How to Cover Yourself When You’re a Victim of a Car Accident

You’re driving your usual route home after a long day at work when the impact of another car crashing into yours causes you to jolt. That collision is one of the scariest moments you will ever experience. But the nightmare doesn’t always stop there. 

Too many of us have felt that “pit in your stomach” feeling when a car accident takes place. For some of us, we were the ones at fault and we knew it from the moment we made that one bad choice that led to the dangerous turn of events. 

Some of us are simply the innocent victims and the fear that comes with knowing we can be in harm’s way even when we make all the right decisions is difficult to accept. This article is for you. If you find yourself in this position, you owe it to yourself and loved ones to accept what has happened so that you can move forward in getting the help you need to recover from your auto accident. Ken Kolsh, statistics director for the National Safety Council, said it best this year when he stated, “We are just not good at estimating our own risk.” It’s time to hand things over to a professional. 

Yes, You Need a Lawyer Even if You’re Not at Fault and Here’s Why:

4 Reasons to Seek a Lawyer When Involved in a Car Accident: 

The insurance adjuster isn’t your friend. 

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They do not exist to help you get the most for the claim. In fact, they are well-versed in all the ways they can save themselves money and avoid paying you. An insurance company is a for profit business responsible to its shareholders, not the injured party in an accident. Don’t take them on alone.

An experienced lawyer can spot insurance tactics and fight them. 

Insurance companies often try to wear down a claimant, employing a wide variety of tactics designed to stall the process. However, the right legal representation anticipates this kind of behavior and combats it. Let a quality legal team expose the tricks used by insurance companies before you become a victim a second time. 

The lure of quick money can influence people to settle too soon and for too little.

Insurance companies are talented and known to dangle settlements in front of accident victims early in a case.  While the prospect of fast money is nice, these settlements tend to yield a sum that is much lower than what would ultimately be recovered with a lawyer. In 2017, the United States saw nearly $435 billion in medical injuries due to vehicle accidents. That money went to cover “wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, motor-vehicle property damage and employer costs.” It is crucial to obtain a lawyer immediately following a car accident to defend you against insurance tactics.

Personal mistakes can be costly and difficult to undo. 

People tend to want to cut corners and try to handle their own case after a car accident. Victims assume that nothing bad can happen because they weren’t the one(s) who caused the accident, but insurance companies do not see it this way. You could easily misinterpret important language in a document or overlook a clause that drastically changes the recovery in your case.  

You realize you need a lawyer, so what’s next? 

Going to a lawyer for the first time can be nerve-wrecking. Don’t let nerves get the best of you in a situation like this. Stay focused by being proactive and take action by compiling a few key things. 

6 Items to Prep Before Meeting with a Lawyer

1. Photos of the vehicles after the accident

2. Photos of any injuries (cuts, bruises etc.) because they can heal over time

3. List of any medical appointments made as a result of the accident

4. Short list of your medical history

5. “Pain Calendar” documenting your daily level of pain since the incident

6. List of questions you have about the legal process

As a car accident victim, you might be too shaken up to truly process all of the injuries you sustained. Unfortunately, certain nerve damage and trauma can go undetected if you don’t have a professional help to assess the situation. Don’t waste critical time wondering if you need a lawyer for an accident. At Amicus Legal Group we understand how difficult accident claims can get.  Contact us today at (888) 588-1777 to see how we can help.