Answers From Attorneys: Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer (2024)

Where to look to find good car accident attorneys and what to ask

So you've been involved in a car accident and think you may have a case. How do you find the right attorney to help you?

You already know this is an important decision. In fact, finding the right lawyer from a good shortlist of car accident attorneys may be one of the most important decisions of your entire car accident case.

We're going to help you with that right now.

Top reasons why you need a personal injury attorney after your auto accident

When should you hire a personal injury attorney after a car crash, and why? What does a lawyer do for you? Do you need a lawyer for a minor car accident? We asked attorneys from all over the country these questions and here's what they said.

Research shows that car accident victims, particularly those with perceived "minor" injuries, are reluctant to hire a personal injury attorney for a number of reasons. Perhaps they don't think they need one, they are intimidated by the prospect of talking to a lawyer, or they don't want to get dragged into court like they see on TV shows. Or maybe they mistakenly believe that they could never afford to hire an attorney or that their injuries aren't that serious.

Whatever the reason, the reality is that not hiring an attorney after a car accident can have long-term negative consequences on your final settlement or award.

While it's hard to quantify exactly how much it helps to hire an attorney since there isn't recent data looking into this issue and cases vary widely, one commonly cited study by the Insurance Research Council from 2004 found that 85 percent of cases where the insurance company settled a car accident claim were handled by a hired attorney.

In addition, auto accident injury victims who are represented by an attorney are awarded 3.5 times more compensation in settlements than those accident victims who represent themselves, according to the same study.

In this article, Enjuris developed a comprehensive list of tips and advice from reputable attorneys around the country about the benefits of hiring an attorney following a crash. Our goal is to help accident victims understand the settlement difference that having a great attorney on their side can make by providing answers to related questions like:

• What are the top reasons why people should hire an attorney?
• What advantages do personal injury attorneys offer in car accident cases?
• When should you hire a personal injury attorney after a car crash?
• Do you need a lawyer for a minor car accident?

Below you'll find answers to these questions and more from experienced car accident attorneys based in cities all across the country, from Miami to New York to Houston to Denver.

On average, people who hired a lawyer received 4 to 5 times more compensation than those who didn’t. What’s more, you’re more likely to receive a payout when represented by an attorney.

Average insurance payout for car accident victims

Note: Adjusted for inflation 1999-2022 (23 years, cumulative price change = 68.76%)

On average, the insurance payout for car crash victims with an attorney doubled or tripled, compared to those who settled without an attorney.
(Sources: The Insurance Research Council's study, 1999)

Before you look up car accident attorneys, know what you're looking for

Before you even start doing searches it will pay off to have a good idea of the qualities and terms you are looking for in a car accident attorney. This may differ a little according to your case, your personality, your area of the country, even.

These questions will give you a framework for a list you can check off:

• Evaluate the complete team of staff, not just the partners or people who make up the public face of the law firm. Keep in mind as you research and interact with the firm that it may not be the same person you speak with initially who will be your primary contact.
• Firm age, size, experience. Awards and leadership roles in organizations can also be good indicators.
• Good judicial connections: Find out if they participate in the local bar association and contribute to campaigns.
• Comfort with going to trial: Find out how many of their cases go to trial and the success rate of those that do. Some lawyers will have this information posted on their websites.
• Have they tried or settled similar cases in your city or county? Do they have an office near you?

• Look for experience with your type of case specifically.
• Negotiation ability: What sort of settlements they have obtained (remember, 95% of personal injury cases are settled without trial). Again, some car accident attorneys will have this information posted on their websites.
• Your personal comfort with the lawyer. This can be a big one.
• Timing: Are they too busy to devote enough time to your case? Can you get a sense of how long their cases are taking?
• Past problems: Has the attorney ever been censured or disciplined by any legal or ethics committees in the past? You will want to look this up before contacting them, so you don't waste your time.
• Past client reviews: Be alert to what others say about them, especially on independent review sites.

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Where to find experienced car accident attorneys

Ok, now you should have an idea of the sorts of things you'll be keeping in mind as you look at various law firms and attorneys.

Next, find where to look to start putting together a shortlist of the best car accident attorneys, so you can begin with a strong pool of potential candidates.

There are several ways to find the names of experienced personal injury lawyers. Once you have gotten several names and numbers, you should talk to each of them and check out their level of experience and case results.

Ask friends and family

Talk to people in your personal and work network. See who has worked with a personal injury attorney before, preferably also on a car accident case. If you get a good referral to an attorney, put him or her on your list.

But do not decide to go with an attorney just based upon someone else's word.

Different people will have different reactions to an attorney. You want to talk to the attorney personally and discuss your case, then make a decision.

Ask other attorneys you've worked with on different matters

If you have a real estate attorney friend, you can ask them if they have a recommendation for a personal injury attorney who could help you with your car accident case. Most experienced attorneys will know other good attorneys outside their area of practice.

It is very common for lawyers to refer business to each other, so this can be a great way to find a good attorney.

Enjuris lawyer directory

Enjuris has assembled a comprehensive Law Firms Directory that you can use to find a local personal injury attorney. When you click on your state, a list of personal injury attorneys will appear who have registered with our website.

When you click on one of the attorneys, a brief profile of that legal firm will appear with their contact information. Some of our featured attorneys have an Ask a Question feature that allows you to provide brief information about your personal injury case. (Let us know if you don't find a good attorney in your state on our site and we may be able to help.) It is up to you to connect with that attorney and to decide if he or she is the attorney you want to represent you.

