If you’re hoping to recover damages from your car accident, a car accident report from the police can be very helpful. You can still pursue a claim without one, but an official police report can go a long way to protect your rights.It Provides Documentation of the Accident
It sounds silly, but without a completed car accident report, the other driver’s insurance company may question whether a car wreck happened at all. Having a police officer come to the scene and make an official report provides written proof that there was indeed an accident. It Provides Details of the Accident
Most car accident reports include a description of the car wreck a diagram of where the cars were located, and even the officer’s opinion about what or who was responsible. An experienced car accident attorney will review the accident report to get a good picture of what happened at the scene and determine a course of action. It Provides Details of the People Involved
When involved in a minor accident, most people will simply exchange information with the other driver and commit to working it out later. What happens, though when you don’t hear from the other driver? How do you know for sure who was even driving the car that night? How will you be able to prove what happened?
A car accident report gathers vital information regarding the drivers, witnesses and the police officers involved so that you can follow up on your claim. It provides valuable contact information for your car wreck attorney and helps ensure that your claim is filed against the correct person. It Provides Information for the Officer to use in Court
Police officers deal with multiple car accidents every day. The odds of the officer remembering your car wreck are pretty small. A car accident report provides the police officer a written account that he or she can use as a reference in court.
Our opinion as experienced wreck attorneys is that you should always wait for the police to make an official report of your accident – especially if you were injured. While you can still make a claim for your car accident injuries without a report, it is better to be safe and have the documentation that you need. Call Today for a Free Consultation
The Lawyers of Brown & Roberto are serious lawyers who know how to win. With more than 75 years of combined experience, we have recovered more than $45 million for our clients. Our office is conveniently located in West Knoxville, with plenty of free parking. We’re happy to meet with you free of charge to discuss your case and answer any questions that you may have. Give us a call at (865) 328-7841 or contact us through our website Brown & Roberto, PLLC to set up a free consultation.
Hiring a car accident lawyer fills the gaps left by the insurance companies. Leaving a car accident in an insurance provider’s hands could cause more financial harm. Injured motorists have several reasons to turn their case over to a New York auto accident attorney.
How Accident Attorneys Help With Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
A car accident case’s success could hinge on securing the proper legal representation. Car insurance companies have their legal representatives, so car accident victims should, too. That way, the legal playing field becomes balanced. Motor vehicle accident attorneys advocate for their clients, representing them before a judge, jury, and insurance companies.
Communicate With the Insurance Company
We believe that auto insurance companies may not offer fair settlements, even for legitimate claims for car accident injuries, because they want to save money for their shareholders. In our experience, it seems that insurance adjusters may go out of their way to avoid paying a claim’s total value. Worse, the injured person may not realize their claim’s worth and accept the initial offer. Sometimes, adjusters use victims’ words against them to deny their claims. That is why victims should not speak to insurance representatives without consulting with an attorney.
Those inexperienced in dealing with insurance businesses may not know the tricks companies use or learn to look out for their interests. After getting into car accidents, victims should focus on recovering, not arguing with insurance carriers. A car accident lawyer in New York can take over the case and create a strategy to help recover every penny of compensation the injured party needs and deserves.
When legal representatives communicate with insurance companies, they focus on negotiating with adjusters. Attorneys also take over all details of the victim’s claim and draft verbal and written statements to support their case.
Receive Medical Care
After a car accident, a victim could require additional medical treatment. Injuries could worsen, or the person may suffer further harm related to the auto accident. By notifying their legal representative, clients will help secure their medical benefits and they could increase their chances of getting the proper care and recovering faste.
Prove Liability for the Car Accident Victim’s Injuries
Harmed victims bear the burden of proof in motor vehicle accident cases. That means they must gather evidence that shows the at-fault party’s negligence caused serious injuries and harm. Of course, negligent individuals attempt to shift blame or demonstrate how the injured party’s actions contributed to their injuries. Rather than split their focus between collecting proof and recovering, those injured benefit from letting experienced legal representatives prove liability.
Car Accident Lawyers in New Rochelle, New York
Car accident lawyers have the experience and resources needed to build a solid case against negligent parties. New York injury attorneys make powerful arguments by consulting expert health care professionals to validate client injuries. They may need to consult with other professionals to establish fault. Lawyers may also investigate the accident details and gather witness statements to determine what happened during the collision. A client’s accident report and medical records also help build a case.
While proving liability, it may turn out that the victim contributed to the car accident, which is contributory negligence. Bearing partial fault may not prevent harmed parties from recovering damages. Despite contributory negligence, a person could still recover compensation. Whether a victim recovers damages after contributing to an accident depends on the state.
Car Accident Damage in New York
In pure contributory negligence states, if a person bears even 1% fault for a car crash, they cannot receive damages. In pure comparative fault states, parties could recover compensation equal to the other party’s fault percentage. For instance, if the at-fault party is 60% at fault and the injured party suffered $100,000 in damages, the injured party can only recover 60% of those losses from the at-fault party, which equals $60,000.
Get Faster Compensation
If a car accident victim does not accept an insurance company’s initial offer, they could wait to recover. This makes sense, but waiting could cost them. While healing, the victim may face a mountain of medical bills, unpaid debts, and unmet financial obligations. The person’s financial health could take a severe hit, leading to more complications. Legal representatives can save victims time and help them receive compensation faster. Legal representatives will also take all necessary steps to fully understand the full extent of the injuries involved and how much to seek in damages. Lawyers also help victims understand New York’s statute of limitations, limiting how long a person has to take legal action.
