In case you have been injured or have suffered any property damage in an automobile accident, you might be thinking about how an auto accident attorney may help you. Alternately, you might be wondering if it’s a good idea to go ahead and try and deal with the insurance service on your own. While a lot depends on the complexity and the specifics of your case, in general, it can be said that your auto insurance attorney should be able to do the following:
- They can try to communicate with the other driver’s insurance service provider on your behalf.
- They can try and obtain the essential evidence concerning individual liability
- They can help in organizing your medical bills and other records.
- They can try and communicate with the health care service providers in case any essential records are missing.
- They can work with the physicians taking care of you to ensure that they provide the correct medical information you need. This way, you will be able to prove damages in any claim you make
- They can help you both organize and present the requisite evidence necessary to prove liability as well as any damages (if required)i
- They can also help you negotiate with the many lien holders concerning your claim (these might include disability, health, or even workers’ compensation insurers, for instance) to reduce the amount of those liens.
- They should always work for your interests and try and negotiate a mutually satisfactory settlement with the insurance service providers.
Let us take a more detailed look at the various ways that an attorney for motor vehicle accidents can help you in case of an auto accident:
Getting in Touch with the Other Driver’s Insurance Service Provider
In most personal injury cases, it is the norm for your lawyer to open up a line of communication with the insurance adjuster for all the other parties involved. Here, it is pertinent to know whether the adjuster has the financial means to make good on a claim.
This is why your attorney must have excellent communication skills and maintain a healthy working relationship with the insurance adjuster.
Obtaining the Relevant Evidence Required for Proving Liability
A good auto insurance attorney can help obtain all the necessary evidence you might need to prove liability in most types of auto accident claims. This holds true even if you have taken pictures of the accident scene yourself. However, your attorneys will probably want to go back to the scene to take a look on their own. Yes, a picture might be worth a thousand words, but it still cannot be compared to revisiting the scene. The lawyer in question would be trained and experienced enough to know what to look for and use accordingly.
Most attorneys handle the responsibility of acquiring all the accident reports related to the case. In this regard, they might often speak with the witnesses, the investigating police officers, and anyone else relevant to the case. You can rest assured that an outstanding lawyer will certainly leave no stone unturned when obtaining all relevant evidence concerning proving liability.
Obtaining Evidence of Damages
This is the part where an excellent attorney for motor vehicle accidents comes into the picture. This is particularly true when you have sustained injuries in connection with the auto accident.
Most people know the critical importance of obtaining all relevant documentation related to their auto accident injuries. However, it is not an easy task to get your hands on every bill and other records from health care providers. It is not the doctors’ fault so much as a question of their priorities.
For example, many small doctors’ offices might not have enough staff members or the time required to process medical record requests in the shortest time frame possible.
Large hospitals usually have specific procedures and protocols that they must rigidly follow to release medical records. If you are not aware of the individual protocols of your medical and healthcare service provider, they might ignore your request altogether. Sometimes, the records are inadequately maintained and require plenty of follow-ups.
Finally, the wording of the records may not be conducive to a claim. It might be difficult to successfully prosecute your personal injury claim if they leave out specific words (such as a disability or long-term prognosis, for example).
Negotiating the Settlement
You should hire the services of a professional auto injury lawyer when it comes to negotiating your settlement. It is not as easy as it seems because most claim-related negotiations require a particular skill. This is why an attorney for motor vehicle accidents is your best choice at settling an auto accident case in your favor. Such an attorney will try and help you get your due amount. Letting them work the case and conduct negotiations on your behalf is an excellent way to maximize your claims.*
Is it Necessary to Hire an Attorney for a Small Case?
Sometimes, a very small claim won’t require a lawyer, but you will have to decide what you consider big or small. As a general rule, if your medical bills are well into the four-figure range, hiring an attorney to handle your claims process is a good idea.
Conclusion
In light of the above, we can safely conclude that hiring an attorney for motor vehicle accidents is the smartest thing you can do after going through an automobile accident.
*Each claim is different and must be evaluated on its individual facts. It is important to understand that prior results do not guarantee that similar results can be achieved in any future case or cases.