Enjuris tip: No legal referral service will tell you about the attorney’s philosophy or attitude. Is the attorney willing to work with you patiently? Is he aggressive or passive? You have to judge for yourself if the lawyer’s personality and temperament is right for you when you interview him.

Legal referral services – but know quality can vary widely

Most state and local bar associations have a legal referral service where the names of attorneys licensed in the state are listed by specialty.

For example the Texas State Bar has a Lawyer Referral & Information Service that can help you find an attorney that matches your type of case and finances.

Note that the quality of a particular referral service can vary widely. Some of these services will conduct careful screening of attorneys, and list only the most experienced and successful ones.

Other referral services may list any attorney who is in good standing in that state.

Before you choose an attorney through a referral service, find out what its qualifications are for including a personal injury attorney on their list.

Are you ready to speak with an attorney near you?

When you're ready to talk to a car accident lawyer about your injury, we invite you to browse our national directory of personal injury attorneys. It's free for accident victims and provides lots of information to help you decide which attorney or law firm is best for you.

Visit our directory

Colorado

Robert Koenig

of The Law Offices of Robert Koenig

Denver, CO personal injury and auto accident lawyer

Having an attorney work with you on your accident claim benefits you at every step of the process. From the initial talks with the insurance companies, to settlement negotiations, to the trial (if it even gets that far), an attorney will know what to say and more importantly, what not to say.

If you are injured, an attorney can help you negotiate your bills with local doctors to get you the treatment you need as soon as you need it. One accident shouldn't drown you in prohibitively expensive medical bills. It is an attorney's job to make you whole again and as quickly as possible.

Making you whole again includes also dealing with the mechanic. You need your vehicle back as soon as possible, a local attorney will know which local mechanics to trust and how to get the best deals.

The best part, it shouldn't cost you a thing. Virtually all cases accepted by our firm are done so on a contingency fee basis. This means that if we accept your case, you will pay us nothing until our personal injury lawyer collects for you. If we don't collect, you won't owe us a fee.

D.C.

Seth Price

of Price Benowitz LLP

Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney

Humans are a pretty resilient species. Depending on the intensity, it may take some longer than others, but in many cases, humans tend to bounce back from any crisis or car accident. With the ability to heal and the knowledge of the small percentage of people whose lives are forever changed due to an accident, those who are in small accidents tend to look at their situation as the glass half full.

While that is a great way to live, it also means that they aren't recognizing the toll the accident has taken on them and their finances.

Even if they were able to walk away from the accident and avoid a trip to the hospital, they could have emotional and traumatic damages. Beyond having to pay to fix their car, they could have financial damages such as having to take time off from work and nonemergency medical expenses.

There are a number of damages that people have a right to be paid for in the case of an accident despite their 'luck' in it not being worse. A personal injury law firm can help them retrieve what they're owed.

Delaware

James Donovan

of Law offices Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz and Bhaya

Wilmington, DE personal injury attorney

I always tell prospective clients that the main reason that you want to hire an injury attorney, even in what may seem like a minor case because expertise is important. My father-in-law is an electrical contractor who installs solar panels and in the same way that I would never try to install solar panels on my own roof, he would never try to represent himself in a car crash.

The other driver's insurance company is hoping that you don't get an attorney because then they can deal with someone who does not know the ins and outs of the law and just how a case generally works.

Florida

Prosper Shaked

of The Law Offices of Prosper Shaked

Miami, FL personal injury attorney

There are several known reasons why a car accident victim should hire an attorney, but I will focus on individuals who suffered what they believe are "minor" injuries.

First and foremost, a personal injury attorney will handle all insurance communication on behalf of the injured individual which will help prevent the victim from misspeaking. Accident victims generally don't have experience speaking with insurance carriers and it is not uncommon for them to mislead an insurance adjuster into faulting them for an accident they did not cause. This is why so many individuals complain that their insurance rates have gone up for accidents they did not cause. The attorney will present the information about how the accident occurred and the injuries sustained in a professional matter.

Second, many individuals who suffer minor injuries avoid medical treatment because they do not want to pay medical bills for injuries they believe will go away on their own. A personal injury attorney will determine the best type of medical treatment for the injuries sustained and work to make sure that the medical treatment is covered by either auto or health insurance so that the individual does not need to pay out of pocket.

Third, a personal injury attorney will work to make sure that none of the individual's medical bills go into collections. An alarming number of car accident victims who seek emergency room treatment have no idea which insurance is supposed to pay their medical bills. As a result, they provide incorrect insurance information to the hospital and sometimes fail to provide any insurance information. The attorney will figure out who is owed what and prevent medical bills from going into collections and destroying the individual's credit.

The list of reasons can go on and on, but these reasons are some of the less commonly discussed reasons why people should hire a personal injury attorney. There is a lot more to reason to hiring a personal injury attorney than simply to obtain a better settlement.

Armando G. Hernandez

of The Law Offices of Armando G. Hernandez

Miami, FL personal injury and car accident lawyer

Hiring an attorney following a car accident is critical, essential and imperative. I would not attempt to remove my own wisdom teeth. Similarly, a person involved in a car accident should not attempt to navigate the claim and/or litigation process on their own. It is simply not prudent or advisable.

Regardless of the severity of a collision (minor or catastrophic), a person injured in a collision should immediately contact an experienced lawyer. Given the intensity and stress of the moment, overflow of adrenaline, the role of one's nerves, the need to proceed to your planned destination, and the like, may lead one not to immediately feel, recognize, and/or appreciate the nature of an injury at the time of the collision.

