You might have gotten into a car accident and sustained severe injuries, and your medical bills are adding up quickly. In addition, you might also be unsure whether or not you will be able to recover compensation from your insurer. You might be wondering whether to represent yourself or hire a professional. In such times it makes sense for you to hire a car accident lawyer to negotiate a settlement. Hiring a car accident lawyer maximizes your claim and secure you a meaningful settlement.
Here is when it makes sense for you to bring in a car accident lawyer.
When you have to negotiate with and insurance lawyer
Your insurer is always the primary source of compensation after a car accident. But most insurance companies are for-profit. They will make it difficult for you to get your claim or take advantage of you n give you a low payout to ensure they reduce their expenses. Sadly, only insurance companies handle car accident claims. So you need to hire an experienced car accident lawyer who is good at processing insurance claims. Your lawyer will be knowledgeable, anticipate the insurer’s tactics, and force them to pay you what your claim is worth.
When you are not at fault, but you are being blamed
Everyone involved in a car accident will always point fingers and try to assign blame. It would be best if you prepared to be blamed for your accident. One, you are the victim. You will hurt your ability for settlement if you don’t fight the allegations. This is because your contribution to the accident is directly proportional to how much pay you get. Your claim on the various damages will be reduced by your fault in the accident. If the other party can successfully pin the blame on you, you end up with nothing. Hiring a lawyer will help you protect yourself from such allegations. A Chicago Car Accident Lawyer will conduct investigations and provide evidence to prove your innocence. Information from the investigation can be vital as you pursue your compensation.
When you need help with non-economic damages
Car accident compensation always involves economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include damages that have a specific cost and value, e.g., medical bills, cost of repairing damaged property, or the value of lost wages. On the other hand, non-economic damage involves injuries that are more subjective e.g., pain and suffering and emotional stress like depression or lost companionship. Non-economic damages are hard to value, thus the need to work with an experienced lawyer. Your insurer will most likely ignore these damages or underpay. Your lawyer will fight to make sure the non-economic damages are valued and paid.
When the circumstances surrounding the accident are complex
Some accidents occur as a result of poor roads, which at times appear sophisticated. If you happen to be involved in an accident in a public right of way or public street, you should hire a lawyer to help you. Your lawyer will file an administrative claim with the government within the stipulated deadline. They will also follow up with the responsible government agencies to make sure you have a better settlement. These cases might take longer, up to 45 days before getting a response.
Multiple injured persons
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer if you have several people injured in the same accident as you. Several personal statements submitted during the investigation can complicate your case even further. An experienced lawyer is trained to manage multiple claims and track all testimonies to protect your interests.
Conclusion
A car accident lawyer can help guide you through negotiating a settlement with an insurance company. However, there are simple cases that might not require the involvement of a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer. Thus you need to know what signs can show you when to hire a car accident lawyer—signs such as disagreement over who is at fault and when your insurer is giving you difficulties.
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