What Steps Should Be Taken Following a Car Accident in Queens?
In the wake of a car accident, there is a specific process you must follow to ensure you have the best chance of receiving fair compensation for injuries related to the accident. These steps, as well as answers to frequently asked car accident questions, are detailed below. We provide most affordable car accident lawyer Elmhurst services!
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Step One: Get To a Safe Place and Call 911
In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it’s likely you’ll be stunned and in pain. You must use all your strength and mental energy to get yourself out of your vehicle, off the road, and to a safe location. Once you’re there, you must call 911 to request assistance from first responders.
Note: A compassionate car accident victim will likely be inclined to help other injured parties at the scene, but doing so can jeopardize the car accident claim they intend to file later on. For example, if you harm somebody in the course of trying to help them, they could turn around and sue you for doing so.
Step Two: Get Medical Attention
When the first responders arrive, you should get medical attention on the scene from the paramedics. These medical professionals can look you over and treat you for a range of minor injuries, but they won’t have the equipment and resources that an emergency room physician will have, and such is why you should take a trip to the nearest emergency room after an accident to get proper medical attention.
Even if you don’t believe you’re injured, you should visit the ER, as you may have sustained injuries that haven’t manifested yet. In this case, you’d need medical documentation that links the injuries to the accident, or else you’ll have a hard time later on proving that the injuries are accident-related.
Step Three: Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Once you’re relatively stable, you should get in touch with our car accident lawyers to see if you have a case. You should reach out to a lawyer before you reach out to your insurance company—and before you interact with other involved parties’ insurance providers—as you may say something by mistake and significantly diminish the strength of your claim.
What Will a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer Do for Their Client?
While it’s true that pursuing a car accident claim is something a car accident victim can do without assistance from a car accident lawyer, more and more car accident victims are choosing to get legal assistance, as it’s become harder over the past few years to pursue damages without it. There are a variety of benefits associated with hiring a car accident lawyer, and several notable benefits are listed below:
- A car accident lawyer will gather evidence for you.
- A car accident lawyer will negotiate with your car insurance provider to reach a settlement.
- A car accident lawyer will use a variety of resources and call on numerous expert witnesses to show you bear no fault in causing the accident.
- Should a case go to trial, a car accident lawyer will be able to persuade a judge and jury to rule in your favor.
- Having a car accident lawyer handle all the tedious and hassle-laden processes will give you plenty of time to focus on recovery.
Do You Have to Pay a Car Accident Lawyer Before a Settlement Is Reached?
If you get legal representation from Hurt 511, you won’t have to pay any fees unless our car accident lawyers secure you an award. Car accident lawyers like us work off contingency, and standard practice in the industry is the lawyer gets 1/3 of the total award, partly as compensation for their services and partly to cover all costs associated with bringing the case. There are laws, regulations, and ethical codes that govern how much car accident lawyers can claim as compensation in New York.
What’s the Best Way to Find a Car Accident Lawyer in Queens?
Before you start looking for a qualified car accident lawyer on your own, get in touch with local friends and family to see if anyone has had any success with a local lawyer. Note any recommendations you get and weigh these later on against your own findings.
Next, you must conduct research online to see which lawyers in your area are most promising. Once you’ve done a fair bit of browsing, create a short list of potential hires. Now, call these hires, convey the details of the car accident, ask questions, and see who gives you the best first impression. From these meetings, you should also be able to discern who’s most qualified, and you should get a feel for who’s going to treat you like a valued client.
How Does a Car Accident Lawyer Calculate a Total Damages Figure?
Damages is another name for compensation that’s awarded to a car accident victim for injuries sustained during the accident. A car accident lawyer will assess a variety of factors and then arrive at a total damages figure based on their assessment. Below are three key factors that a lawyer will consider when calculating a total damages figure for you:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain & suffering
How Often Do Car Accident Claims Go to Court?
While the vast majority of car accident claims get settled out of court, there are claims that do end up in court. When a claim ends up in court, such changes the nature of the claim process quite significantly. Specifically, going to trial will elongate the process and make it more costly. These two reasons are mainly why most car accident claims get settled before going before a judge and jury is ever necessary.
Should I Wait Before Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer?
Generally speaking, the last thing you should do is wait when it comes to a car accident faq. Of course there are instances when a car accident victim will be unable to get the process in motion right away, such as if you sustained debilitating injuries during the accident.
In New York, a car accident victim has three years to file a claim, but it’s best to get the process in motion right away, as evidence depreciates with the passing of time. Also, there are instances when a claim will have to be brought much quicker. For example, if you’re rear-ended by a DSNY truck, you’ll need to file a claim against the DSNY within 30 days.
Need best-in-class legal representation? Looking for a car accident lawyer in Elmhurst who will treat you like a priority and exhaust every option to ensure you get properly compensated for injuries related to a car accident? Call 1-800-HURT-511 now!
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