A lawyer knows how to deal with car insurance companies and can get you a much higher settlement. They will also help you meet deadlines and avoid missing important legal steps.
They will consider how a crash has affected you, including past and future medical treatment costs and loss of earnings. Duluth Auto Injury Lawyer will also analyze emotional impacts such as distress and frustration.
Seek Medical Care
Getting checked out by a medical professional after a car accident is not only non-negotiable, it’s vital. Injuries can worsen over time, and the longer you wait to receive treatment, the more serious the consequences may be. Prompt medical care is not only critical for your health, but it can also play a role in your legal case. Having official medical documentation of your injuries is critical in establishing causal link between your injuries and the car accident that caused them. This is an important part of being able to seek maximum compensation from a party responsible for your damages, whether they be an insurance company or another person.
Seeing a doctor immediately after an accident is also important because it allows your medical professionals to identify and treat any underlying injuries that might not manifest themselves right away. For example, it can take hours or even days for some injuries to surface, particularly if your body is overloaded with adrenaline at the scene of the accident, which masks the presence of pain and other symptoms.
Medical records are also essential for determining the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your life, both physically and emotionally. Our Buffalo, NY car accident lawyers know that without these documents, it can be difficult to prove your claim for compensation, especially if an insurance company disputes the severity or origin of your injuries. Having these records ensures that every scratch, bruise, and sore spot is documented and can help you recover the maximum compensation possible.
If an injured victim does not receive the financial assistance they need from an insurance claim or other compensation arrangement, a lawsuit can be filed against the at-fault driver to help cover expenses. The most common types of damages awarded include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. If the at-fault driver was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, punitive damages may be awarded to punish them for their actions.
We encourage you to contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible if you’ve been involved in an auto collision. Our team is ready to review your medical records and assess your situation to determine if it’s in your best interest to file an injury claim or a lawsuit.
Gather Evidence
While your immediate thoughts following a crash may center around ensuring your safety, the minutes and hours following an accident are crucial for another reason: collecting evidence. Whether you are filing an insurance claim or taking legal action against the at-fault party, having reliable proof of what happened and the extent of your injuries is vital for establishing liability and securing compensation.
Physical Evidence: Photographs and videos of the scene from different angles, vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, weather conditions, and any visible injuries are all strong pieces of evidence that help paint a clear picture of how the accident occurred. If possible, it is also important to try to retrieve the contact information of witnesses who witnessed the incident as they can provide unbiased accounts and statements which can be useful in establishing fault.
Medical Records: Your medical records are another critical piece of evidence as they can prove that your injuries were directly a result of the accident. These records will help your lawyer establish the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive in order to cover all expenses related to the crash.
Financial Records: Documentation of all costs associated with the accident, including the cost of your treatment, property damage, and lost income, is an essential part of substantiating your claim. It can be difficult to remember all of these expenses after an accident, but by keeping track of them from the time of the collision you can ensure that your attorney is able to accurately calculate all of your losses for which you are eligible to receive compensation.
The value of evidence can depreciate as time passes, so it is incredibly important to begin the process of gathering evidence as soon as you can after the accident. Witnesses may forget key details, skid marks could fade or disappear, and your physical injuries may heal. For this reason, it is important to act quickly and hire an experienced Buffalo car accident lawyer who can assist with preserving physical evidence, interviewing witnesses, and gathering medical and financial records.
Keep Details to Yourself
While you may feel like discussing the accident with friends, neighbors or even on social media, it is important that you limit who knows about your claim. Insurance companies and other parties can take your words out of context or use them against you in court. Additionally, talking to anyone other than your attorney could also harm your case. If you’re not sure whether it is safe to discuss the accident, always speak with your lawyer first.
Photographs, video footage and witness testimony can help your attorney build a strong case for you. If you’re able, ask witnesses for their contact information and to provide a statement about what they saw at the accident scene. Documenting weather conditions, the condition of roads and traffic signs can also be crucial to the success of your case.
Documentation is key to proving how serious your injuries are and calculating the losses associated with the crash. Your medical records, bills, home health or therapist notes and a journal about the accident are some of the most useful evidence your lawyer can use in building your case.
It is also helpful to keep financial documents, including pay stubs and W2 forms from the time before the accident, in order to calculate your lost wages. These records can be used to demonstrate your financial loss in negotiations or if you need to go to trial.
In addition to the physical and financial losses you have suffered, your attorney will also consider your pain and suffering. They will work hard to get you financial compensation for the traumatic experience and any impact it has had on your quality of life.
Many people know someone who has been involved in a car accident and has hired an auto injury law firm. They may be able to give you a referral and speak about their experience with the attorney or firm. This can help you decide if the firm is right for you. You can also interview any recommended attorneys or firms to determine if they are the best fit for your case.
Contact Us
A skilled accident lawyer will help you determine the amount of damages that you are entitled to for medical costs, lost income and future losses, property damage, pain and suffering and loss of consortium. He or she will subpoena your health care provider for certified records of these expenses and make sure that they are introduced in court at the appropriate time. In addition, the attorney will work to settle your claim out of court if possible to reduce the stress and strain on you.
He or she will also know the important legal deadlines for your case so that you don’t miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve. A car accident lawyer is familiar with the nuances of insurance policies and he or she will make sure that your settlement agreement or court verdict includes all the damages you are eligible to receive.
In addition, an accident lawyer will be aware of the tactics insurance companies use to try to get injured victims to accept low compensation offers. He or she will be prepared to counter any arguments that the insurance company makes and will negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
A reputable car accident lawyer will offer a free lawyer consultation where he or she will look at the specifics of your case and give you direct legal advice regarding your claim. This is the ideal opportunity to assess the lawyer’s communication abilities and to determine whether or not he or she is a good fit for your case. When choosing a car accident lawyer, be sure to choose one with a proven record of successful negotiations and winning verdicts in personal injury cases. This will increase your chances of obtaining the full amount of compensation that you are eligible to receive. For more information, contact us at Cellino Law in Manhattan today to schedule a free consultation. Our attorneys will handle the entire process from start to finish. Our lawyers understand the difficulties that injury victims face, and we will be by your side every step of the way.