Oftentimes, it may take several hours or even days following a collision before pains and/or symptoms begin to fully surface. Moreover, the expert opinions, studies, and/or data of biomechanics establish that even a "low-speed" impact can result in serious and permanent injuries. This is especially the case when dealing with pre-existing conditions, exacerbations, etc.

There are several different benefits of contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent you following a vehicular collision.

First, an experienced lawyer will zealously represent your best interests and assist in navigating the process with your insurance, the at-fault insurance, the property damage aspect of the case, statements or examinations, preserving evidence, liability determinations, medical treatment/diagnosis/prognosis, case evaluation, settlement valuation, maximizing settlement recovery, reviewing correspondence and/or legal documents, drafting releases, etc.

Second, the presence and involvement of the attorney will relieve the client of a great deal of stress in not having to directly deal with the matter.

Third, the lawyer will prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of the client throughout the process and prejudicing his/her interests.

Fourth, most personal injury lawyers take on representation on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not have to come out of pocket for any legal fees or costs unless there is a recovery in the case.

Fifth, the involvement of an experienced personal injury attorney will amplify or maximize the possible recovery in the given case. It could be the difference between a nuisance value offer and the tendering of policy limits.

Kell Coleman Williams III

of Williams Law, P.A.

Tampa, FL personal injury lawyer

Insurance companies know how to intimidate injury victims or those responsible for car accidents.

Many people are turned off by lawyer branding activities and therefore are hesitant to hire "ambulance chasers." People should be asking "why should I hire a lawyer", and "what will the lawyer accomplish for me?"

You don't hire a lawyer simply because their branding instructs you that the lawyer is: aggressive, assertive, demanding, doing it for fifty years, or wants to win. You hire a lawyer because you understand the lawyers' true role and what he may be able to accomplish for you.

The most basic benefit a personal injury attorney provides is knowledge. A lack of understanding of the process can cost an injured person tens of thousands of dollars if not more. Permanent injuries inflict a lifetime of expenses, including future surgeries, hospitalizations for complications, modifications to your home, and a decline in your earning capacity.

The insurance companies are excellent at what they do and they lead people to believe they are in good hands. Too often after an accident policyholders trust the insurance companies and do not realize they are losing some or all their rights to receive full compensation for their loss.

Darryl Smith

of Florida Car Accident Lawyer Team

Orlando, FL car accident attorney

Being involved in a car accident, particularly where there are substantial injuries or damages comes with a great deal of paperwork, insurance issues like liability determinations and compensation, and legal implications that can only be navigated by an expert in traffic law and insurance law.

Insurance companies are not obligated to be fair or just in their assessments, and without legal counsel it can be very easy to be taken advantage of by lawyers who work for the insurance companies. Any time there is any physical injury or damage, that is a good indication of the need for a good car accident lawyer.

Mike Hanco*ck

of Hanco*ck Injury Attorneys

Tampa, FL personal injury attorney

Regardless of whether you think your injuries are minor or major, hiring a personal injury attorney gives you leverage in negotiating that you would not otherwise have with insurance companies. Personal injury attorneys give you an advantage because they can hire experts such as doctors, accident reconstruction experts, and property damage experts that help prove your case, they have the resources to do that, which will be covered by the proportionally larger settlement.

If statistics are what persuade you, the Insurance Research Council publishes periodic reports on "Attorney Involvement in Auto Injury Claims" and in the latest published report from 2014, it shows that lawyers are still getting over three times more money for their auto-accident clients than those claimants without attorneys.

Another reason that an attorney can benefit you is many times there are insurances involved in the case that you likely would not know about unless you yourself were an attorney or insurance expert. A lawyer can make sure all the avenues for recovering money are explored to the fullest. Some attorneys even have experience working on the insurance defense side of the industry. Those lawyers such as myself have insider secrets from those adjusters and know exactly how to poke holes in their argument throughout negotiations.

Mark Roman

of Roman & Gaynor

Clearwater, FL personal injury attorney

Just because someone says that you're responsible for an accident doesn't necessarily mean it's true. Most of the time, there's really no way to know for sure why an accident happened until it's investigated thoroughly - especially by a party other than an insurance company.

Personal injury lawyers have resources and access to experts who can help them make sure that a client's crash is analyzed thoroughly - and that fault is assigned properly.

Most states deal with liability this way: you're responsible for damages up to the degree you were negligent and contributed to a collision. Your lawyer can help to limit your liability for an accident and, in some cases, even set you up to collect damages of your own.

Bill Allen

of Allen Law Firm

Gainesville, FL personal injury lawyer

Insurance providers will definitely want to limit the amount of money that's paid out to a crash victim who submits a claim. One popular strategy involves blaming the victim. Why? If you're blamed for an accident, it will affect how much - if any - money you can get.

Depending on where you live, shared fault could decrease your financial award or bar recovery altogether. If you do nothing, you could watch your much-needed compensation disappear. An experienced personal injury lawyer will know how to step in and protect you when this happens.

Your lawyer will conduct an independent investigation, bring in experts, and launch a thorough analysis of your wreck. They'll gather evidence to show that others - not you - are to blame.

And, if you are partly at fault, they'll work hard to limit how big your proportionate responsibility is. In states with comparative fault rules, limiting how much blame is assigned to you can help you get a greater percentage of your damages.

