When Do I Need an Attorney for a Car Accident Claim?

The court orders a defendant to pay both types of compensatory damages in an attempt to make you whole again. However, to recover non-economic damages, which do not have a monetary value, your injuries must be long-term or permanent, or you must have lost a loved one.

Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, death-related expenses, and replacement or repair of destroyed or damaged personal property.

Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium and inconvenience. It can be very difficult to obtain all of the damages you are entitled to unless you have an experienced car accident lawyer.

The Consequences of Catastrophic Injuries

When you file a claim with the insurance companies, you may not be able to collect immediately if your doctors have not fully diagnosed your injuries. For example, a doctor might have diagnosed a traumatic brain injury but may not know the effects of the injury until weeks later.

Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries sometimes cause long-term or permanent disabilities. It is better to wait to start settlement negotiations until you find out how these catastrophic injuries will affect you.

When you retain an attorney for a personal injury claim for car accident injuries, the attorney can file a claim with the insurance company and let the insurance company know that you have outstanding tests to determine the extent of your injuries.

Once your car accident lawyer receives more information regarding your injuries, he or she may hire expert witnesses to testify as to the severity of your injuries so that you might recover non-economic damages.

Working with Insurance Companies

People often ask about settling their own claims. However, we do not recommend that as insurance companies use several tricks to deny your claim or, at the least, offer you an amount that might not cover your medical expenses, never mind other damages. Remember that all insurance companies are in business to make money – any claim decreases their bottom line.

Car accident attorneys know the tricks insurance companies play. Additionally, insurance companies know that car accident lawyers will not hesitate to go to court to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Thus, insurance companies are more apt to settle for a fair and reasonable amount when you have an attorney involved.

Losing a Loved One in a Car Accident

After losing a loved one in a car accident, your world is turned upside down. The last things you want to think about are hospital bills, ambulance expenses and the probate process. A car accident lawyer can help you ensure your loved one’s estate recovers the compensation you deserve to cover any hard expenses, including medical and funeral expenses, plus non-economic damages such as emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of companionship and inconvenience.

A car accident lawyer can help you recover the compensation you deserve and ensure the settlement goes through the probate process.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today

Finally, a car accident lawyer ensures that all required documents are filed on time, whether for an insurance claim or to file a lawsuit against the defendant. If you do not file a car accident claim on time, you are forever barred from recovering damages.

Contact a car accident lawyer at Koglmeier Law Group, PLC for a free case evaluation as soon as possible.