Not sure whether or not you should hire a personal injury attorney after your car accident? Check out these circumstances where it’s probably worth your while to get some legal help. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and often don’t require any payment unless they win your case. It’s not just the money that they offer, personal injury law firms can save major headaches when tracking down witnesses and getting police reports.
1. If the other driver was intoxicated
If you are in an accident with someone who has been drinking and driving, a personal injury lawyer can help. DUI cases can get horribly tangled in the legal system, and an attorney can make it much easier to figure out what to do. You may also be eligible for punitive damages above and beyond the cost of medical bills and car repairs.
2. If you were hit by a hit-and-run driver
Your automobile insurance company will often handle the fallout from being injured in a hit-and-run accident, but not always. SLG Accident Attorneys recommends calling their office for a free consultation to see your options. Many law firms offer similar free services. You aren’t obligated, so it doesn’t hurt to ask some questions.
3. If you sustained serious injuries
Serious injuries are painful in and of themselves, but if you are severely injured in an accident, you probably didn’t collect the names and phone numbers of witnesses and other people involved. A personal injury law firm can get this information from the police and conduct investigations on your behalf while you recover. Personal injury lawyers often know private detectives who can quickly get the information you need and track down the people involved.
4. If you missed time from work because of your injuries
If you had to miss work because you were hurt in a car accident, a personal injury lawyer might be able to get back your lost wages. Also, you probably don’t want to miss more work trying to file all the legal work and insurance claims. You can hire a lawyer to do most of this for you. The law firm can do all the busy work, so you must show up at the trial. Or in many cases, they will settle out of court, so you won’t even have to take off any work days.
5. If the insurance company is giving you the runaround
Insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid paying claims. Often the claim process is straightforward, but if an insurance company keeps delaying and asking for more paperwork, a letter written by a personal injury attorney can do wonders to clear the log jam. And if that doesn’t do it, the attorneys can take whatever additional steps are needed to get your claim processed.
No one wants to think about hiring a lawyer, but sometimes it’s the best thing to do after an accident. If any of the situations above apply to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to a personal injury attorney for help.