Resist Scare Tactics
To force accident victims to submit to low-ball settlements, insurance providers may resort to scare tactics. Injured individuals may not have the energy to argue, and some medications make it hard to think clearly. Experienced lawyers understand underhanded strategies and the know-how to defuse them.
Calculate the Full Value of a Victim’s Injuries
Insurance companies may try to get away with offering unfair settlements by undervaluing the victim’s injuries. For instance, say a person gets into an accident and suffers physical injuries and car damage. While the insurance provider may offer a fair settlement to repair the damaged vehicle, their bodily injury settlement may fall short. Some injury symptoms take days or weeks to appear, meaning victims may not understand the full scope of their harm until much later after the collision. If they accept an insurance adjuster’s initial offer, they could cheat themselves out of compensation for future medical treatments.
After getting into a motor vehicle accident, a person may need to take time off work. An insurance settlement may account for the first two weeks an injured victim takes off, but the person could need more recovery time. Depending on the severity of injuries, harmed individuals may qualify for pain and suffering damages. Injuries could cause anxiety, PTSD, depression, or stress, any of which could increase the victim’s extent of losses.
Offer Peace of Mind
Even after a minor car accident, a person may have several questions and uncertainties to navigate. Having access to someone experienced with motor vehicle accidents may bring accident victims peace of mind. Attorneys help victims manage their stress and understand where to focus their energies. Without this guidance, injured parties could suffer considerable mental and emotional unease.
Negotiate a Balanced Settlement
Insurance companies look out for their interests, and car accident attorneys look out for their client’s interests. Not only do experienced legal representatives negotiate with insurance providers, but they also work with the at-fault party’s attorney. With so many parties at play and so much at stake, those injured deserve someone on their side. Motor vehicle accident lawyers know the facts and issues insurance companies and other attorneys make priority to win a case. This knowledge helps car accident attorneys mount a counterattack.
Break Down Relevant Regulations and Laws
Motor vehicle accident victims should understand how insurance policies work. That way, they know whether an insurance carrier acts in good faith and honors a contract’s contents. Legal jargon may easily overwhelm uninjured persons, let alone accident victims. Harmed individuals cannot afford to waste a moment on their legal case, making it essential to consult with a knowledgeable legal professional. An experienced NYC car accident attorney will know how to untangle agreements and connect them to relevant laws and regulations.
Having a legal background helps attorneys explain a client’s legal options. Their experience also lets them help their clients make well-informed decisions. That way, injured parties feel confident about their choices and understand how to protect their legal rights.
File a Personal Injury Suit
Depending on how negotiations go, an auto accident victim may need legal action against the at fault driver. That could mean filing a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver whose insurance provider was unwilling to compromise on a settlement. Sometimes, at-fault parties do not offer fair compensation until harmed victims take legal action.
What To Expect When Meeting With an Accident Attorney
Victims may wonder what to expect during the first meeting with their lawyer. Knowing how to prepare for the initial meeting can maximize a victim’s time with an attorney. Such insights also help injured parties take full advantage of the benefits the attorneys have to offer.
Case Assessment
After an initial phone consultation, lawyers must sit down with injured parties to understand the case thoroughly. Meeting face-to-face lets victims explain the accident’s circumstances and damages. An attorney may ask a few questions after the individual gives their account:
Did the person speak with insurance representatives? If so, what did the person say, and whom did the person speak with?
Did anyone witness the collision? Does the victim have the witness’s contact information?
Did the injured person speak to anyone else about the collision?
Does the victim have health insurance or car insurance?
Attorneys also get answers from medical documents, police reports, car repair estimates, and photographs. Victims should bring these items with them for their first meeting.
Full Disclosure
Harmed individuals must remember their attorney wants to help them, not judge them. Clients should not hold back information or lie about what happened during the accident. Embarrassing or potentially harmful details could become essential to a case. Withheld information could also compromise an issue, so it makes sense to share it. Victims must remember that they have attorney-client privilege, which protects details exchanged during the case.
Declining a Case
An attorney may not accept a person’s case, but that does not mean the person has a valid claim. The lawyer could have a conflict of interest, or they could have a full workload. Some legal professionals lack the resources and experience a specific case requires. However, you can always seek a second opinion from a different lawyer concerning your claim.
Accepting a Case
After an attorney accepts a case, victims may ask about likely outcomes. It makes sense that they want to know their case’s worth and when they should expect to receive compensation. Attorneys cannot accurately predict a claim’s resolution. Uncontrollable factors and variables influence car accident claims, and attorneys cannot foresee them all.
Deciding To Work With a Legal Representative
Even if the best car accident lawyer accepts a case, the client must agree to participate in the process. Clients must feel they can trust their lawyers and feel comfortable working together. To make a decision they feel satisfied with, injured parties should ask themselves a few questions:
What kind of history does the lawyer have with similar car accident cases in New York City?
Does the attorney have trial experience? If the case goes to trial, what are the attorney’s chances of winning?
Who handles the case? The lawyer or an associate?
Who covers litigation costs? How much does the lawyer charge in legal fees?
Potential clients should also understand the representation or fee agreement they sign. The document establishes the lawyer as the client’s legal representative. To access treatment records, clients could need to sign medical release forms.
Contact Car Accident Lawyers Experts Near You Today!
If you were injured in a car accident in New York City or Westchester County, do not take your chances with taking the first settlement offer from an insurance company. Sattler Law Group wants to help you protect your legal rights and build a solid case against the at-fault party. As you can see from our Google reviews, we successfully represent our clients who have been in motor vehicle or motorcycle or pedestrian accidents to get the best results possible.