Georgia

Darren Tobin

of Tobin Injury Law

Atlanta, GA auto collision and crash lawyer

Insurance companies use computers to generate what a person's personal injury case is worth. That makes little to no sense as no two humans and no two injuries are the exact same. An experienced and trial-proven lawyer will assess the value of the particular case and negotiate a fair settlement. What's more valuable is if that negotiation fails, the lawyer is able to pursue the case to court. And that's the most important tool an injured person has—the ability to go to court.

Having a respected lawyer on your side can make all the difference between settling for whatever amount the insurance company's computers say you get versus what your case is actually worth.

Illinois

Jared Staver

of Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.

Chicago, IL accident injury lawyer

A car crash requires an individual to deal with insurance companies, medical professionals and law enforcement. This is especially challenging and inconvenient but many people decide to navigate it all on their own.

Typically, it's because the individual is unaware of how an attorney can provide the best outcome so here are the practical ways we help someone get their life back on track after an accident.

1. An attorney gathers relevant evidence. Once you've given your statement to law enforcement and have gotten the medical attention you need at the scene of the crash, an attorney can actually compile the evidence needed to hold the insurance company accountable. This evidence includes witness testimony, which can be tedious to gather. However, by working with a car accident attorney, you're able to save time and delegate that task.
2. An attorney negotiates the most reasonable financial settlement. Throughout the years, I've noticed how shocked people are at how little insurance companies actually try to help. They are unaware that the insurance company wants to reduce their liability and settle quickly with no regard to what compensation they (the victim) truly needs. This makes trying to negotiate an acceptable financial settlement very stressful. However, if you work with an attorney, they can be the mediator. This typically results in you receiving the compensation you deserve.
3. An attorney is willing and able to go to trial in order to get the appropriate financial settlement. Since an attorney takes the time to gather evidence that proves what compensation amount is required for your accident, they are well-equipped to take your case to trial if an insurance company declines to offer what you deserve. This also includes a lawsuit for damages within the statute of limitations after a car crash.

Indiana

Brandon Yosha

of Yosha Cook & Tisch

Indianapolis, IN accident and injury attorney

In this day and age, insurance companies' ad campaigns discourage victims of serious accidents from promptly obtaining legal representation or brand them as frauds. In our experience, false or fraudulent cases are few and far between.

Insurance companies have a huge advantage over the average citizen who has limited means to pay for legal counsel, investigation, and expert consultations.

Kansas

Michael Foster

of Foster Wallace, LLC

Kansas City auto accident lawyer

Insurance companies will quickly have adjusters reach out to victims after a wreck and use tricks to have the injured victim say something against their interest that they can later use in court. If the injured victim hires a lawyer, however, the insurance company can no longer reach out to the victim and has to talk to their attorney. This way the victim can get the medical attention they need and focus on their recovery rather than deal with an insurance company that doesn't have their interest at heart.

We've seen too many cases where a victim settled their case on the cheap later to find out their injuries were more serious than they were and nothing can be done about it because the insurance company got the victim to settle quickly and for far less than the case was worth.

Louisiana

Stephen Babco*ck

of Babco*ck Injury Lawyers

Baton Rouge, LA personal injury attorney

I've been involved in over 5,000 cases where an accident was involved, and I see the same things over and over. These cases are complex and if you don't dot all the i's and cross all the t's you can mess up your own case. It happens more often than you think.

Also, injury lawyers often are able to negotiate discounts on your medical treatment that would otherwise be paid in full costing clients thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Sometimes, these discounts can equal what you end up paying the attorney.

Last but not least, personal injury attorneys know what your case is worth. I get calls weekly from people asking if they should settle their case because the adjuster offered them "X". Sometimes it's reasonable, oftentimes it's not. Only an injury attorney who does this day in and day out will know.

Maryland

Ross Albers

of Albers & Associates

Baltimore, MD car accident lawyer

People should hire a personal injury attorney because insurance companies are not looking out for their best interests. An experienced attorney knows how valuable a case may be. An experienced attorney understands what injured people are entitled to as far as compensation for their harms and losses.

Insurance companies want to resolve, settle and have you sign a release as quickly as possible. An attorney will make sure you are fairly compensated.

Missouri

Ryan Bradley

of The Bradley Law Firm

St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer

Every accident - and every victim - is different. That means that related personal injury cases will all be unique, too, especially when it comes to valuation.

How can you know what your case is worth?

It's really hard to say, and the last thing you should do is trust an insurance company to get it right. After all, insurance providers are in business to make money, so they'll want to assign the lowest possible value to your injury claim.

The only way to really know what your case is worth is to analyze your injuries, determine how they'll affect you (today and in the future), and establish liability. That takes time and requires some outside assistance from individuals who have specialized knowledge about medicine, psychology, and other areas.

When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you're not just getting an attorney. You're also benefiting from their vast resources and the relationships they have with experts who might be able to bolster your case. If an insurance company tries to lowball you, your lawyer will have facts, evidence, and expert witnesses to back up your demand for more money.

New Hampshire

Israel F. Piedra

of Welts, White & Fontaine, PC

Nashua, NH car accident attorney

All persons injured in a car accident, no matter how minor the injuries, should consult with a personal injury attorney. There are a few reasons why.

First, personal injury attorneys will typically give you a free consultation. So there's no downside to talking to someone.

Second, it is not uncommon for a seemingly minor injury to worsen overnight after an accident or in the subsequent days. An attorney can help you understand the importance of seeking medical treatment even if you think the problem is not serious or will go away on its own.

