Negotiating a car accident case is not always as straightforward as it seems. You will need to prove fault and liability, estimate your expenses and losses, file a claim, and aggressively pursue a settlement that fairly compensates you for your losses.
If you try to settle your car accident without a lawyer, you may struggle to prove your case and end up receiving less compensation than you deserve.
Even when you have an attorney representing you, the choice of whether to accept a settlement or not is always up to you. They can handle your negotiations and offer advice, but you will choose when to settle.
A Lawyer Can Make Navigating the Claims Process Simpler
When an attorney files a claim and pursues compensation for a client, they handle every step of the process. This service often requires them to:
- Obtain the police report and other documents.
- Survey the crash scene.
- Gather evidence.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts.
- Take other steps to prove the other driver caused the accident and is legally accountable.
Having a lawyer handle these tasks may be especially important for accident victims who suffered serious injuries, are still undergoing treatment, or are caring for a hurt child. And if you’ve returned to work, it can be difficult to handle your claim without taking additional time off.
When you hire an attorney to manage the claims process, they will protect your rights, investigate your case, assign liability, and demand a fair and just payout from the insurance company. You can focus on finishing treatment, healing from your injuries, and returning to your life.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
Your Attorney May Identify Additional Damages You Overlooked
Even if you do not work with a lawyer to prove fault and file your insurance claim, you may want to discuss your case with one before signing an agreement. Among the most complex challenges of settling a claim is knowing what a fair settlement value should be. Calculating the value of a traffic accident case requires several steps:
- Identifying your related expenses and losses
- Understanding and estimating your future damages
- Assigning an overall value to the case
- Collecting evidence to support this value
Some of these steps require expert input to assign a value properly. An attorney may be able to identify additional damages you failed to include or to put a more accurate value on your claim to ensure your settlement is fair before you sign the agreement.
Let a Lawyer Negotiate on Your Behalf
Choosing to settle a car accident without a lawyer forces you to handle all the negotiations with the insurance company on your own. When the cause of an accident is not straightforward, or there are questions about comparative fault, it can be challenging to know what to do.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Attorneys are accustomed to building injury cases and negotiating with insurers, which can eliminate much of the guesswork for their clients.
If the insurance company will not agree to your demand for a fair payout or tries to blame the car accident on you, you may need to take the case to trial. If you hire a lawyer, you can turn to them to learn about your next steps.
Filing Deadlines for Personal Injury Lawsuits
While going to trial may seem intimidating, having an attorney on your side can greatly reduce the stress you face. It is important to act quickly, however. Each state has time limits for filing a lawsuit after a car accident. For example, the window for filing is one year in Louisiana under Civil Code (CC) Art. 3492.
Missing the deadline for beginning your case could mean losing the right to file a lawsuit and name the at-fault driver as the defendant. This makes identifying and meeting the statute of limitations imperative.
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Reach Out to Morris Bart, LLC About Your Case Today
You can speak with a representative from the Morris Bart law firm today for free. We are a contingency fee personal injury firm that offers help to victims throughout our service area, including New Orleans.
You can reach an available team member now by calling (504) 613-4771. You will not need to pay anything unless we win your case.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