Please schedule a consultation as soon as possible with our New Rochelle office by calling 914-239-4900. If you prefer, fill out and submit an online form. Let us put our experience and dedication to use to help you recover fair compensation for another’s negligence.
Immediately following an auto accident, your first thoughts flash to your safety, that of your passengers, and the condition of your car. Sadly, other distractions come into play that you must deal with, from insurance claims to impaired drivers. If you feel as though another party wronged you in some way, causing your injuries as a result of a car accident, hiring an auto injury attorney may be yet another task you have to tackle. No one wants to even be in this situation in the first place. The last thing on your mind is money, as you try to heal and return to normal.
Seek Out a Trusted Resource
If there is an attorney who has represented you in the past, it’s wise to keep his or her business card handy such as in your glove compartment or your wallet. You really never know when you will need access to someone you can trust – fast. That way, if you are involved in a car accident, you can inform the office that you require legal assistance in a timely manner. Having a dependable and experienced auto injury attorney ready to fight for you can be comforting.
Create a List of Questions
If you don’t already have an attorney in your corner, you’ll need to find one. That means you have to do some research. Most lawyers offer a free initial consultation, during which you can ask questions. Create this list ahead of time so you don’t miss anything. Outline the details of your auto accident and keep notes.
Inquire About Background
Ask about education and professional experience. Some good questions to ask include:
How much of your practice is made up of auto accident claims?
How many car accident victims do you represent annually?
How many do you settle? How many go to trial?
What is your success rate?
Do you frequently handle cases similar to mine?
Where did you attend law school?
How many years have you been in business?
Are you a member of any bar associations or professional organizations?
Have you represented victims of auto accidents who suffer from injuries like mine, such as back and neck injuries, TBIs and any other injuries that may result in long-term medical issues?
Don’t be afraid to ask all of these questions. The answers you receive will allow you to make the most informed decision possible in hiring an auto accident attorney to handle your case – and indeed your future.
Inquire About Case Assessment
After discussing the details of your case, ask the lawyer what his or her opinion of your case is.
What is your assessment of my case?
What kind of financial settlement can I realistically expect?
What are some of the factors that work in my favor? What factors work against me?
Do you think we will have to go to trial?
Do you think arbitration or mediation is a better option?
How long do you expect my case to take?
No matter how good your lawyer is, sometimes the answers to these questions just can’t be said with certainty. However, good auto injury attorneys should be able to give you estimates based on their knowledge, experience, skill and nature of similar cases.
Gather Information
Once you have secured representation, do your part to ensure a successful claims process. That includes showing up to all appointments with your lawyer and doctor, keeping all documents pertaining to your case organized, and answering letters and phone calls regarding your case promptly. Follow the instructions of your lawyers and doctors, show up on time, and be respectful in all meetings with other lawyers and the judge.
Doing your part in the matter can contribute to a seamless process with a successful outcome.
Contact Kuzyk Law
Don’t let the aftermath and confusion of an auto accident cloud your better judgment of calling an auto accident injury attorney sooner rather than later. We are here for you whenever you need us. Call us for more information.
Choosing a lawyer for your personal injury or wrongful death case is a decision that is similar to picking a partner for marriage. It may be a long relationship and it is always one that commands the two parties, the attorney, and the client, to trust each other. If one party does not trust the other, the common goal of justice cannot be obtained. This is because justice without trust in the result is no justice at all.
I am writing this entry to encourage face-to-face interaction with those seeking legal representation and the actual lawyer who would be trusted with that case. My biggest competitors are out-of-town, big-city lawyers who, in my estimation, rarely actually meet with the injured/aggrieved parties in my area. So it is no surprise that I often get calls from nearby clients of these lawyers telling me that they are not happy with their lawyer because they don’t know what is going on with their case and they do not trust in what they are being told. I always encourage these folks to try to work it out with these lawyers and I do press them to seek a face-to-face meeting, as that nearly always satisfies client concern, at least for the short term.
I know a lot of my competitors, and I will say that most of them are very good lawyers and that their firms are usually reputable. But, to me, there is no substitute for the old-fashioned face-to-face meeting. And I do believe there is still something important in the ability to look someone in the eye.
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” – Albert Einstein
Before I talk about the benefits of personal interaction for personal injury clients, I want to stress the benefit of the lawyer to meet with the client. I nearly always demand to meet with my potential clients face-to-face before my attorney-client relationship begins. I’ve been doing this long enough to be able to identify most potential trust issues early on. For example, when I ask a potential client if they’ve ever had the medical condition that they are complaining of now and they either look down or away, fidget, leave moisture on my glass table, and they answer “no,” then I know to pause and inquire further. I advise them that it does not usually matter if they did have prior issues and that I value trust over preexisting injuries in my clients. If they persist in their denial, I have other methods of verifying the truth, but if I get a bad feeling about a potential client, I will turn down cases on that alone. If I can’t trust my client in the initial meeting, I realize that a jury may have a hard time trusting them at trial.
For injured victims of negligence in Ohio, choosing a personal injury lawyer is easy. If you are in a car accident, your mailbox will likely be flooded with mailings with catchy phrases, DVDs, and all kinds of letters from lawyers all over the state. You can be in Portsmouth, call a lawyer in Toledo, and have a lawyer at your doorstep in a matter of a few hours, or less. But choosing a personal injury lawyer you trust is something entirely different. In the instance of this traveling Toledo lawyer, you will likely never see this person again. He or she is probably just a runner, paid to sign you up as a client. Who is actually handling your case – – at all stages, is a whole other story. While you may still get quality representation, you won’t be able to lock in trust because you will likely feel a void in the relationship.