Additionally, an attorney can help explain how to coordinate your car insurance, the other driver's car insurance, health insurance, and other money-related logistics.

Many car accident victims wonder why they need to hire an attorney at all. The simple answer is that hiring an attorney tells an insurance company that you're prepared to take your claim all the way to trial. Without an attorney, the insurance company does not believe there is any threat of litigation (which means paying a defense lawyer and the possibility of a big jury verdict). The insurance company's offer will usually be greater if they fear the possibility of trial.

Furthermore, having an attorney simply gives you peace of mind. You can rest assured that you are getting the best possible settlement from the insurance company because the attorney has years of experience with car accident claims and knows whether or not an offer is fair. Ultimately, hiring a lawyer means you aren't leaving money on the table.

Finally, an attorney will remove much stress from your situation. Instead of having to collect bills and records and provide documentation to various medical facilities, insurance companies, and other entities, your lawyer can handle all that for you. When you're injured in a car accident, the last thing you need is more stress.

New York

David Reischer

accident attorney and CEO of LegalAdvice.com Corp.

New York accident attorney

The importance of hiring an attorney after a car accident cannot be overstated. Oftentimes people will not hire an attorney when there are minor injuries and especially the case when the police will not even respond to a car accident because there are no serious injuries. Most accidents involve only minor injuries and property damage and these types of accidents occur frequently and pose little danger to public safety.

A person that hires an attorney will receive a better settlement from the insurance because an experienced attorney is better equipped to marshal the facts and evidence to make the most compelling case possible. It is incumbent on a person to take photographs and get witness statements to help determine fault and liability after a car accident. Oftentimes there is no police report to clarify these matters so a qualified attorney that gathers the necessary evidence is essential.

Witness statements of an accident can be extremely helpful in determining whether a car was traveling too fast or clarify other details relating to whether a driver exercised reasonable caution. Proving the other driver's negligence can be a challenge when an accident has multiple causative factors and there is no police report so gather the evidence as best as possible.

Craig D. Rosenbaum

of Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C.

New York, NY personal injury attorney

Insurance companies, as you well know, are for-profit entities. They're in business to make money. They don't make money when they pay claims to crash victims - so they invest considerable time and resources into finding ways to deny claims or, at the very least, drive down what's ultimately paid out.

The best way to ensure that you're awarded the full value of your claim is to level the playing field, and that requires experience, knowledge, and resources that you just might not have. Nor should have to invest the time and effort to deal with the stress of a claim right after you've suffered an injury.

Hiring a lawyer helps to set you on even footing with huge corporations (and other deep-pocketed entities) and gives you the best opportunity to get the money you deserve.

C. Alex Maltese

of Law Office of Carl Maltese

Suffolk County, NY car accident attorney

In many cases, it is very difficult to determine if your injuries are serious within the first month after a car accident. Meeting with an attorney after the accident protects you in the case that your injuries develop into a serious problem.

If you hire a personal injury attorney right after the car accident they will have an investigator that locates witnesses and obtains a written statement from them. In addition, the investigator will speak with local businesses and obtain their surveillance camera footage of the accident.

In the state of New York, you are provided with No-Fault benefits by the Insurance Carrier of the car that you occupied. No-Fault benefits cover your medical bills and lost wages. In order to receive these benefits, you must file an application within thirty days after an accident. Oftentimes accident victims without an attorney miss this important deadline.

The process of receiving lost wages after an accident is complicated. You must provide the insurance company with documentation of your disability and employment. Most accident victims that do not have an attorney do not understand the process and never have their lost wages reimbursed.

Personal injury attorneys will hire well-credentialed experts that are able to demonstrate your physical injuries and prove your economic loss.

Without an experienced personal injury attorney working on your case, you will never know what amount of money is fair and reasonable compensation for your injuries.

Most important is that you do not have to pay anything to hire a lawyer after your car accident. Most personal injury attorneys provide free consultations and work on contingency.

Pennsylvania

Ted Kaplun

of KaplunMarx Attorneys At Law

Pennsylvania car accident lawyer

Hiring a car accident attorney is simply one of the best choices you can make after a car crash. There are countless reasons as to why that assertion holds true, the most important one being that a car accident attorney is ethically bound to put your interests first.

Oftentimes after a car crash, people's heads are spinning as they are stuck dealing with medical care, damage to their car, losing time from work and countless other things that come up during those difficult times and they do not know where to turn or what to do. A skilled car accident lawyer can help navigate the entire process, making sure you don't fall into the insurance company's trap of giving recorded statements or helping find qualified medical professionals who will treat them appropriately.

Ultimately the car accident lawyer's job is to prepare a client's case and make every effort to get the client a positive monetary outcome for their case - hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is the first step in that process and can help save you time and effort in getting you an outstanding result.

Brad Holuta

of Marcus & Mack

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer

There are many benefits to hiring an experienced attorney to handle an injury case. An injured victim will be preoccupied with treating for his or her injuries and should allow an attorney to take care of dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, and other tasks so that the victim can focus on getting better. A victim also does not know what issues and landmines exist.

For instance, many people do not realize that they are not required to give a recorded statement to the defendant's insurance company. Insurance adjusters can ask one-sided or misleading questions, and when the victim's comments are then transcribed into a printed transcript, it creates unnecessary obstacles in litigation.

Victims also may not realize that it is vital to identify and preserve important evidence, such as surveillance footage that captured the incident. Video footage is often only kept for a very limited period of time, and if it is not preserved, it can be lost forever. Similarly, it might be necessary to inspect the vehicles involved in the collision, but if they are salvaged, that becomes impossible.

