If you find yourself sorting through the painful and logistical aftermath of a car accident, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, confused, and uncertain of how to proceed. And though there isn’t a singular solution, hiring a car accident attorney could provide relief from some of the messiness.
6 Reasons to Hire a Lawyer
There’s nothing stopping you from representing yourself. If you want to handle the process on your own, you’re more than welcome to. However, it’s not recommended. It’s a challenging ordeal that requires high dosages of experience, skill, and patience. If you’re lacking in any of these three areas, it’s a good idea to hire a lawyer. Here are some specific reasons why:
1. You Don’t Understand the Process
The process of filing a claim and negotiating a settlement (or taking the insurance company to court) is anything but easy or straightforward. It’s a complicated undertaking that requires years of experience and firsthand knowledge to approach with a high degree of success. You don’t understand this process and now isn’t the time to learn how. Thus, you need hire a car accident attorney (if you are in the Phoenix AZ area, you could click here to learn about one of the options available to you) to successfully guide you through each stage.
2. The Insurance Company Doesn’t Have Your Best Interests in Mind
After an accident, you have to deal with the insurance company. This could be described as one of the necessary evils of the process. In most cases, you’ll enter into discussions with your own insurance company.
“However, just because you’ll be working with your own insurance company doesn’t mean the insurer is going to be willing to settle your claim,” Jasmine Daya & Co. mentions. “In fact, you should prepare to deal with some pushback from the insurer, as they will be losing money if they are obligated to settle your claim.”
Without any firsthand experience, you may assume that your insurance provider is looking out for you. However, a car accident attorney isn’t fooled by the insurance companies and knows how to play their game.
3. You Don’t Know How Much Your Case is Worth
For all you know, your case is worth $5,000. But what if it’s worth $15,000 or $50,000? Would you really have any way of knowing? The truth is that the average car accident victim has no way of understanding what their claim is worth. Rarely does this work out in your favor.
4. You Don’t Know How to Negotiate a Claim/Settlement
Most people are poor at negotiating. And even if you possess some natural skills in this area, you don’t have enough knowledge of car accident claims to know where to start.
An experienced car accident attorney knows exactly how much your case is worth and can use this as a solid foundation for negotiations. You don’t have to worry about getting taken advantage of. Even if the insurance company refuses to meet your demands, your attorney can help you go to court and file a suit.
5. You Only Have One Chance
There are no re-dos with car accident claims. You can’t come back five years from now and seek more money after you discover that the pain in your back will require another surgery or treatment. This is a one-and-done process. A skilled car accident attorney will ensure you get as much as you possibly can to account for current and future medical bills. This should give you peace of mind.
6. Most Attorneys Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
The vast majority of car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This removes most of your upfront cost and risk.
“In a contingent fee arrangement, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage (often one third) of the recovery, which is the amount finally paid to the client,” American Bar Association explains. “If you win the case, the lawyer’s fee comes out of the money awarded to you.”
Get the Help You Need
No matter how minor or serious, a car accident claim is a complicated matter that’s made even more difficult by high-pressure adjustors and greedy insurance companies that want to save money and protect their bottom lines. By hiring a lawyer, you can rest easy knowing that your best interests are protected. Don’t mess this up!