When new clients don’t meet with the actual lawyer will end up handling their case, they are many times deprived of judging sincerity, which goes directly towards how that person can rely on the lawyer. Meeting with the actual lawyer on your case can also give you the opportunity to judge for yourself that lawyer’s commitment to your case, which goes hand-in-hand with whether you believe that person has integrity. Lastly, by meeting face-to-face with your lawyer, you can judge for yourself their competency and whether you feel they will be consistent in providing results.
If you don’t like the lawyer you meet with, move on to the next one. Because if you don’t like them, a potential juror might not, either, and it is important that you find someone you feel comfortable talking to. And to me, there is no substitute for sharing a cup of coffee with the folks I’ve asked to trust me.
Personal injury lawyers are civil litigators who represent clients, often referred to as plaintiffs, who are alleging physical or psychological injury as a result of negligence or careless acts by another person, company, organization or government entity.
Personal injury law is a broad term that encompasses a number of different situations where a victim has endured physical or psychological damage. The types of cases that personal injury lawyers typically handle fall within the area of tort law that include slip and fall accidents, motor vehicle accidents, flawed products, and other recreational accidents or accidents that result in serious personal injuries.
The role of a personal injury lawyer is to act on behalf of their injured client to negotiate fair compensation for damages sustained during an incident.
Lawyers who practice personal injury law help their clients obtain compensation for losses incurred, such as loss of income, loss of capacity to earn, inability to perform activities of daily living, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, emotional distress and legal costs.
Individuals that seek advice or representation from a lawyer should be aware that the lawyer is bound by strict standards of professional and ethical responsibility. In Alberta, lawyers are governed by the Law Society of Alberta and the Code of Conduct sets out the lawyer’s obligations to their clients, courts, counsel and to the public.
FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE CLIENT
Lawyers are under a ‘fiduciary duty’ to their clients. Lawyers owe a duty of good faith and must act honourably. It is a lawyer’s predominant duty to perform legal services on behalf of his/her client to the standard of a competent lawyer. A client is entitled to expect that his/her lawyer has the ability and the capacity to deal with legal matters.
Lawyers have a fiduciary obligation to their clients and must act honestly and be candid at all times. Lawyers must also act in good faith to advance their client’s best interests. A lawyer is obligated to take all actions and give advice that will benefit their client and must use professional skill to protect their client’s best interests.
SOLICITOR-CLIENT PRIVILEGE
One of the most important principles of the lawyer-client relationship is the right to have your private communications with your lawyer protected by solicitor-client privilege. Your lawyer can’t reveal any information that you disclose in confidence, unless you give your express permission. However, this privilege does not apply to communications for the purpose of committing a crime or an act of fraud.
The duty of confidentiality allows clients to participate in honest and frank communication with their lawyers. This, in turn, allows lawyers to provide their clients with the most effective representation, equipped with all of the relevant facts.
In order to claim solicitor-client privilege, three pre-conditions must be met. The communication must be:
Between the lawyer and the client;
For the sole purpose of seeking or giving legal advice; and
Intended to be confidential by the parties.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Lawyers also have a duty not to act or continue to act for a client where a conflict of interest exists. A conflict of interest may occur where there is a risk that a lawyer’s representation of a client will be adversely affected by the lawyer’s own interest or his/her duty to another client or third parties.
For example, a conflict of interest may arise where a lawyer is asked to represent a client in a matter where the lawyer has a personal stake in the outcome. Another example is where a lawyer is asked to act for a client in a case against a former client. In these situations, the duty to avoid conflicts of interest requires that the lawyer refuse to act in these circumstances.
YOUR ROLE AS A CLIENT
In general, there are a variety of ways that you as a client can establish the most effective relationship with your lawyer. These include the following:
Be truthful with your lawyer;
Preserve all evidence including photographs and videos;
Be cooperative and respond to requests for information by your legal team in a timely manner;
Always keep your lawyer informed of any changes in your medical condition or if new evidence becomes available as time progresses;
Attend meetings and legal proceedings, such as discoveries or mediation, advised by your lawyer and be punctual, and if you cannot attend a meeting let your lawyer know as soon as possible; and
Be considerate and polite with your lawyer and the entire legal team.
Hiring a lawyer is one of the most important decisions you make following your accident and the quality of legal representation you receive can have a major impact on your recovery. When you hire Cuming & Gillespie Lawyers, you are hiring award-winning lawyers with over 20 years of experience. You can rest assured that your case is in the best hands.
If you or a loved one have suffered serious personal injuries as a result of the negligence or carelessness of a third party, it is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side. The professionals at our service are very familiar with how personal injuries can negatively impact one’s life and we want to help you during this difficult time by advocating on your behalf.
For lawyers looking to drive more traffic to their website and attract more clients for their injury and accident practice, then blogging and content marketing is an excellent way to do just that. If you’re looking for blog topics and content ideas to get started, we have compiled a list of the best subjects and categories to include on your law firm’s blog.
Here are 13 car accident blog topics to write about:
Accident victims will likely have many questions about the claims process in general. They’re seeking information about everything from reporting to the insurance company to dealing with insurance adjusters, the average settlement for their type of case and how long it takes to settle their claim. “Do I have to go to court to settle my claim” or even “What happens if my accident claim goes to court?” are examples of the types of posts you could publish on this topic.
These are excellent types of questions to answer in blog format. Target your queries and answers to address victims questions within your state. You can use these types of blogs to convert visitors into leads and clients by selling them on the benefits of hiring an attorney.
For instance, in your article discussing how long a settlement can take, you can talk about why it might not be in a victim’s best interest to rush to settlement.
