by Leo Shalit

BlogDecember 22, 20200 comments

When 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!