Do I Really Need A Lawyer For A Car Accident Injury?

Can I Take On The Insurance Company By Myself After A Car Accident?

If you suffered harm in a motor vehicle crash, you might be wondering how to get medical care for your injuries. You can consider hiring an attorney after a car accident. If you’re facing financial difficulties when it comes to treating your injuries, you may have to pursue compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Though you can certainly do so alone, it may be challenging without legal guidance.

Insurance companies have significant resources and experience in handling claims. This can potentially make self-representation difficult. In such instances, you can consult a car accident lawyer. If you have a valid claim for compensation, they can lend their experience and help negotiate a settlement on your behalf.

Should I Consult A Lawyer For A Minor Car Accident?

In some car accident cases, seeking legal representation might not be necessary. You may not need a lawyer after your car accident if:

• Your injury caused only minor pain and discomfort, such as mild whiplash.
• Your injury did not require treatment from a specialty physician or expensive testing.
• You have recovered entirely from your injury after a short rest period, such as after only a few chiropractic sessions.

However, even for a mild injury or a minor car accident, it never hurts to get the opinion of a California car accident attorney. Without legal knowledge and experience, it can be hard to determine if you have a valid claim. Consult with attorneys who can help you understand when to get a legal representative for a car accident. Even small things needed after a minor injury can potentially increase a claim’s value, such as requiring an epidural or physical therapy.

When To Contact An Attorney After A Car Accident

Some motor vehicle accidents are inherently expensive, time-consuming, and severe. You may be unsure, especially at the beginning of your claim, whether to contact a lawyer or not. More often than not, however, it may be helpful to check with a California car accident attorney who offers free initial consultations.

This is particularly important in serious accidents, such as head-on collisions, where injuries can be severe and liability may be disputed. During this consultation, the attorney will learn more about your car accident and your injuries and understand whether they’ll be able to represent you. Doing so will primarily involve evaluating whether you have a valid claim for compensation. If you have a claim, they may estimate its value.

When You Do Not Need A California Accident Attorney

Generally, getting a free initial consultation is the proper approach to any car accident case. However, legal representation from an experienced car accident lawyer is necessary in some cases more than others. Conversely, it may not be as necessary to enlist the services of a personal injury lawyer in the following situations:

You Didn’t Have Injuries

Some car accidents are so minor that they do not cause injuries. You might feel taken aback, surprised, shaken up, or even very angry, but not be physically injured. You might even feel sore, but it resolves within a few days. Oftentimes, accidents that happen at low speeds result in little or no injuries to all involved parties. These accidents may only require a property damage claim for damage done to your vehicle, bicycle, or other personal belongings.

If you weren’t hurt, more than likely, you do not need a California car accident attorney to represent you. If you were seen by the doctor and required some painkillers and rest, there might not be much else an attorney can do for you. If you want to file a property damage claim only, you may be able to independently handle it with the appropriate insurance company. Hiring a lawyer for these types of situations is certainly your right, but the additional cost a lawyer may pursue in your claim might instead go toward paying for their services. Without an injury, there may thus be little to no benefit in hiring a car accident attorney.

You Don’t Care About Seeking Compensation For Your Losses

You’ve heard the adage “let bygones be bygones” applied in different types of situations. Some people apply this to car accidents. A fender bender accident occurs; the drivers get out, calmly speak to each other, wave goodbye, and go on their way. If you weren’t injured in the accident or had little to no property damage, this is a reasonably easy attitude to take. You may even take on that attitude if you have minor injuries.

However, if your injuries are substantial and causing you ongoing problems, you may face more difficulties covering the resulting expenses on your own. Consulting experienced car accident lawyers means you can get your case reviewed. If you have a valid claim, an attorney can help you document your injuries, calculate damages, and seek liability from the at-fault party.

If you genuinely believe that the accident and damages are no big deal, you likely won’t need to ask for a lawyer’s help in seeking compensation from the at-fault driver.

You’re Insurance Savvy

Buying an insurance policy is relatively easy. Get online, give the company your personal and vehicle information, get a quote, accept the policy, and then make your premium payments. Of course, this is a good life skill to have, but very few people know how to actually use their insurance policy. They may not be aware of what their policy covers, how the claims process works, and what the provisions in their insurance contract mean. Even fewer people understand how different types of insurance policies, like health and auto policies, coordinate coverage. What makes these issues even more confusing is that insurance policies can vary based on a state’s laws.

If you are savvy with insurance, not just buying a policy but knowing how your policy applies to your accident, you might be able to take on your claim. Many car accident claims are resolved through a settlement, without the need for litigation. If you aren’t a lawyer but you are well-versed in all things insurance-related, you likely can represent yourself.