Perhaps mention the different tactics insurance companies use to delay settlement and then put pressure on a quick settlement at the end of the statute of limitations period.
2. Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Many of the MVAs your firm sees probably deals with standard passenger vehicles. However, other cases, which tend to have higher awards or settlements, involve other types of vehicles.
When people who have been injured in accidents look for information about their case, they will usually look for information related to the types of vehicles involved in the accident. Some of these type of vehicles include:
Trucks and Buses
Motorcycles
ATVs
Recreational Vehicles
Boats
Bicycles
Provide high-quality information and helpful resources specific to the types of accident cases you would like to attract more of, if they involve any of the types of vehicles listed above.
3. Bicycle Collisions
Bicycle collisions is a large topic with the potential for many future blog posts. If you serve a large metropolitan area or practice statewide, then content for cyclist accidents can be hugely beneficial. There are many considerations in these types of cases that you can share with potential clients.
Everything from the condition of the bike, whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet, was it worn correctly, with tight straps and fully buckled?
A number of articles can be written about the road on which the accident occurred. Was it a construction zone, was it a shared-use lane, was the cyclist riding across a sidewalk, instead of walking, were markings and signs pertaining to cyclists and motorists present as well as the condition of road striping and lane markings.
You can publish about the types of collisions such as intersections, right and left hook accidents and doorings. Detail how the collision scenario affects factors such as fault, damages and the overall case.
4. Pedestrian Accidents
Similar to motor vehicle accidents involving cyclists, pedestrian accidents can cause more serious injuries and can even be fatal. Who is at fault and responsible for the accident is different from conventional auto collisions.
On this topic, you can write helpful articles that discuss how fault is determined in a pedestrian collision. Other posts can be published on when pedestrians have the right of way, who covers medical expenses in pedestrian accidents and what to do when a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle.
5. Uber & Ridesharing
Uber, ride-hailing and ridesharing are wonderful examples of innovation to create more efficient markets in personal transportation. However, with more Uber drivers and similar service providers on the roads, there are more injuries caused by accidents involving drivers of these corporations.
Because these stories attract a lot of attention from the media, you can participate and contribute to the news cycle. Whenever an accident occurs involving or at the fault of a Lyft or Uber driver, report on the story in your blog.
Additionally, you can also write posts on how accidents involving these motorists could potentially affect the outcome of a claim.
6. Types of Injuries Sustained
There are many types of injuries that can be occasioned by an MVA. Soft tissue related injuries, such as whiplash are a result of many rear-end collisions. Catastrophic injuries such as brain injury, permanent injuries and disfigurement or even death are more typically seen from more serious accidents, such as those involving high speed collisions, 18-wheelers and motorcycles.
What impacts do different types of injuries (or even wrongful death) have on the process and outcome of an accident case?
If you rather focus on volume of cases rather than blog content that might drive less traffic for these types of catastrophic injuries and accidents, then there is a whole series of blog content that can be written specifically about STI (soft tissues injuries) and whiplash. There are many different grades of severity of whiplash and victims or loved ones of victims are searching for this information online.
7. Most Common Causes of Accidents
There are many causes for motor vehicle accidents, from driving while impaired, to poor road conditions, improper operation of the vehicle, texting and distracted driving.
Write articles that deal with this topic and the implications of each cause. How does the type of accident affect the case – if at all? In many posts on this subject, you can describe how this supports the determination of fault for the accident (more on that later).
8. Driving and Accident Statistics
Blog content on statistics isn’t likely to directly drive many new clients. After all, what victims are looking at stats?
However, it is extremely beneficial to publish high-quality posts with statistics on motorist and driving trends as well as accident statistics. This type of content will support your firm’s ability to earn and build backlinks for your law firm. This builds your firm’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines, which will in turn rank you higher for lucrative car accident and personal injury keywords.
9. Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
Accident victims hold a range of ideas about hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle their MVA case. With those thoughts come questions about the process of hiring and working with a car accident attorney. People at this stage in the process are looking for information about lawyers rather than seeking to hire one. This presents an excellent opportunity to be their first point of contact and the blogs they find on your law firm website will convert a number of them into engaged clients.
On this topic, some post and content ideas include “Is it worth hiring a car accident lawyer” and “should I try to handle my car accident claim myself?” where you can discuss how it’s beneficial to them to hire a law firm. Address subsequent questions like “Will I receive more compensation after paying the legal fees?”
10. Maximizing Compensation
A substantial topic that you could write many articles about involves how car accident victims can get the most money from their auto injury claims. This includes the types of damages as well as the factors that lead to larger settlements.
Discuss the types of damages available for accident victims, how types of damages are awarded and the potential value of these damages. For instance, an example blog title could be “How much can you get for pain and suffering in New Jersey?” or “5 Common Types of Damages in Car Accident Claims”. Provide helpful and in-depth information to potential clients on the types of damages.
You can publish in more detail on each type of damage for property losses, disfigurement and income loss.
11. Evidence Used in Car Accident Claims and Cases
Evidence is an important part of a MVA victim’s claim or case. Provide helpful resources and blogs that empower accident victims with information for them to gather and collect their own evidence while they are at the scene of the accident and the process thereafter, such as with injuries and medical attention that can be used to achieve a favorable outcome and get the most compensation they are entitled to.
Post blogs that discuss the different types of evidence, the methods for gathering evidence as well as what is eligible evidence in their accident claims case.
12. Determining Fault in an Accident
Determining fault in car accidents is important for knowing who can claim damages. Many people know by the time they speak with a lawyer that this is important, but they usually learn it in the interim between the accident and contacting a firm. Publish content related to the laws in your state regarding fault in accidents as well as how fault (or partial fault) is determined.
