Contacting a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer when you’re in a tough situation can feel like a big step, but in many cases, it’s the right one. Yet, after a car accident, many people aren’t sure if hiring a lawyer is really “worth it.”
In this blog, we outline five reasons you should consider contacting a personal injury attorney and how they can help you after a car crash.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After a Car Crash
Ultimately, a personal injury lawyer’s job is to help you maximize the compensation you receive from a settlement or trial. Utilizing their advanced understanding of the law and legal processes, lawyers serve their clients through skilled representation.
Here are five reasons to contact a personal injury attorney if you’ve been involved in a car crash.
1) The Time to Take Action Is Already Counting Down
In Alabama, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury case is only two years, and it begins counting down the moment of the crash. This means you only have two years to seek justice through legal action.
In the Mississippi Gulf Coast, there’s a three-year statute of limitations in personal injury claims.
If you’re not sure of what to do or just want to discuss your options, you should contact a lawyer right away. Many seemingly straightforward cases are actually quite complex, so it can take a long time to gather your evidence and investigate your claims. Consulting with a lawyer right away can help you understand your options and timeline.
2) Your Evidence Could Disappear
Evidence plays an important role in any case. While there is some evidence you can gather and preserve yourself (a pain diary, photos from the scene of the crash, the damage to your vehicle, etc.), a seasoned lawyer knows how to obtain hard-to-get items that might otherwise disappear. Doctors’ notes, phone records, trucking logs, and even written statements from the other party are all valuable pieces of evidence that can be challenging for victims to recover on their own.
3) The Insurance Company Is Pressuring You to Settle
The insurance company and their representatives will never tell you how much your personal injury claim is really worth. Remember, it’s their job to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible.
For example, a $50,000 settlement might seem like a large sum after a crash. But if you’ve sustained devastating injuries, this settlement may not cover a lifetime of medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced lawyer can help you determine the true value of your case and go head-to-head with the insurance company to ensure you get the compensation you need to live a full and healthy life — both now and in the future.
If you have questions about a settlement, don’t wait to call a lawyer.
4) You Have Significant Out-of-Pocket Bills and Liens
When you can’t pay your medical and other accident-related bills, the companies can file liens with the court or start collections actions. When there is a lien on your account, any settlement money goes toward paying off that lien before it goes to you. We believe that victims should receive every cent they deserve after a devastating car crash.
We have a long and successful history of fighting for clients and resolving liens. Read more from one client and how we took care of him after a crash.
5) You May Need to Fight for Justice in Court
Sometimes, when settlement negotiations fail, you must take your case to trial. It’s incredibly challenging to represent yourself in court, especially when the insurance company you’re up against has a team of veteran attorneys on their side.
When you have an experienced lawyer in your corner, you can rest assured that you’ve done all you can to prepare for the best outcome possible. At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we refuse to settle if we know an offer is unfair, and we aren’t afraid to take a case to trial.
RELATED ARTICLE: How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated?
Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys: Fighting for Victims Across Alabama and the Gulf Coast
At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we’ve been fighting for personal injury victims throughout Alabama and across the Gulf Coast for over 30 years. Time and again, we meet good people hurt by the careless actions of others who don’t think they have a case — when in reality, they’re eligible to collect thousands of dollars in damages.
If you have questions about your case, need help understanding the value of your damages, or just need to speak with an experienced Alabama or Mississippi Gulf Coast personal injury lawyer about your options, you should reach out today to schedule your free, no-risk case evaluation. During your appointment, we’ll get to know you, learn more about your claim, and offer sound legal advice.
Please complete this brief online form or call our offices at 251-888-8888 to schedule your evaluation today.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.