Car accidents are messy, literally and figuratively. It's even messy when you weren't the one to blame. However, some wonder if they should engage a lawyer if they weren't the one that caused an accident. After all, if the other person's insurance is going to have to cover the costs of your repair and your insurance rates won't go up as a result, what's the point of spending money on attorney fees? Here are a few reasons when it's a good idea to hire a car accident lawyer even if you didn't cause the crash.
No Insurance
The worst-case scenario in an accident situation is when the person at fault has no insurance. If that's the case, they may flee the scene of the crime rather than deal with the consequences. It's not uncommon. And when that happens, you're stuck footing the bill for a problem you didn't cause. However, occasionally the police are able to catch the person. In Los Angeles in 2016, for example, police were able to solve 12% of hit and run cases. If that happens in your case, you'll need a car accident attorney to ensure you can sue for proper compensation.
Trouble With The Insurance Company
Insurance companies never want to pay money they don't have to, so they're always going to offer the lowest settlement possible. Many times, you can get your damages covered without hassle, but a problematic company will give you grief about every little cost. The minute it becomes a hassle to deal with the other person's insurance or the company won't offer you a fair settlement, you should turn to someone with the power to sort it out. Most insurance companies will quickly stop haggling the minute they learn you've spoken to an attorney.
Injuries
Any time you've suffered injuries in an accident that someone else caused, you should hire a car accident lawyer. Accident injuries are never simple and often end up costing astronomical amounts that insurance companies don't want to pay. In 2013, the average insurance claim for bodily injury in a car accident was $15,443. Most people don't have that kind of money available at the drop of a hat, and if insurance refuses to cover it, it could put you in dire financial straits. The good news is that, in most personal injury cases, the attorney fees are deducted from the final settlement or from damages won so you won't have to pay up front.
For more information about accidents, contact a local legal firm such as Dash Injury Law Firm.
When my ex-husband decided to contest my choice to homeschool our children, I knew that I had to defend my right as the custodial parent. Our custody agreement gave me authority over educational decisions, but he still took me to court. I spent a lot of time working with an attorney to find out how best to handle it, and I did a lot of research on the laws as they applied. If you're trying to defend your educational choices amidst your divorce, this site may help. I've built it to share everything I learned and explain the process that I went through to secure my rights.