After going through the many steps that are required at the scene of the accident, and then working with your insurance company to get your vehicle either repaired or replaced, many drivers are ready o be done with everything involving an auto accident. Do you really have to get an attorney involved too? Isn’t that just even more work? Well, it could be. This is especially true if the scene at the time of the accident wasn’t handled properly, and thoroughly. However, contacting a personal injury attorney after an auto accident may help to make your life easier going forward.
Your Insurance Company
After you’ve gotten copies of the police reports and gathered the information for everyone involved in the auto accident, it’s time to present it to your insurance company. It’s important to discuss your deductible, if you have one, as well as what kind of coverage you have for a rental car. If you have medical bills related to the accident, or you know you will have several of them later on, you will want to mention this as well.
Their Insurance Company
If the other driver was at fault, their insurance company will most likely try to deter you from speaking to an attorney. Since their driver was found to be at fault, an attorney may be able to negotiate for a higher settlement or even take them to court to cover many more expenses. Once they offer a quick settlement, if you accept it then you will not be able to go after the insurance company or the driver again.
Auto Accident Aftermath
While this quickly stops any more steps you will have to take regarding the auto accident, it may not be the best choice. Many drivers who accept a claim from the other insurance company are not yet fully aware of what injuries they may have sustained and the treatments that will be required. They may also not yet be aware of how those injuries will affect their ability to work and support themselves and their families. This is when it’s time to talk to an attorney.
An Auto Accident Attorney
Once you’ve spoken to an attorney, you’ll know more about the situation as a whole. You’ll also know what steps the attorney can handle for you, and what you will be responsible for. Usually, your only task is to find the extent of your medical problems and start healing from the auto accident. Regular communication with the attorney keeps them in the loop. However, at this point the attorney can handle much of what’s required.
A Different Result
If your doctors have agreed that your injuries are minor, then hiring an auto accident attorney may not be necessary. The attorney can let you know this as well. However, if there are more issues after the accident, an attorney may be able to help you receive compensation that will cover the medical bills that may not be covered when another driver is found to be at fault. They may also be able to help recover wages that you lost due to an inability to work. Other forms of compensation may also be available depending on the accident, the injuries sustained, the damage done to the vehicle, and other circumstances.
Take the Time to Talk
With a free and confidential consultation, it won’t take much more than an hour or two of your time to speak to an auto accident attorney. In that time, you can learn more about what your options are, what may be your best option, and what would be required of you for each option should you choose it. While accepting a settlement from the insurance company quickly may put an end to the auto accident aftermath hassles, it may only create more in the future. Call Martin Gasparian to learn more about your rights and responsibilities after an auto accident, and also what compensation may be available.