Some examples of headlines are “The Guide to Determining Fault after an Accident in Texas”, “10 Common Car Accident Scenarios and Who is at Fault”, “Who is at Fault in Rear End Collisions in Florida?”
13. What to do after an accident
Accidents spike adrenaline and force people into response. Lots of things happen quickly and it can be difficult for auto accident victims to take stock of everything that’s happened and ensure they follow procedure. Furthermore, not everyone knows what they should do immediately after as well as the days, weeks and months following an accident.
Many blog posts and articles can be written on this topic, including what to do after an accident, as well as what not to do. Another angle on this type of post is what to and not to say at the scene of a car accident.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you might be wondering exactly how an attorney can help you. In this article we’ll cover what a car accident lawyer brings to the table, including:
organization and analysis of key evidence and records
a network of investigators and experts who can help strengthen your case, and
negotiation skills that will get the best outcome for your car accident claim.
What Will My Car Accident Lawyer Do?
While much depends on the specifics and the complexity of your car accident case, in general a lawyer can:
communicate with the other driver’s insurer
obtain the necessary evidence with respect to fault for the accident
organize your medical records and bills
communicate with your health care providers to obtain missing records
work with your doctors to make sure they provide the medical information you need so that you can prove damages in your claim
organize and present the evidence in order to prove liability and damages
negotiate with lien holders on your claim (such as health, disability, or workers’ compensation insurers) to potentially reduce the amount of those liens, and
negotiate a satisfactory settlement with the insurance adjuster or defense attorney.
Let’s look at a couple of these things in-depth.
Communicating with the Other Driver’s Insurer
In any personal injury case, your lawyer will open up a line of communication with the insurance adjuster for the other party (or parties) involved. The adjuster has the pocketbook, and so it is critical for a plaintiff’s lawyer to have good communications and a good relationship with the adjuster.
Obtaining Necessary Evidence of Liability
A good lawyer can help obtain all of the evidence that you will need to prove liability in a car accident claim. Although you may have already taken photographs of the accident scene, your lawyer will probably go back to the scene him/herself to see what it looks like. While a picture may be worth a thousand words, actually seeing the scene can be worth a thousand pictures.
The lawyer will make sure to get all of the accident or police reports in the case and will often speak with the investigating police officers and witnesses. A good lawyer will leave no stone unturned when it comes to obtaining evidence of liability. Learn more about proving fault for a car accident.
Obtaining Necessary Evidence of Damages
This is where a good lawyer can be essential to your case, especially when you’ve suffered significant car accident injuries.
It is critical to obtain all documentation related to your injuries, but it isn’t always easy to get your hands on those records and bills from health care providers. Although the records are technically yours, and you have an absolute right to them, sending medical records to patients and lawyers is just not a health care provider’s first priority.
Small doctors’ offices may not have the staffing or the time to respond to medical record requests on a timely basis. Large hospitals may have specific procedures that must be followed in order to respond to medical record requests. If you don’t follow their procedures (which they often don’t publicize very well), they simply won’t respond to your request.
Then, when the health care provider does respond to the request, the records may be incomplete. Any lawyer’s secretary or paralegal will tell you that they often have to request the same records more than once and that they have to follow up endlessly with the provider’s office.
Finally, it may turn out that the doctor did not use the “magic words” as to causation, prognosis, and disability in his or her notes. In order to successfully prosecute any type of personal injury claim, you must be able to prove, through medical evidence,
exactly what your injury, disability, or physical limitation is, and
Doctors often don’t mention causation and extent of the injury or disability in their medical records. If this happens in your case, your lawyer will write the doctor and ask for a special letter in which the doctor gives his/her opinion that the accident caused your injury or disability and that, as a result of the accident, you will be hindered or disabled for a specific period of time.
Negotiating With Lien Holders
If you received benefits from a health, disability, or workers’ compensation insurer, that insurer will have a lien on your claim. A lien means that the lien holder gets paid before you do, out of any settlement or judgment you receive. A good lawyer will work with the lien holder to try to get the lien holder to reduce its lien. This is important work. Every dollar less that the lien holder takes is one more dollar that goes into your pocket. Learn more about health care provider liens on personal injury settlements.
Negotiating With Insurers/Defendants
Negotiation is a very specific skill (some might even call it an art). A personal injury lawyer is always going to be far better at settling a car accident case than a layperson would be. A good lawyer knows how much the case is worth and knows how to work the case and conduct the negotiations in order to arrive at the best outcome for the client.
When Can I Handle a Car Accident Claim Myself?
If you weren’t hurt all that badly, if you’re comfortable gathering necessary evidence and documents, and (most importantly) you’re ready and willing to engage in the settlement negotiation process, you can certainly handle your car accident claim yourself. But there’s really no substitute for a skilled legal professional’s help. Learn more about the advantage of legal representation in our personal injury reader survey results.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you’re ready to discuss your options, you can use the chat and case evaluation tools on this page, or get tips on finding the right lawyer for you and your case.
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another’s actions, it is in your best interest to hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to help with your injury claim. An attorney will represent your interests throughout the process and will be dedicated to defending your rights. Our law firm handles these cases on a contingent fee, which means you do not have to pay anything unless and until the case settles. That means you will never receive a bill from us. We only get paid if you get paid.
Our seasoned car accident lawyers in Silver Spring have decades of experience recovering compensation for those who have been injured by another motorist. We are committed to fighting for our clients and helping them get the compensation they need to recover from their injuries and losses.
