who can represent you in court. For instance, you can search online and look for reviews of different types of attorneys.
However, the best way to find an attorney is to seek help from your family members, relatives, and friends. Remember, word-of-mouth recommendations are usually better in this regard. Follow the tips given in this article to better prepare for initial consultations with your attorney.
Create a List of Questions
Typically, an initial consultation is not a formal meeting with your attorney. A professional and experienced attorney will make the process easy and comfortable for you. Having said that, you must ask him some questions during the conversation.
Make sure you prepare the list of questions before you meet the attorney. Making a list of questions is necessary because you may forget to discuss some important points with the attorney. Some of the questions you can ask your attorney are:
· Do you think my case is worth it?
· What is your fee strategy, and how much will you charge me?
· How often can I meet you to discuss legal matters?
· Do you have experience in these types (construction accidents) of cases?
· What would be your approach to my case?
· What are the possible outcomes?
· What are my responsibilities in this case?
These are some of the essential questions you can ask from your attorney in the initial consultation. We recommend you to ask as many questions as you can so that you are clear about everything. That way, you can make an accurate and informed decision.
Bring All Important Documents
A attorney always asks for the necessary documents that can help in court proceedings. You can do your research or ask an expert about the documents your attorney would need for your case. If you don’t know much about the documents, your lawyer will tell you about them.
For instance, if you had a car accident, your attorney would ask you to bring a police report so that he knows what the police believed happened exactly. Keep in mind that most attorneys don’t study the documents thoroughly during the consultation itself. The attorney will go through the documents after you have hired him for your case.
Your attorney may ask you to sign a few documents, and before you do that, you must read them or ask the lawyer to explain them. Ask your attorney to give you copies of all documents and letters related to your case.
Final Words
There are many benefits of initial consultations with your attorney. It helps you understand the legal status of your case and the court proceedings. If you need a personal injury lawyer, business lawyer or criminal defense attorney, schedule your appointment with Leo Shalit, P.C. We have an experienced legal team who can speak with you today about your personal injury case.
by Leo ShalitTop 5 Reasons to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney
Speeding or parking tickets are matters which you can potentially handle by yourself. However, it is in your best interest to hire a criminal defense attorney if you face criminal charges.
Due to the potential for serious negative consequences, it is essential to hire a professional criminal defense attorney who can defend you in court and ensure your voice is heard and justice is served. A criminal defense lawyer’s fees are still minimal compared to the potential serious consequences (jail or loss of right to vote) resulting from not having the best defense. Here are the top 5 reasons to hire a criminal defense attorney.
1. Thorough Understanding of Law
An experienced criminal defense attorney knows the criminal justice system and understands how the court proceedings work. The legal system can become confusing even if you have some knowledge of it. However, a qualified and experienced defense attorney can accurately guide you through the process and defend you in court based on facts and evidence.
2. Better Relationships with the Government
An experienced criminal defense attorney has worked in the field for many years, which allows him to develop healthy relationships with prosecutors and the governmen t. It seems a little strange when a defense attorney has a positive relationship with an adversary. However, both lawyers are familiar with court proceedings and understand how things work. Good relationships with the government allow for more effective communications between the parties.
3. Familiarity with Your Case
While each case is unique, an experienced criminal defense attorney should be familiar with the case type since he has dealt with similar cases in the past. Remember that different lawyers have different specialties, and a criminal defense lawyer has many years of experience dealing with criminal cases. So, your attorney can properly handle your case in court and provide you with the necessary assistance to obtain the best possible outcome.
4. Damage Control
The prosecutor will do their best to collect enough evidence to convict you. Unfortunately, the prosecutor will use the police officers to get information from you. A criminal defense attorney guides you on answering questions in custody and ensure you don’t say anything that could harm your case later on. If you have revealed information to the police, an experienced attorney can make a motion to suppress the damaging information and make it less harmful or damaging to your case.
5. Witness Statements
Many years of experience enable a criminal defense attorney to assemble evidence and proclamations from witnesses. Without a criminal defense lawyer, it is not easy to properly attain victim or witness statements because of reluctance of these parties to speak with the the defense. A criminal defense attorney uses various resources, such as expert witnesses and private investigators, to develop case information and build the defense.
Final Words
A highly experienced and skilled attorney can defend you when you are facing criminal charges. Leo, Shalit, P.C. has a team of licensed and experienced defense criminal attorneys committed to providing the best legal services. If you are facing a criminal charge, contact us today!