Does a Car Accident Lawyer Help You With Claiming Insurance?

It's estimated that each year, motor vehicle-related injuries cause roughly $498.3 billion in damage. The good news is that most of the time, insurance companies will cover the damages related to these accidents.

The bad news is that insurance companies are businesses just like anyone else. As such, they'll often do everything in their power to hold on to their money. This is one of the main reasons why people turn to car accident lawyers to help with their claims.

But can a car accident attorney assist you with claiming insurance? And when should you consider contacting one? In this guide, we'll answer these questions so you can get the most out of your car accident claim.

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You With Claiming Insurance?

Car accident injury claims can be a nightmare. Often you'll be on hold for hours with your doctor's office for medical records. Or you'll be arguing with your insurance adjuster over a seemingly small detail.

A lawyer can make this process a lot easier for you by taking over all of the busy work. If you hire a good one, it can also result in a larger, fairer claim. However, let's take a closer look at some of the specific ways that a car accident attorney can help you with claiming insurance.

Communicate With the Insurance Company

Communicating with an insurance company can be stressful. Often, you are warned not to give these professionals any more information than you need to. However, it can be difficult to know what you should tell them and what you should keep to yourself.

On top of that, you have to juggle calls with both your own insurance company as well as the other driver's insurer. If there are multiple parties involved, this can quickly devolve into a messy web of insurance calls.

A car accident attorney simplifies things by handling all of the communication for you. Not only does this make your life easier, but it also ensures that you don't say or do anything that might jeopardize your claim.

If the other driver's insurance company calls you, simply tell them to reach out to your lawyer, then give them their number. That way, you can focus on recovery instead of stressful phone calls.

Gather Evidence

Gathering evidence is one of the first things you should do after a car accident. This typically includes things like taking pictures, getting copies of the accident reports, collecting witness numbers, and exchanging insurance information.

This is important because, typically, the burden will fall on you to prove that you weren't at fault during the accident. And, if the other party claims it wasn't their fault, you'll need to prove otherwise.

Sadly, not everyone gets a chance to gather evidence. Sometimes injuries might require you to be rushed off to the hospital. Or, in the thick of things, you might forget to take photos.

A car accident lawyer can help by collecting the evidence necessary to prove who is liable for the accident, including accident photos and witness statements.

Establish Damages

To be properly compensated for both the damage to your car, as well as any injuries you may have sustained, you need to establish a monetary amount that will compensate you for your  damages. Typically, the largest amount of damages are the result of medical bills.

It's estimated that the average hospital stay is around $14,101. And if you need to stay for multiple days, that figure can skyrocket. The good news is that medical records can prove to your insurance company the amount that you had to spend treating your injuries.

The bad news is that providing you with these medical records is no one's priority. Small doctors' offices typically have a skeleton staff that doesn't have the time to respond to your request for medical records.

Large hospitals, on the other hand, use confusing procedures and can deny your requests if you don't do everything perfectly. A good car accident lawyer can get your medical records for you, and then work from there to establish your total damages.

More importantly, these professionals see the big picture. All too often, car accident victims will file their claims without thinking about the long-term effects of their injuries.

Some injuries require a lot of physical therapy to recover from. Others can result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment to live with. Your car accident lawyer can help you factor these potential costs into your total insurance claim.

Negotiating a Settlement On Your Behalf

Most of the time it's never a smart idea to accept the initial settlement offer from an insurance company. More often than not this is an attempt to lowball you with an amount that simply won't cover your injuries.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to negotiate with these shrewd professionals on your own. When you hire a car accident lawyer, you can access a professional who knows typical car accident settlement amounts.

What's more, they also have an array of strategies they can use to ensure that you get a fair deal from your insurance company. 

When Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney?

There are usually a couple of signs that you should hire your car accident attorney. First, is if you have experienced serious injuries. The costs associated with serious injuries are simply too high to leave to chance.

Because there is a lot at stake you want to ensure that you get the best car accident lawyer to assist you with your claim as possible. If you have a disability from the accident, you will especially need a lawyer to calculate damages.

Second, contact a lawyer if the other parties are disputing the claim. In these cases, you will need to rely on evidence and careful negotiations to get a fair deal. Some other reasons for hiring an attorney include:

• You were offered a settlement deal that was too small
• You don't have the time or energy to settle the claim yourself
• Your case is going to court
• The insurance company isn't taking your claim seriously

Still not sure if you should hire a car accident attorney? This guide breaks down when you should look for one.

When Can You Handle It Yourself

That being said, not all accidents will require the experience of someone who specializes in car accident law. If the case seems straightforward, you might be able to handle it yourself.

A straightforward car accident claim case usually involves one that has little to no injuries. You should also have the necessary time and patience to gather any evidence you will need for your claim.

Lastly, you need to be comfortable negotiating with the car accident insurance provider. Sticking up for yourself during this process can be a challenge. As such, if you run into some bumps along the way, you should not be afraid to reach out to a lawyer.

How to Find the Best Car Accident Attorney

When searching for a car accident lawyer, you first need to confine the search to firms located in your area. The best way to do this is by searching for terms like 'car accident lawyer near me' or 'best car accident lawyer near me'.

Remember that you want a specialty lawyer in car accident cases. That way, they know the best way to negotiate with the insurance companies.

During your research phase, you should also make sure that they have positive reviews or past clients that can attest to their work. Once you've found a good option, schedule a consultation. It's important to trust your instincts when searching for the best car accident attorney.

After all, this person is going to be representing you. As such, you want to make sure you can trust them. Follow these additional tips for finding the best attorney following a “T-Bone” car accident.

Need Help With Your Car Accident Claim? Contact Daniels Law

We hope this guide helped you learn how a car accident lawyer can help you with claiming insurance. Many people make the mistake of assuming that car accident attorneys are only for going to trial.

However, the best car accident lawyer will do everything in their power to get you a fair settlement without going to court. Here at Daniels Law, we bring over twenty-five years of experience in helping our clients recover damages from life-altering injuries.

We know that you likely have questions about how we can help you. Schedule your free consultation with us today to get the help that you need.

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