These are all things that an injured victim may not think about, yet they can have a substantial impact (positively or negatively) on the value of the case. Victims quite simply don't know what they don't know.

An attorney can also maximize the value of the client's case. For instance, damages for injuries are based upon the nature and extent of medical treatment. An experienced attorney will know how to gather and assemble the relevant medical records, which may include expert reports from treating providers or specialists to fully document and prove the severity of the injuries.

It is also important to think about the need for future treatment, as a settlement is the one chance a victim has to be compensated for the injuries. It is imperative to think about what might be needed in the future, such as surgery, assistive care, or other treatments – as the value of those items must be included in the settlement demand.

An attorney will also know to think about other elements of damages, such as lost wages and future diminished earning capacity. That may require retaining an economist to examine the client's vocational abilities with the injury-related restrictions and calculate past and future lost wages.

An attorney is also experienced in guiding clients on the value of intangible aspects of the claim, such as pain and suffering, loss of life's pleasures, and other such losses.

If you had a heart condition, you would not sit at home and hope it gets better, nor would you try to fix the problem yourself or through Internet research. You'd consult with an experienced cardiologist so that you have the best chance for success. Hiring an experienced injury attorney is no different.

Jamie Bordas

of Bordas and Bordas Attorneys, PLLC

Pittsburgh, PA personal injury attorney

Many people who have been injured in an auto collision don't realize how important it can be to hire an attorney. There are oftentimes insurance coverages available to help with medical bills right away even before a settlement is reached.

A layperson might not know that these coverages exist or how they can be utilized. Also, the initial investigation and fact-gathering after a crash can be critical. There can be surveillance cameras that show video of a crash that needs to be obtained. There can be eyewitnesses who need to be contacted.

A lawyer can help a person to obtain and preserve this critical evidence before it disappears or memories fade. An experienced lawyer will know what types of damages someone can recover after being involved in an auto crash which better ensures that the person will recover all of the money to which he or she is entitled.

Finally, it is important for people to make sure they hire a law firm that has a record of obtaining great results for its clients. Not all lawyers are the same. Insurance companies know this. If a person doesn't obtain a lawyer, an insurance company may think that it can get away with paying less than what is fair. The same is true when the insurance company knows that it is dealing with a lawyer who is inexperienced or doesn't have a track record of getting great results.

So, not only is hiring an attorney important but also making sure that a person hires the right attorney is critical to getting full value for a case.

Richard DeFrancesco

of McDonald at Law

Lancaster, PA personal injury attorney

The number one reason why you should hire an attorney after being injured in a collision is so you can focus all of your attention on your health and recovery. You need to get better for yourself and for your family. This is especially true if you are the primary earner in your household. You are not getting back to work if you are spending all day talking to insurance adjusters and chasing down paperwork. The last thing you need is the additional stress of dealing with insurance companies, investigators, and appraisers when you're in pain.

Do not think your injuries are not serious enough to contact an attorney. Unless you have made a full recovery and been released from care by your doctor, you don't know the full extent of your injuries. We've had many clients where the injuries did not appear serious in the immediate aftermath of the incident but persisted over time and ultimately required surgery. Even if your injuries do resolve in a short amount of time, you are still entitled to fair compensation for what you went through. If you are ever injured again the insurance companies will use that against you to diminish your compensation. If you didn't make a claim the first time you're costing yourself money.

A personal injury attorney should act as your guide through the claims process and then be prepared to defend your rights if you have to go to court. An attorney will maximize your recovery by making sure you get all of the benefits available to you under your insurance policy, while also making sure that everyone responsible for causing your injuries is held accountable. Many people are not aware that their car insurance may offer benefits such as payment for medical treatment, payment for time missed from work, and payment for your injuries if the person responsible does not have enough money to fully compensate you.

Finally, an experienced attorney should be able to discuss with you the best strategy for making your claim. Questions come up right away such as: who should pay to fix my car? Who pays for the rental while my car is being repaired? They say my car is totaled but I think it's worth more than they are offering me, what can I do? An experienced attorney can answer all of these questions from the top of their head. An attorney should give you guidance and direction, but most importantly, peace of mind while you focus on getting better.

Edith A. Pearce

of The Pearce Law Firm

Philadelphia, PA personal injury lawyer

Representing people for decades in car accidents has led me to realize how important it is to have a lawyer involved for both "minor" injuries and major injuries.

One of the top reasons to hire an attorney is to make sure you do not settle your case before you realize the extent of your injuries. I have seen so many times people believe they are not severely injured after a car accident, only later to find that a "nagging" back or neck issue never goes away. This often leads to the insurance company arguing that lack of treatment early on means that neck or back condition had nothing to do with the car accident.

If these people do not have an attorney, they often settle in months before realizing the full impact of their injuries. I often find I need to coach and educate my clients on making sure they receive proper medical treatment to ensure they get better and also document their injuries.

An experienced personal injury attorney understands the pitfalls of not treating early on after an accident and hoping it just heals by itself. Having worked as an attorney for a car insurance company, I understand how insurance companies think and defend cases. They look for a lack of treatment and people returning to work and "toughing it out" as evidence that the injury was not serious.

There have been several studies that continue to show hiring an attorney leads to higher settlements for injury victims. Even inside the industry, these studies show the benefit to the insurance industry of not having an attorney involved.

