The average driver is in a car accident every 18 years. Fortunately, most car accidents do not result in fatalities. Unfortunately, more than 2 million people are injured in car accidents every year.
Even if you weren’t injured, there’s a good chance you sustained property damage. Insurance companies are notorious for their reluctance to pay claims. The average insurance claim involving injuries in 2010 was $23,450.
If you are involved in a crash, chances are that you will have to file a claim with insurance. Don’t go at this alone.
A personal injury attorney in KC can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve and help you navigate the insurance claims process.
It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after the crash, even if you don’t think you are injured. Injuries can show up weeks after the crash.
Keep reading for 3 reasons to hire a personal injury attorney if you were involved in a car accident.
1. Expertise
Whether you have to file a claim with your own insurance company or another driver’s, the insurance company is not on your side.
They make money by not paying claims. Even if you were not at fault for an accident, if the at-fault driver does not have sufficient coverage, you may have to tap into your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Your policy may also include medical payments to cover those in your vehicle, regardless of fault.
Sometimes, when there are multiple insurance companies involved, they will argue about who should pay first. The bottom line is, insurance can be confusing.
Fortunately, personal injury attorneys have dedicated their careers to helping victims of auto accidents in your state. Each state has different laws that affect car insurance claims.
From determining liability to what damages you can pay in court, state law matters. Hiring an attorney who is licensed to practice in your state will give you the best chance at winning your case.
There are many nuances in the laws that you won’t know or understand. Your attorney will make sure your claim is filed within the statute of limitations, for example.
Insurance adjusters are skilled negotiators who will try to make it seem like they are on your side. They will ask for information from you that could hurt your case later.
Your attorney will be with you every step of the way and will act as your representative when it comes to dealing with the insurance companies. The tactics insurance adjusters try on unrepresented claimants will not work when you are represented by an attorney.
2. Resources
Hiring a personal injury lawyer gives you accesses to resources beyond the attorney himself.
If you are injured in an auto accident, your attorney will make sure that you have the best medical team around you. He or she will direct you to medical professionals who can not only treat your condition but also testify on your behalf if the case goes to trial.
Having a team of medical professionals who can serve as witnesses and testify that your injury was caused by the accident and how it will affect your future will help win your case.
Keep in mind that the insurance company will have easy access to a team of experts waiting to testify against you without having even met you. Insurance companies have the money and legal resources at their disposal.
Hiring your own attorney will even the playing field. Your attorney will make sure you are not taken advantage of by the insurance company’s experts.
Having a personal injury lawyer on your side also means you have the entire staff of the law firm working on your behalf.
Building a case is time-consuming. If you were in an accident, chances are you don’t exactly have time to do it yourself.
The staff of your attorney will do the leg work for you. They will use private investigators to recreate the accident scene and build your case.
They will also order and collect your medical bills and records and interpret them to explain your injuries to the insurance company or jury. It’s unlikely that you can access or afford these resources on your own.
3. Compensation
For many reasons, hiring a personal injury attorney will ensure that you are fairly compensated for your case.
Your attorney will be able to tell you the value of your case and make sure the settlement you receive is fair. If you go into negotiations with an insurance company alone, they will try to short change you. It’s their job.
Represented claimants are offered higher settlements because having an attorney shows that you are serious and willing to take the claim to trial if a fair offer is not presented.
Insurance companies will try to get you to settle quickly because they know you need the money. Your attorney will make sure that doesn’t happen.
He can also explain your options when it comes to a lawsuit cash advance if the case is solid and expected to go on for some time.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in KC Today
If you have been in a car accident, contact a personal injury attorney in KC today.
You should contact an attorney immediately after being involved in an accident. There is no part of the process you should attempt alone other than reporting the accident to the police.
Your attorney will guide you along the way and make sure you get checked out even if you don’t immediately feel injured.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
