Why Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Why do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident? Explained by the Best Car Crash Attorneys
Let’s face the upsetting truth: insurance companies profit off of your payments to them and will do everything in their power to give you the lowest return on an insurance claim possible. This is a truth that many insurance policy holders are not aware of until they experience it for themselves. Process that for a moment - having car insurance is mandatory by law and insurance companies take complete advantage of that fact. You’re likely not a car insurance expert, so this is at no fault to you. A car accident attorney, however, is such an expert who can make sure that you are compensated fairly for any damages sustained from the accident. Below, our expert team of car crash attorneys from West Coast Trial Lawyers breaks down several reasons that further explain why you need a lawyer after a car accident and how an attorney can help you survive this difficult process.
4 Main Reasons You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident to Avoid the Insurance Claim Nightmare:
- Proving liability (who’s responsible for what damages). The events that follow the scene of a car accident can be intense and filled with high emotions. Each party involved in the accident may find themselves so emotionally charged as they try to defend themselves and place blame on one another for causing the accident. Proving liability for an accident, that is who caused the accident, can be a feat in itself since each party might play a role in the cause of it. California is a fault state, meaning that somebody has to take responsibility for the cause of an accident. It is also a comparative liability state, meaning that more than one party can be held liable for causing the accident. While proving liability can be a complicated process, car accident attorneys are experts at this practice and can make this whole process much easier for you so you can submit a car accident insurance claim. In some cases, another party involved in the accident may open up a lawsuit against you, claiming you as the liable party at fault for the injuries they sustained in an accident. Having an attorney represent you can protect you from these accusations and set the record straight.
- Building your case. When you get in a car accident, you should call the police to have them make an official report of the accident. You should also gather the other party’s contact and insurance information. You should document the accident with photos of all the damages and location of the accident as well. This is great work on your end, however, a lot can go wrong when you try to build up the case yourself. The police might not come to the scene of the accident to file the accident report. The other party’s involved might not want to give you their correct contact or insurance information. Photos can go missing, be misplaced, or deleted. All of this necessary evidence is crucial to making an insurance claim. Not only this, but you need to know how to use this evidence to build a strong case to file the claim. By calling a car accident attorney to help you build your case before you make an insurance claim, they can help safekeep the documentation and use it to build a strong insurance claim case for you.
- Getting the highest insurance claim available to you. As mentioned earlier, insurance companies have their own interests in mind - to maximize profits over your well-being. If you attempt to submit an insurance claim yourself, they might deny it, which means that they pocket all of the money you’ve invested in car insurance payments for nothing in return. If it is approved, they will assure to give you the bare minimum possible return on an insurance claim. Insurance companies are designed to do this. Just as insurance company representatives are experts at making sure you get minimum compensation, attorneys are expert negotiators against insurance companies to ensure that you get the maximum compensation available. Insurance companies will try to target you while you are unrepresented by a legal attorney in order to pressure you to settle for the first insurance claim, that will always be the lowest offer. When you become represented by a legal attorney, the insurance company will stop pressuring you into settling for less, as they know that you now have a professional on your side who will fight for what you deserve.
- Assuring your medical bills for injuries caused by the accident are covered. A car accident attorney will ensure that you get the medical attention that you need and that the bills are covered by the insurance companies. An accident that could be considered minor by you could result in dire medical consequences. If you have an attorney on your side, they can help guide you through the process of receiving proper medical attention and keeping these visits documented. If you wait too long to receive medical attention because you don’t have the money for it, insurance companies will use that against you.
Available Damages for Injuries Sustained From a Car Crash
A car accident lawyer can ensure that you are compensated for all of the damages you are eligible for by helping you step-by-step of the way. The following are the available damages for injuries sustained in an accident:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are intended to compensate a plaintiff for monetary losses. They are calculated by determining the amount of out of pocket losses an aggrieved individual has or will expect to incur as a result of the injuries that were sustained in an accident.
A few examples of economic losses include:
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intended to cover losses that are thought of as subjective. Non-economic damages may include compensation for:
- Emotional Distress
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Punitive Damages
The third type of damages a California court may award are known as punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended as punishment and are only awarded when a defendant’s behavior is especially harmful. Punitive damages are relatively rare and in fact are only incorporated in about 5% of all verdicts. Furthermore, there is no real set standard for calculating and awarding punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded at the court’s discretion and will vary depending on the specific circumstances of a case.
Need a New Car Accident Attorney? Contact the Best Team of Los Angeles Car Crash Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have sustained injuries in the as a result of a car accident, our experienced team of car accident attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers can help you recover financial compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call us today at 888 341 9802 or email [email protected] to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.