You Have Free Time To Pursue Your Claim

Even if you sustained significant injuries, you could represent yourself if you are willing to put in the time. Generally, California car accident attorneys have a background in personal injury law that may help you navigate the claims process efficiently. If you are a do-it-yourself type of person, however, you can likely learn enough to represent yourself against the at-fault party. All you have to do is learn the steps of the process through research and study. The primary tasks involved are making phone calls, gathering relevant documents, following up on minor details, and being assertive enough to advocate for your rights when negotiating with insurance companies.

If you have this much extra time, probably tens of hours each week, over the next year, or possibly even two, then you are a great candidate to take on your claim. If you like new projects that are time-intensive and require extensive knowledge about California insurance laws, this could be the job for you.

You Are At Fault For The Accident

Should I get a lawyer for a car accident that was my fault? If the car accident was your fault, you likely do not need a personal injury attorney. If you caused the accident and suffered injuries, your claim will not be against anyone else. In this case, your insurance company is responsible for providing you with an attorney and defending you. You will not be charged for this service, as it is a benefit of carrying insurance. However, it is common for your carrier to raise your rates after a claim.

However, sometimes more than one party can be at fault for an accident. This concept is referred to as comparative negligence. In California, multiple parties can be held financially liable. For example, if you were speeding and hit a car making an illegal U-turn, both of you would likely be at fault. The court will apportion a percentage of fault to each party. For example, your total compensation would be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault.

Should I Get A Lawyer For A Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?

A California car accident lawyer typically helps clients pursue compensation for their injuries and other losses after a crash. Attorneys can help handle valid claims by taking on several actions, including:

• Arranging assessments with medical professionals.
• Researching case law regarding your injuries.
• Determining your financial losses, such as lost income.

Consider hiring a car accident attorney in California if:

• You Sustained a Severe Injury — The more severe your injury, the more financial burdens you may have. As a result, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the expenses you incur as you recover. Severe injuries do not necessarily mean you were hospitalized or had surgery. Broken bones, joint injuries, or anything else causing pain or requiring long-term treatment could be considered severe injuries.
• You Don’t Know How Serious Your Injury Is — You might find that your pain is not getting better after your accident. The initial treatments you completed are not working. If this sounds familiar, an attorney may be able to help you seek medical care and pursue compensation for your injuries’ current and long-term costs.
• You’re Worried About Paying Your Medical Bills — With car accidents comes financial stress. If you are worried about how you will pay for your medical bills, you may have the option to pursue compensation for your injuries. Your attorney might also be able to help you with medical liens. These types of liens allow you to get medical care. The provider agrees to get paid from the proceeds of your settlement or court award, in the event that you attain this outcome for your claim.
• You Missed Hours at Work — You may be able to seek compensation for any time you missed work due to your injuries or medical appointments. A lawyer who handles car accidents can help you pursue compensation that considers the income lost from your missed work hours.
• Your Injuries or Losses Are Likely to Be Disputed — This is a situation that can potentially arise during the claims process, depending on how you acted after your car accident. For example, if you did not seek immediate medical care, that may imply that your injuries weren’t serious enough or that you actively made them worse. In such cases, you might want to have an attorney who can represent your interests when countering potential disputes like these.
• You Need Help Reviewing Settlement Offers — Shortly after a car accident, you may receive settlement offers that aim to cover the cost of your injuries. At this point in time, you may have yet to discover the full impact of your losses. However, if you accept a settlement and incur more accident-related expenses down the line, you will not be able to file a claim for the same crash. Consulting a lawyer for car accident cases can help you get a second opinion on the settlement offers you receive, so you can make informed decisions about whether to accept or counter them.

How Do I Find An Attorney For My Car Accident Case?

If you’re looking to pursue a car accident claim, you may wish to consult a lawyer with experience and knowledge in handling them, especially if your case involves serious injuries or fatal car accidents. Your lawyer should make it easy for you to discuss the specifics of your situation and guide you through the claims process.

Look for these points when searching for a California car accident attorney:

• They focus primarily on personal injury clients, especially car accident cases.
• They have years of experience practicing personal injury law.
• They offer free initial consultations at their office or a location that is convenient for you.
• They listen to you, recall the details you give them, and pay attention to you when you talk.
• They understand the type of injuries you sustained.
• They can handle your case using a personalized approach.

If an accident resulted in the death of a loved one, consider consulting experienced wrongful death lawyers. They can help grieving families navigate the claims process, establish liability, and pursue the compensation your loved one’s estate may be entitled to.

Injured In An Auto Accident? Arash Law Can Help

At Arash Law, our California personal injury lawyers have handled numerous personal injury cases for injured clients across the state. Many of those clients are car accident victims just like you. For years, we have worked to advocate for their rights and help them seek compensation for their losses. We serve clients in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, Sherman Oaks, and other locations across California. We can arrange for translation services if you would be more comfortable speaking a language other than English.

Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 or contact us online for a free initial consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients won’t be charged attorney fees unless they’re able to collect compensation. Certain case-related expenses may still apply, which we discuss with them before taking on their case.