6 Ways an Attorney Can Help
Hiring a car accident lawyer can be extremely valuable to your injury claim. These are some of the many benefits to hiring a lawyer and how he or she can help with your claim.
1. Handle the Insurance Company for You
Insurance companies are in the business of making money. Their insurance adjusters are highly trained at negotiating insurance settlements and will do everything they can to minimize what they pay, even to the point of denying a valid claim.
If you do not have experience negotiating with insurance companies, it can be difficult to ensure your best interests are represented and that you receive the full value of your claim. Furthermore, an insurance adjuster may get you to inadvertently issue a statement or make a comment that could affect your ability to recover the compensation you deserve.
Having an attorney represent you before the insurance company can have a significant impact on your claim. Your attorney will:
Negotiate with the insurance adjuster
Handle all details of your claim for you
Help prepare a written or verbal statement that is carefully crafted to your benefit
Represent your best interests and fight to obtain the compensation you deserve
Our lawyers have decades of experience working with insurance companies and negotiating fair settlements for our clients. We are familiar with all of their tactics and know what it takes to prevent unfair settlement offers and help ensure you receive the compensation you need.
2. Prove Liability for Your Injuries
Often one of the most complicated parts of a car accident injury claim is proving that another’s negligence caused your injuries. This is an important part of every car accident claim, as individuals harmed by another’s actions have the right to compensation.
However, all parties involved will likely attempt to shift blame, making it difficult to prove exactly who is liable for your injuries.
An accomplished personal injury attorney will be able to sift through the evidence to determine exactly who caused your injuries and then build a strong argument on your behalf.
Having handled many complex personal injury and auto accident cases, our attorneys have the skills and resources to obtain the evidence needed to build a case on your behalf. This can include:
Consulting medical experts to validate the seriousness of your injuries
Reconstructing the accident scene
Obtaining the accident report
Gathering your medical records from all of your doctors
Interviewing witnesses
We are also experienced in defending our clients against claims of contributory negligence, which can prevent an injury victim from recovering compensation if he or she was even partially at fault for the accident. We are committed to defending your right to compensation.
3. Determine the True Value of Your Injuries
Another complicated part of many car accident claims is making sure you receive compensation that is representative of the true value of your claim and the damages you have suffered. Insurance companies are skilled at convincing injury victims to accept lowball settlement offers and will work to pay as little as possible for your claim.
However, attorneys who have handled countless auto accident claims know the true value of your claim and will not accept any settlement offer that does not cover the full extent of your losses. We will work to help make sure you receive compensation for all of your losses, including those you have lost in the past and may lose in the future. This can include:
Past and future medical bills
Lost wages and future lost income
Pain and suffering
4. Negotiate a Fair Settlement
Insurance adjusters spend their days negotiating insurance settlements. They are skilled negotiators who vigorously fight for their best interests. So too are auto accident lawyers. We regularly negotiate with insurance companies and other attorneys. However, the significant difference is that we are solely focused on the best interests of our clients.
Before entering into a negotiation with an insurance adjuster, contact a trusted car accident lawyer who has experience doing just that on a regular basis. Our attorneys are experienced in negotiating fair settlements for our clients that help them obtain the compensation they deserve. We will not settle for anything less.
5. File a Personal Injury Lawsuit if Necessary
A significant benefit to hiring a car accident lawyer to handle your claim is that we can advise you of all of your legal options. If the insurance company is unwilling to offer a reasonable settlement amount, we are prepared to file a personal injury lawsuit to help you get the compensation you deserve.
This step is often the action that pushes the insurance adjuster to offer a fair settlement, even before the case goes to court. However, we are always prepared to take a case to court if it is in the best interest of our clients.
6. Explain the Laws and Regulations that Apply to Your Claim
Insurance policies are nothing more than contracts that detail the responsibilities of each party. However, deciphering the details of these legal documents can be complicated. Our attorneys are trained in the law and can read through your policy to help ensure the insurance company is acting in good faith and upholding the requirements of the contract.
If not, we can explain the legal options available to you that can help you hold that company accountable and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Additionally, there are likely many laws and regulations that apply to your accident that only an attorney will be able to identify and potentially use to your advantage.
We will guide you through every step of the insurance claim and legal process, making sure you understand the many laws and rules that apply to your case.
When to Contact a Car Accident Attorney
Although it is always in your best interest to contact a lawyer after a car accident, there are some situations when it is highly recommended, including if:
You suffered injuries in the collision
Your injuries are permanent or long-lasting
Liability is contested
The insurance company refuses to pay
You have been asked to provide medical records or a statement
The insurance company has offered a low settlement that does not cover your full expenses related to the accident
Contact Our Silver Spring Car Accident Lawyers for Help Today
No matter the circumstances of your claim, you should contact a trusted car accident injury attorney as soon as possible following an auto accident. The lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan offer free, no-obligation consultations to discuss the details of your claim and to explain how we can help you.
Do not hesitate to contact us today to get started right away. We do not charge upfront fees and only require payment if we obtain compensation for you.
If a car accident was relatively minor, resulting in only property damage and minimal injuries, you may be able to handle the resulting insurance claim on your own. However, if you are suffering from catastrophic injuries after a serious accident, you may have a lot at stake in terms of medical bills, lost income, and other damages. The insurance company also may put more resources into contesting all or part of the claim. In these situations, or in situations in which liability is unclear, you may benefit greatly from hiring a car accident lawyer.
Attorneys who handle car accident cases and other personal injury cases usually work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they will take their fee from any eventual settlement or judgment that you receive, usually in a percentage around 30-33%. If they do not get money for you, you usually do not need to pay the attorney anything. There are certain other costs associated with filing a claim, however, and you will want to determine who will cover those costs when you retain an attorney.
