If you have been in a car wreck, you should consider hiring a motor vehicle accident lawyer to represent you. There are five benefits of hiring a lawyer after you have been hurt in a car wreck. An accident lawyer has knowledge of the law and can take your case on a contingency basis. They can also gather the evidence needed for your case, negotiate a better settlement with the insurance company, and represent you at trial.
1. Knowledge of the Law
After you have been in a car wreck, you might wonder whether hiring an attorney will be beneficial for your specific circumstances. An attorney will have extensive knowledge of the law. They will also be able to better navigate the no-fault car insurance system that’s allowed in a no-fault state.
If you are in a no-fault state, your injuries must exceed a threshold set by the state. This means medical expenses from the accident must be over a certain dollar amount. Once this threshold is met, the state allows you to file a third-party car insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
States that are not no-fault states are called “tort states.” In tort states, the law requires that the insurance company of the person who is deemed at fault pays for all of the damages.
As of 2022, the 12 no-fault states are:
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
Of these 12 states, three of the states allow residents to opt out of a no-fault option by purchasing additional insurance. Having the additional insurance will allow the person to sue for damages if they are in a wreck. These states are Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
An attorney will be able to assess your injuries and property damage. They can help determine if your injuries exceed the state’s threshold if you live in a no-fault state. If you live in a tort state, they will work with you and the insurance companies involved in the claim.
2. Only Pay if You Win Your Case
Many people are concerned that hiring a lawyer will be too expensive. For this reason, many lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. A contingency means that you only pay for the lawyer’s fees if they win your case. When you work with an attorney on a contingency, their fee will be a set percentage of the total outcome of the case. For example, you would pay them 30% of the amount of the settlement if they won the case. If there was no settlement made, then you would not be responsible for any fees.
3. Gather Needed Evidence
Another benefit of hiring a lawyer after you have been in a car wreck is that they will gather the needed evidence for you. They will find the evidence associated with your specific case to support your claim. The more evidence they are able to get, the better your chances are at getting a higher settlement.
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Evidence that might be beneficial includes police reports, witness statements, and other details about the incident. They may also get pictures of the location of the wreck as well as the vehicle’s damage.
4. Negotiate a Better Settlement
The lawyer that you hire should have experience working with both victims and insurance companies. They will be able to work with the insurance company to negotiate a better settlement. It is best to have your lawyer work with the insurance company because they will know if the insurance company’s offer is too low.
Many insurance adjusters will try to convince you that their low offer is your only settlement option. Your lawyer will present evidence and negotiate the best possible settlement. In most cases, an attorney will get you a higher settlement than you would get without an attorney’s help.
5. Representation at Trial
Your case might go to trial if a settlement cannot be agreed on. In the event that your lawyer is not able to reach an agreement with the insurance company, they will be able to represent you at trial. If the case goes to trial, it’s better to have a lawyer because they know how the court works. It can be very hard to represent yourself in your own case if you don’t have the knowledge or experience.
Hire a Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
These benefits are the five main reasons that you should work with a lawyer. You should hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer if you have been hurt in a car wreck and need help getting a settlement. Your lawyer will be able to go over your case, apply their knowledge of the law, and work to get you the best possible settlement.
