In a Car Accident: How to Know When to Hire an Attorney
Car accidents happen every day, and they range from the not-so-serious to the deadly. In a major car accident, it is fairly easy to know when you may need an attorney to take your case. But what if your accident is minor, do you still need an attorney?
After an accident, many things will go through your mind: is everyone okay; should you take photos; should you talk to those who may have witnessed the accident?
After you make sure that everyone is okay and call the police, then you’ll probably want to take some photos if you are not injured. If you feel like it, and while you wait for the police to arrive, you may talk to witnesses and exchange insurance information with anyone else who was involved.
Probably the most important thing you can do, especially if you think you may have been injured – and especially in a minor car accident – is to seek medical attention. A doctor can confirm whether or not you have received an injury in the wreck. And this information will be crucial should you decide to hire an attorney.
If you are hurt, you will need to go the doctor or hospital, and this is the point where you will most likely want a lawyer involved. There are time limits concerning the notification of your insurance company; evidence may go missing if you don’t have an attorney who insists that the other side save that information.
There are a lot of issues that you will be thankful to have an attorney handle for you. An attorney can answer all of your questions and get the ball rolling in a timely manner.
This way, if you realize later on that you want to file a lawsuit, you will not have waived any of your rights.
And what if your accident involves a family member? This is why you have liability insurance. If you sue a family member, their insurance rates will not go up. So while you sue the person, the insurance company actually pays the claim with no penalty to the one whom you have sued.
These are just a few things to consider if you’re involved in a car accident and you’re thinking of hiring an attorney. Our attorneys offer a free consultation that can help you make your decision. So, please give us a call.