How an Attorney Can Help
One of the main tasks that your attorney can handle for you is communicating with insurance companies and adverse parties in your case. This can help take the stress out of the process and make sure that an insurance adjuster does not take advantage of you. Negotiating a settlement in a car accident case is a complex and often hard-fought process, but an attorney may understand better than the victim how much the case is worth and how to get the insurer to pay out. Also, complexities can arise in some claims involving lien holders. These are other insurers that provided benefits to an accident victim before the auto insurer provides them, which gives these insurers a lien on the claim. An attorney can help you try to reduce the lien so that you retain as much of the settlement or judgment as possible.
Another key area in which an attorney can help is gathering evidence to support your claim. You will need to collect evidence regarding both liability (who caused the accident) and damages (your losses from the accident). An attorney can retain experts to investigate the accident, and they can discuss the events with police officers and witnesses. They can also help obtain evidence from medical providers to establish the scope and extent of your injuries. In some cases, an attorney might retain medical experts to explain the effect of your injuries.
Choosing a Car Accident Lawyer
When you are looking for an attorney, you should make sure to choose someone who relates well to you. They also should have experience handling cases similar to yours. Trial experience can be an important asset, since insurers may take a claim more seriously if they know that a victim’s attorney is willing to go to trial. You may also want to make sure that your attorney actually will be handling your case, rather than passing the work to paralegals or other assistants.
You can read more here about the process of finding and working with a personal injury lawyer.
Getting a Case Evaluation
In your initial meeting with the attorney or their assistant, you will describe the facts of the accident and your injuries. The attorney or assistant may ask about certain key issues before deciding whether to take the case, such as your insurance coverage and any previous communications with insurance adjusters and others about the accident. The attorney may ask you to bring certain documents to the meeting so that they can better understand your case. These may include medical bills, the police report of the accident, and correspondence with insurers, among other things. You should be aware that the attorney-client privilege will protect the contents of this conversation, so you should be as candid with the attorney as possible. This will help both sides determine the value of your case and whether it makes sense to move forward together.
So you’ve been involved in a car accident and think you may have a case. How do you find the right attorney to help you?
You already know this is an important decision. In fact, finding the right lawyer from a good shortlist of car accident attorneys may be one of the most important decisions of your entire car accident case.
We’re going to help you with that right now.
You should do careful research and select an attorney who has years of proven experience handling personal injury cases such as yours. We want to offer you some helpful tips to find that perfect attorney to get you compensated for your car accident injuries.
Top reasons why you need a personal injury attorney after your auto accident
When should you hire a personal injury attorney after a car crash, and why? What does a lawyer do for you? Do you need a lawyer for a minor car accident? We asked attorneys from all over the country these questions and here’s what they said.
Research shows that car accident victims, particularly those with perceived “minor” injuries, are reluctant to hire a personal injury attorney for a number of reasons. Perhaps they don’t think they need one, they are intimidated by the prospect of talking to a lawyer, or they don’t want to get dragged into court like they see on TV shows. Or maybe they mistakenly believe that they could never afford to hire an attorney or that their injuries aren’t that serious.
Whatever the reason, the reality is that not hiring an attorney after a car accident can have long-term negative consequences on your final settlement or award.
While it’s hard to quantify exactly how much it helps to hire an attorney since there isn’t recent data looking into this issue and cases vary widely, one commonly cited study by the Insurance Research Council from 2004 found that 85 percent of cases where the insurance company settled a car accident claim were handled by a hired attorney.In addition, auto accident injury victims who are represented by an attorney are awarded 3.5 times more compensation in settlements than those accident victims who represent themselves, according to the same study.
In this article, Enjuris developed a comprehensive list of tips and advice from reputable attorneys around the country about the benefits of hiring an attorney following a crash. Our goal is to help accident victims understand the settlement difference that having a great attorney on their side can make by providing answers to related questions like:
What are the top reasons why people should hire an attorney?
What advantages do personal injury attorneys offer in car accident cases?
When should you hire a personal injury attorney after a car crash?
Do you need a lawyer for a minor car accident?
Below you’ll find answers to these questions and more from experienced car accident attorneys based in cities all across the country, from Miami to New York to Houston to Denver.
Before you look up car accident attorneys, know what you’re looking for
Before you even start doing searches it will pay off to have a good idea of the qualities and terms you are looking for in a car accident attorney. This may differ a little according to your case, your personality, your area of the country, even.
These questions will give you a framework for a list you can check off:
Evaluate the complete team of staff, not just the partners or people who make up the public face of the law firm. Keep in mind as you research and interact with the firm that it may not be the same person you speak with initially who will be your primary contact.
Firm age, size, experience. Awards and leadership roles in organizations can also be good indicators.
Good judicial connections: Find out if they participate in the local bar association and contribute to campaigns.
Comfort with going to trial: Find out how many of their cases go to trial and the success rate of those that do. Some lawyers will have this information posted on their websites.
Have they tried or settled similar cases in your city or county? Do they have an office near you?
Look for experience with your type of case specifically.
Negotiation ability: What sort of settlements they have obtained (remember, 95% of personal injury cases are settled without trial). Again, some car accident attorneys will have this information posted on their websites.
Your personal comfort with the lawyer. This can be a big one.
Past problems: Has the attorney ever been censured or disciplined by any legal or ethics committees in the past? You will want to look this up before contacting them, so you don’t waste your time.
Past client reviews: Be alert to what others say about them, especially on independent review sites.
