Should I get a Lawyer for a California Car Accident?
The short answer is yes. Hiring a skilled car accident lawyer to represent you after a car accident will likely lead to the best possible outcome for your personal injury claim. An Insurance Industry study found that individuals who are represented by a lawyer receive on average a settlement which is three (3) times greater compensation than those individuals who are self-represented. Even accounting for the standard car accident lawyer’s contingency fee, you are likely to receive significantly more compensation if a skilled car accident lawyer handless your injury claim.
However, no state law requires injured motorists to hire a lawyer. This decision rests solely with you as the victim of the automobile accident. What should you know to help you make an informed decision?
First and foremost, you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you before or after filing your insurance claim. However, you should be aware that finding a car accident lawyer willing to accept your case may be more difficult if you have started and been handling the insurance claims process yourself, so the decision of whether or not to hire a car accident lawyer should be made shortly after you have been in an accident.
Having a personal injury lawyer on your side does not guarantee any particular outcome, but is likely to yield a far better outcome than if you were self-represented in your car accident claim. Additionally, having skilled legal representation takes a tremendous amount stress off you while you focus on recovering from injuries you sustained in the crash.
You may find that your decision to hire an attorney after your car accident is determined by the extent of the damages you suffered and your familiarity and comfort with the insurance claims process. In addition, there are three essential things to focus on when deciding on legal representation – when, why, and who.
When Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Legal representation is not mandatory, but there are many circumstances in which hiring a car accident lawyer would be highly recommended. For example, if you or a loved one were injured in the accident. Most people choose to obtain legal counsel due to the complex nature of California motor vehicle and personal injury laws. A car accident lawyer can also be especially helpful in complicated cases, such as ones involving commercial vehicles or on-the-job drivers, and in cases where liability is disputed.
One of the more common factors that leads to injured motorists seeking an attorney is injury severity. A skilled car accident lawyer’s knowledge and experience can be extremely valuable in obtaining just and proper compensation if you suffered serious injuries or if your loved one was involved in a fatal car crash.
Conversely, car crashes with minor or no injuries can likely be handled without the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. If this is your chosen route, be sure that your injuries are minor before committing to this option. It is always a good idea to seek immediate medical attention at a hospital emergency room after an accident, no matter how insignificant an injury may seem at the time. Some injuries, such as whiplash and head trauma, can appear asymptomatic for hours or even days following the accident, only to become more pronounced as time goes by. Before pursuing self-representation in a car accident claim, be sure that you have not been seriously injured.
Why is Working with a Car Accident Lawyer a Good Idea?
You can benefit from the skilled representation of a car accident lawyer’s deep knowledge of how to position your case for the best possible outcome. The sooner you reach out to a personal injury lawyer, the more assistance your legal counsel can provide, and the more likely your claim will have a favorable outcome. A car accident lawyer can help you with:
- Obtaining and preserving evidence
- Investigating the accident facts
- Locating any video cameras which may have captured the accident
- Obtaining witness statements
- Filing an insurance claim
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Obtaining Experts to prove liability
- Representing you in settlement discussions and mediation
- Filing a lawsuit against the responsible parties
- Representing you at trial if necessary
A skilled car accident lawyer will know the ins and outs of obtaining the necessary evidence and have substantial experience navigating car accident cases. A car accident lawyer will be familiar with California’s complex laws involving liability, fault, proving injury and damages, statutes of limitations, and other legal matters that come up in your case.
Who is the Best Choice to Represent You?
The final thing to consider is which personal injury lawyer you want representing you. Again, you will want to look for specialization. Suppose the attorney has handled a high number of car accident cases and has many positive client reviews on sites like Yelp and Google Reviews. In that case, there is a good chance that they have the skill necessary to represent you in your car accident case. Before hiring an attorney, you may want to check for disciplinary actions against an attorney by accessing the state bar’s website.
What fee structure does the attorney use? When you are in the midst of a personal injury case, medical bills and lost wages can cause intense financial strain. Many personal injury lawyers are willing to work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not owe any money unless they successfully resolve your car accident case. They are paid from the compensation they obtain for you. If a car accident lawyer is not willing to take your case on a contingency fee arrangement, you should look elsewhere.
You should also feel comfortable speaking with the attorney and asking questions during your initial consultation. Speaking directly with the attorney is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and determine if the attorney is a good fit for you and your case.
Choosing a car accident lawyer may take some time and effort on your part, but the effort made is well worth it to obtain the best outcome for your car accident claim.
We offer California Car Accident victims a free consultation, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact our office at (415) 334-4111, or use our Quick Contact Form to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
At The Hassell Law Group, our legal team are experts in car accident law and personal injury law with over 100 years of combined legal experience, and experience matters. We stand up to aggressive insurance companies and have a history of obtaining award-winning results for our clients. We fight every step of the way to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no financial risk in hiring our law firm. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. We welcome your questions, and our legal team looks forward to helping you obtain just and proper compensation for your personal injury claim.
Read next: How an attorney can help with your car accident claim
The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.
How Do I Choose A Personal Injury Lawyer?