Unfortunately, insurance companies tend to believe that the injuries and cases are not as serious if the injured victim has not hired an attorney. I know this as I used to be an attorney that worked for a car insurance company. The insurance company's goal was to settle quickly before an attorney became involved.

An experienced attorney can put your case together to make sure it puts your case in the best light. Attorneys know how to make sure you have received the proper treatment; the accident is documented correctly regarding negligence or fault; and that if the insurance company does not offer a proper settlement a lawsuit and jury trial are likely.

This is key.

Unless the insurance company feels threatened that a low settlement offer will result in the case going to trial, they simply will not offer proper settlement value. In the end, insurance companies are for-profit companies and owe a duty to their stockholders to make a profit. Attorneys owe the client their duty to advocate for the client and make sure they receive proper compensation for the long-term effects of an accident. Insurance companies have lawyers, and it simply is not an equal playing field.

In the end, Abraham Lincoln's advice is probably best when he said, "A man who represents himself, has a fool for a client."

Brian S. Chacker

of Gay & Chacker, P.C.

Philadelphia, PA personal injury lawyer

Regardless of the severity of your injury, if you are injured as a result of a car crash or a slip or trip and fall, it is important to contact an attorney to discuss your options.

Many times, what seems like a minor injury may turn into a more serious condition that could impact the way you live your life for the rest of your life. If you have delayed in seeking treatment or failed to put the offending person or business on notice of your claim, you may negatively impact your rights or preclude yourself from making a valid claim.

If you watch any lawyer shows on TV, you will hear the attorney referred to as "counselor." The reason is that we are not just advocates. We also counsel our clients on everything from their case to life changes that can be made to make the new reality their injuries have caused easier to deal with.

Just this afternoon, I received a call from a new client who had been trying to resolve a minor case on his own. He had been "lowballed" by the insurance company and now is up against a deadline to file his lawsuit. Luckily he called when he did and we are going to be able to help him, but he almost was a victim of the insurance company dragging his case out until he could no longer file his claim.

Put simply, as attorneys we are here to help and to counsel. All consultations are free and if you do not ask what someone who is an expert in the legal field thinks of your situation, you may be denying yourself valuable help.

South Carolina

Kenneth Berger

of The Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger

South Carolina catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyer

While not every person needs a lawyer after being injured in a car accident, there are many situations where an injury lawyer will potentially benefit you many times over – not just financially, but also in terms of peace of mind.

An experienced attorney can help maximize the value of your case by gathering and safeguarding evidence through spoliation letters, hiring experts like life care planners to help explain the full impact of your injuries, and negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. Personal injury lawyers deal with insurance providers every day and understand the nuanced language often needed to receive a fair settlement.

Most importantly, an attorney should remove the stress of the situation from you so that you can focus on healing without having to deal with relentless adjusters.

Texas

Lin McCraw

of McCraw Law Group

Denton, TX personal injury attorney

There are many reasons to hire a lawyer after even a moderate car accident injury.

First, it takes the problem off of the plate of the injured person and gives the injured person peace of mind that it will be handled correctly. After an injury, the injury victim's world is turned upside down. There are new demands on time such as doctor's visits, therapy, coordinating car repairs, obtaining rental cars, while the existing world's demands still go on. Kids still need to be fed, carpools must be arranged, work still has to happen, or at least provisions made to make sure that critical demands are met. A good injury lawyer helps you put an injured person's life back together and takes tasks off of the plate of the injury victim and their family.

Another good reason to hire a lawyer is that without one the injury victim is apt to make mistakes that can cost him or her thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Small mistakes like giving a recorded statement, signing a blanket medical authorization, signing a release not knowing what all it does harms victims a second time, every day, all over our country. In Texas, where I practice, the insurance companies are even allowed to read out an oral release which if agreed to forever binds the victim—even if they do not know what the wording means as it is read in real-time. Not making unforced errors is a very good reason to hire a seasoned personal injury lawyer.

Perhaps the best reason is the bottom line. Claimants with lawyers settle their cases for much, much more money than those without lawyers. A study performed by the Department of Insurance in Texas in 2017 for the legislature indicated that claimants in property damage claims that were represented recovered 300 plus percent more than those without a lawyer. Worrying about a lawyer making a fee is penny wise and pound foolish when evaluating the net dollars to the client.

When it is more convenient, prevents costly errors, and results in more net money recovered, the better question is, "why would you not hire a lawyer to represent you after a car wreck causing any significant injury?"

Virginia

Geoff McDonald

of Geoff McDonald and Associates

Richmond, VA personal injury lawyer

Hiring a personal injury attorney can benefit you in a number of ways when it comes to a car accident. Firstly, since dealing with personal injury is essentially their job, they have the professional experience to deal with the case properly and follow the right procedures to help you.

Secondly, personal injury attorneys have good negotiation skills. This means that hiring someone might lead to better compensation for the accident and your injuries than if you tried to deal with the issue and insurance companies yourself.

Lastly, having a personal injury attorney on your side will help you to get the entire situation sorted out faster. They'll be able to contact all the right people while you recuperate and get everything sorted for you. If you don't hire someone, you might have to wait till you've recovered before you can start dealing with getting compensation yourself.

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Hiring a car accident attorney FAQ

• Is it worth getting a lawyer for a car accident?
• Should I hire a lawyer for a car accident that wasn't my fault?
• How do I maximize my car accident settlement?

• When should I call a lawyer after a car accident?
• How do I find the best car accident lawyer near me?

Is it worth getting a lawyer for a car accident?

