5 Signs That You Should Get a Lawyer After a Car Accident

Victims dealing with injuries and losses resulting from a car accident can feel overwhelmed and unsure of their next legal steps. If you suffered injuries in a car accident, it can be very upsetting and frustrating – especially when the car accident was not your fault.

If you are dealing with serious medical bills, lost wages, property damage and pain and suffering as a result of the accident, you may wonder how you can receive compensation for your injuries and losses. You may be wondering: “Should I get a lawyer after an accident?”

The experienced car accident lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. can answer your questions and help you understand your legal rights. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation to help you make choices regarding your next steps.

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

Many victims of car accidents wonder if they should consider hiring a lawyer to represent them against an insurance company in order to obtain a fair settlement or in court.

Making the decision to hire an attorney is one that should be based on the facts and circumstances of your own case and your unique situation. However, the following are five signs that signal you may want to consult with a car accident lawyer to learn about your rights and options.

1. The Car Accident Caused Serious Injury or Death

If you suffered injuries that required medical attention as a result of a car accident, a lawyer may be able to help you get the money needed for medical care, physical therapy, equipment (such as a wheelchair), or even home renovations to accommodate your injuries.

Many injuries caused by car accidents require long-term care and can result in expenses for many years. A personal injury lawyer can help you determine what your injuries may be worth and explain how you can pursue compensation. If your loved one died as a result of a car accident, a car accident lawyer at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. can explain your options regarding how to proceed with a potential wrongful death claim.

2. The Other Driver Is Uninsured

Normally, the car insurance company that covered the negligent driver will compensate a victim for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and car repairs. However, if the other driver does not have auto insurance, or does not have enough insurance coverage, then it can be even more challenging to receive the compensation you deserve.

If the negligent driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may want to seriously consider when to get a car accident lawyer involved to help you answer questions regarding your case. A personal injury lawyer can help you deal with the other insurance company or with the at-fault driver to pursue the compensation you deserve. Your attorney can also help you pursue compensation from “your” auto insurer through uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on your policy.

3. The Insurance Company Is Giving You Trouble

Some insurance companies use manipulative tactics in order to try to reduce the amount of compensation they provide to victims as a result of car accidents. If you are considering when to get a lawyer involved after your car accident, it may happen when you find that the insurance company refuses to provide you with a full and fair settlement for your injuries and losses. An experienced car accident lawyer who is familiar with the personal injury laws of New Jersey can negotiate with your insurance company and with the other driver’s insurance company.

Consider the following questions in order to better determine the answer to your questions, “Should I get a lawyer after an accident?”

Is the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Causing Trouble?

The other driver’s insurance company may be trying to take advantage of you through the use of deceptive tactics if:

• They request your entire medical history.
• They require you to get a medical exam with a doctor of their choosing.
• They try to get you to admit the accident was your fault or partly your fault.
• They attempt to contact you while you are still in the hospital.
• They attempt to record the conversation without your permission.
• They attempt to send a check hoping you will cash it unknowingly closing the entire case.

Is Your Insurance Company Causing Trouble?

If your own insurance company is engaging in any of the following actions, they may be trying to settle your claim for less than you deserve:

• Failing to return your phone calls or emails
• Failing to discuss your case with you
• Encouraging you to take a settlement offer that does not fairly compensate you
• Telling you they cannot obtain a higher payment from the other insurance company

In any of these scenarios, the car accident lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. can communicate directly with the insurance companies to help you protect your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve under the law.

4. You Are Missing Work Without Compensation

In addition to medical bills for injuries, you may miss work as a result of the injuries you received in your car accident. If you remain unable to return to work, you may have the legal right to compensation for your lost wages, future loss of wages, pension or employee benefit contributions, missed promotions, vacation and sick days used, and more. Additionally, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages because you could not work at all, or because you could not perform some of your work duties or work your full regular schedule.

An experienced car accident lawyer can help you understand all of the different types of compensation you may have a legal right to receive with respect to your inability to return to work following your car accident.

5. The Driver’s Insurance Company Offered You a Low Settlement

Insurance companies may try to settle with you very quickly for less compensation than you deserve under the law. These lower compensation amounts are not only unjust but also fail to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.

Insurance companies oftentimes take advantage of victims of car accidents and attempt to accept settlement offers that do not fully compensate them for their injuries and losses. If you feel that the insurance company failed to offer you an appropriate settlement amount, consider visiting with an experienced car accident attorney to help you better understand your legal rights and help you calculate the compensation you may have a right to pursue.

Contact a New Jersey Auto Accident Lawyer Today

The decision to hire a personal injury attorney after a car accident is a personal one. However, an experienced New Jersey car accident lawyer can explain why there are certain circumstances that may prove more challenging to victims of car accidents and can help victims understand their legal rights.

When deciding if you should get a lawyer after a car accident, remember that a car accident attorney can conduct a complete investigation of the accident, contact witnesses from the scene of the accident, potentially hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf, calculate the compensation you may have a legal right to receive, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and file a claim in court if a lawsuit proves to be the necessary course of action.

If you are unsure why you should get an attorney for your car accident case, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with the compassionate and experienced lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C.