Car crashes and accidents in Birmingham, Alabaster, Pelham, Hoover, Montevallo, Calera, Vestavia, Panama City, Lynn Haven, Panama City Beach, Destin, or Port Saint Joe just stink. There is nothing good about them at all. A car accident can change your life in a split second. Add injuries to the mix and you have a recipe for stress and anxiety. That’s why hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer, like Davidson Law, to handle your car accident case is important. Insurance adjusters, claims, medical bills, settlement negotiations, and maybe even court are all things that get in the way of your physical recovery. Just having someone knowledgeable to answer questions can take a mountain of stress off your shoulders.
A personal injury attorney will review your entire situation to determine what injuries and harms you should make a claim or sue for. Some are obvious like the cost of repairs or value of the car if it is totaled, medical bills, and lost wages. Others may not be so obvious. Examples would be future lost wages, the cost of medical care for your injuries for life, remodeling or additions to your residence to accommodate your disabilities, employment retraining, and what to claim for mental anguish, pain and suffering. They understand the tactics insurance companies and their lawyers use to low ball you and are trained at negotiating to ensure you receive fair compensation. You will likely need a personal injury lawyer’s help if there is a denial of liability and you are blamed for the crash. In most disputed cases the defense goes something like; “It’s their fault. It’s our fault but they aren’t hurt. It’s our fault and they’re hurt but not from this crash.” A good personal injury lawyer knows how to handle these defenses and prove your case.
When should I hire lawyer for my car accident case?
The answer is as soon as possible if not sooner. Evidence that can prove your case, especially if liability is disputed, can be lost in a matter of hours and days if not preserved. Gathering the evidence and evaluating the case early will show the insurance company you mean business and are prepared to get the compensation you deserve even if there is fight about it. This can increase settlement offers both early on and as the case goes forward. I start preparing for trial the day you become my client. That way I have the evidence I need which helps greatly at mediations, hearings, depositions and trial all which increase the value of your case.
Often, the insurance company will make you an early settlement offer before you hire a lawyer. Never accept a settlement offer without consulting with a personal injury lawyer first. These early offers are almost always low ball offers and do not take into consideration the full value of your harms and losses. Just don’t do it.
Why should I hire a personal injury attorney for my car crash?
Avoiding Premature Settlements
Avoiding premature settlements is important, as insurance companies often attempt to close claims quickly with low offers that might seem good at the time to a non-injury lawyer. An experienced injury lawyer can spot these low offers and negotiate for more money. Their expertise ensures you don’t settle for less than what is needed to compensate you for all of your harms and losses.
Handling the Legal Stuff
Handling legal matters efficiently and expeditiously is where a personal injury lawyer is a necessity. They take care of everything from filing claims to managing the necessary paperwork and tracking legal deadlines. This allows you to focus entirely on your recovery, relieving you of the stress of the legal stuff.
Proving Fault and Injuries
Proving your case is the entire point of a personal injury case. Your lawyer plays a key role in proving fault and the full extent of your injuries, gathering necessary evidence from the accident scene, and consulting medical experts to back up your claims. Doing these things makes it possible to prove your case and obtain the best result whether by settlement or jury verdict.
Making Sure You Receive Compensation
Making sure that you are fully compensated for your harms and losses is extremely important, as many car accident victims only think about immediate costs like medical bills or vehicle repairs. Your car accident attorney will advocate for compensation that includes non-economic losses, such as emotional distress and a reduced quality of life. You deserve to be paid for the full impact of the accident on your life.
What happens when I go to a personal injury lawyer in Birmingham, Alabaster, Pelham, Hoover, Montevallo, Calera, Vestavia, Panama City, Lynn Haven, Panama City Beach, Destin, or Port Saint Joe? Here’s what you can expect:
- Initial Free Consultation
This initial meeting is to discuss everything about the accident, your injuries, your prior medical history, work history and skills, and other areas that may not seem relevant at the time. This should be an interactive meeting so ask any questions that you may have about the case or the lawyer. The personal injury lawyer will determine if you have a case and if it is worth bringing. Often, I tell my clients they do not have a case or that it’s value will not exceed its costs. Whether the lawyer takes the case or not they should talk about the legal process and your rights and options in a way that you can understand. No legal mumbo jumbo.
- Investigation and Evidence Collection
Once a decision is made to move forward, your lawyer will begin investigating the crash. This includes gathering as much evidence as possible, such as photos and videos from the scene, police and accident reports, and interviewing witnesses. If necessary, they may also work with accident reconstruction experts who recreate the crash to help prove liability and the severity of the impact.
- Medical Record Collection
Your injury lawyer will collect all medical records and bills of your injuries. This step is vital to prove your claims for medical expenses, ongoing medical care, and pain and suffering. Often, your lawyer will go and meet with your doctors to get a full understanding of your injuries especially in complex or catastrophic injuries.
- Settlement Demand
Once the investigation is complete and your injuries are properly treated and/or evaluated, your injury lawyer will submit a settlement demand to the insurance company. They will handle all communications with the insurance company and work with you to make sure the claim is timely filed and all necessary documentation is submitted.
- Settlement Negotiations
Your personal injury lawyer will handle the negotiations with the insurance company to attempt to reach a fair settlement. They will assess each offer, advise you on their opinion of whether to accept it or not, and how to move forward. Their experience in dealing with insurance companies and knowledge of the law is invaluable in securing the best possible outcome.
- Filing Suit and Litigation
If a settlement cannot be reached, your injury lawyer will prepare your car crash case for trial. This involves drafting and filing suit, organizing all the collected evidence, preparing legal arguments, and arranging for doctors and witness testimonies. During the trial, your lawyer will advocate on your behalf, presenting your case clearly and effectively to achieve a favorable verdict. Be patient. This part can often take a year or two, maybe longer depending on the facts of the case.
Can Davidson Law help you with your car accident case in Alabama or Florida? Absolutely. If you have a viable case, I’ll take care of it for you regardless of the size of the case. If you don’t have a viable case, I’ll tell you right away. No legal mumbo jumbo. No layers of paralegals or secretaries who’ll keep you from speaking or meeting with me. No stuffy law offices. Just legal representation focused on your case instead of suits, ties, and TV ads. Give me a call today!
