Time is valuable to everyone. In today’s fast-paced world, everyone is in a hurry, whether for work or for personal matters. Our daily routines often lull our alertness, resulting in car accidents. Often, no one is hurt, and there is no visible damage, so you may immediately feel the temptation to avoid hiring a lawyer for a car accident in the Bronx, but to settle it on your own instead of wasting your time, energy, and money. Even though some accidents are minor, not every accident is the same.
Most likely, you won’t get a fair settlement if you don’t have a lawyer. If you try to handle it on your own, you’ll probably get a settlement that doesn’t even come close to covering your costs, leaving you to pay thousands of dollars for medical bills and car repairs. You need a lawyer to take your case if there are a lot of possible defendants and complicated questions about who is responsible.
Here are some occasions when you might wonder if you need a car accident lawyer and why you should never ask that question.
Settling seems easy
Sometimes, you might think that there are no open questions of fault and that settling them is as easy as finding the number that everyone is pleased with. But even if you think it’s clear who was at fault, there are many ways an insurance company can try to prove otherwise. They may cast doubt on who is accountable and to what extent, increasing your chances of reaching a reasonable settlement when you have an attorney advocating for you. A skilled car accident lawyer will know how to present your case for the compensation you deserve.
You don’t have any serious injuries
If your injuries seem minor and you don’t think they will have any long-term effects, you might think you can define the injuries and the damage they cause. Even seemingly minor injuries might have long-term and latent implications that you may not be aware of but must account for in your final settlement.
Accident stress can greatly affect how you feel and your ability to think straight, so never presume that you understand the entire extent of your injuries and losses. Let a lawyer for a car accident in the Bronx decide based on how they have handled similar injury claims in the past.
Your case is not standard
When you hear an argument that starts with “all things being equal,” it’s almost never true. Similarly, the party or parties at fault are rarely immediately apparent and determining the full degree of your injuries is difficult for a layperson.
Remember that those with whom you will need to negotiate have significantly more expertise and experience than you. No matter how straightforward your case appears to be, someone with greater experience will be on the opposite side. You require someone who understands how to achieve the full settlement you require.
An attorney can help save you time and money
Hiring a lawyer for a car accident in the Bronx to help you resolve your situation has many advantages. The amount and type of your injuries may be difficult to estimate without the experience of a lawyer who has dealt with similar situations. They’re used to doing this, and they’re also aware of what the opposing side is likely to do.
Finally, keep in mind that the lawyer is on your side and will advocate for you in a professional but detached manner. Your lawyer’s expertise and dedication will go a long way toward securing fair payment for your suffering.
They are professionals
The goal of the insurance industry and its representatives is to maximize profits. They achieve this result by receiving more money in premium payments than they pay out in claim payments. Unlike you, they know what to ask for when filing a claim, and they have expertise in negotiating settlements that may not cover all of your losses. If you have a lawyer, they will tell you to stay away from specific actions.
While you consider hiring counsel, there are several things you should do to protect your interests and avoid engaging with these opposing parties:
- Don’t take the first settlement offer. It’s almost always a lowball offer made to take advantage of your pain (both physical and emotional) and financial problems.
- Only give a recorded statement to your own insurance company, and even then, only if your policy requires it.
- Don’t make any excuses, because if you do, people might see them as an admission of guilt, and the insurance company’s lawyers would definitely treat them as such.
- Don’t admit fault; just state the facts without saying whether or not you think the other side is to blame.
- Don’t minimize any injuries you may have sustained or car damage. Again, the attorneys for the insurance company will use these statements against you as admissions. Make an appointment with your physician, seek treatment, and do as he or she instructs.
- Try not to file a lawsuit on your own. Although the lawyer for a car accident in the Bronx method of obtaining justice is inexpensive, what you pay for as an amateur is competing against true professionals in their area of expertise.
- Avoid discussing the accident in conversation with the other side and online.
- Don’t give your own insurance company any more information than is necessary at this time; hold off on making any statements until you determine whether to hire legal representation.
The lawyer is not emotionally involved
You just went through something awful. You’re hurt, worried about how much money you’ll have and how much it will cost you. Your lawyer will fight hard for your best interests and can use what he or she knows about your injuries and the ways insurance companies work to get you the full and fair coverage you need for your injuries.
Hiring an attorney is too expensive
Most lawyers who handle car accident cases do so on a contingency basis. In a contingency fee agreement, you and your lawyer will agree that you will only pay fees if your case is won. This means that your lawyer either reached a settlement that you were happy with or won an award for your damages in court. In the fee agreement, you’ll assume what fees you’ll pay your lawyer for a car accident in the Bronx at what points in the case. It will also determine how you’ll pay for other fees and costs, like court costs and filling fees.
In the event that you or someone you know has been hurt in a car accident, you will need an attorney who has specific knowledge and experience in New York law to assist you in your legal matter. The attorneys at 1-800-HURT have years of experience representing car accident victims and their families throughout New York City’s five boroughs and beyond. Contact us at 1-800-HURT-511 right now!
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