Ultimately, you have to decide whether or not it's worth hiring an attorney to represent you in an auto accident claim. The general consensus is that you should at least consult with a lawyer if your car accident resulted in serious bodily injury, significant property damage and/or multiple vehicles.

However, we also recommend scheduling a free consultation with an attorney even if you were involved in a minor car accident. Most law firms offer these initial meetings at no cost, so the only thing it costs you is your time to meet with legal counsel to calculate the value of your case and figure out the best course of action.

Should I hire a lawyer for a car accident that wasn't my fault?

Even if you were hit by another driver and injured due to their negligence, you have a right to hire an attorney and, in fact, it's in your best interest to do so. This is because the at-fault driver is likely to be represented by an attorney or their insurance company with lots of resources at their disposal.

By hiring an attorney to represent you, you can even the playing field and ensure that your rights are protected. If you live in an at-fault state where liability determines who pays for the car accident damages and injuries, hiring a lawyer to represent you is especially important since the other side might try to flip the script and say you were fully or partially responsible for the crash in order to avoid payment.

How do I maximize my car accident settlement?

Whether or not the crash was someone else's fault, there are a number of steps you can take following a car accident to maximize your odds of success and the value of your payout. These steps include:

• Reporting the crash to police
• Notifying your insurance company
• Seeing a doctor
• Saving all receipts, bills and statements
• Not giving a recorded statement to insurers
• Not accepting the first settlement offer

However, the best piece of advice we can give on how to maximize your settlement is to enlist the help of an experienced car accident attorney who knows how to skillfully negotiate with insurance companies and effectively demonstrate the pain your injuries have caused.

When should I call a lawyer after a car accident?

The best time to contact a personal injury attorney about your accident is as soon as possible. Understand that insurance companies and the other party's legal team will move quickly to get in touch with you in order to try to pin liability on you or get you to settle for an unreasonably low offer. The sooner they can resolve your claim, before you have a chance to know the full extent of your injuries, the better for them.

Another reason why you should contact an attorney immediately is that every state places a deadline (known as the "statute of limitations") on personal injury claims, ranging from 1 to 6 years. The clock is ticking from the moment your car accident occurs. The sooner you get in touch with a lawyer and the more time they have to prepare your claim, the stronger your case will be and the more options you'll have.

How do I find the best car accident lawyer near me?

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when searching for an attorney for the first time. Rather than simply calling the first attorney you see on a TV commercial or on a billboard, we recommend asking friends and family for recommendations as well as searching online for lawyers in your area who specialize in your type of case. Simply type in "car accident lawyer in [your city] [your state]" into your preferred search engine and scroll through the results.

Alternatively, you can browse online attorney directories like your local bar association website and Enjuris.com to quickly find and compare lawyers in your area.

Create a shortlist of 3-5 attorneys you like best and contact them to schedule a consultation. By meeting with a prospective attorney, you'll get a better feel for their work style and if they are the right fit for your case.

What does an injury lawyer do?

A personal injury lawyer helps individuals who have sustained injuries in accidents to recover financial compensation. These funds are often needed to pay for medical treatment, make up for lost wages and provide compensation for injuries suffered. Sometimes a case that seems simple at first may become more complicated. In these cases, consider hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer. Read more

Be prepared to be rejected

Be prepared to be turned down by a few attorneys.

Some attorneys may turn down your case if it is below a certain dollar amount. They may also say no if proving fault is dicey. See 10 reasons a personal injury attorney may turn down your case for a peek into the perspective of a car accident attorney who is evaluating your case.

How to choose a good attorney

Sit down with the attorney and talk about your personal injury claim. When you do so, you should bring documents such as:

• Copies of the police report, medical records and bills
• Loss of income information, including W-2s and pay stubs
• Any correspondence from any insurance company

Most attorneys will not charge you for this initial consultation. If the attorney wants to charge you just for the first meeting, you may want to find a different attorney.

Experience level

After you talk about your accident claim, here are some important questions to ask:

• How many years have you been in practice?
• What percentage of your cases involves car accident personal injury cases?
• Do you work more with car accident plaintiffs or defendants?You want an attorney who is experienced in representing plaintiffs primarily. An attorney who works for the defense most of the time may not fight as much for your claim.
• Would you personally handle the case? More than one attorney may work on your case and that's fine.But you don't want your case to be only handled by inexperienced attorneys. If you will be working with another attorney most of the time, you will want to meet that lawyer, as well.

Talking settlement

So you've talked about your car accident case. You've chatted with the attorney about your dealings with the insurance company. Now you want a feel for how much the lawyer thinks your case is worth. Also super important is how difficult it might be to get the insurance company to cough up that amount.

At this point, you should let the attorney know what you want. Is it to:

• Get a lower settlement amount with as few costs and as little time wasted as possible?
• Get a higher amount than what the insurance company has offered as soon as possible?
• Get as much money as possible, no matter if it takes months or years?

It's key to make sure you both are on the same page strategy wise. So figure out how badly you need the money. Really bad, so you'll settle for less? Or you have cash in the bank and you are willing to wait for more money?

After you have settled on an attorney, you still have work to do. You need to have a clearly understood fee agreement. And keep in contact with the attorney to know how your car accident case is going.

More resources on Enjuris.com you might find helpful

• Tips on finding a qualified personal injury attorney - where to look
• Choosing a personal injury attorney – interview questions
• Preparing to meet with a personal injury attorney

• When do you NOT need an attorney after an accident?
• Why might a personal injury lawyer decline my case?
• When do you need a lawyer?