What steps should you take when injured in a car accident?
Being injured in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. In addition to pain and sudden disability, you may find yourself overwhelmed with police reports, doctors’ visits, surgeries and dealing with often-byzantine insurance issues that almost seem deliberately crafted to confuse laypeople. Despite all this, you should be aware that it is absolutely imperative to take the correct steps in the wake of an injury-causing accident. Because the personal-injury industry has historically been overrun with fraud and exploitative practices, insurance companies, including your own, will not hesitate to deny weak or poorly constructed claims. And this could potentially leave you without compensation for lost wages, long-term disability, property damage, and personal suffering.
This is what to do at the accident scene
The foundation of a strong personal injury claim begins at the scene of the accident. There are two rules that are absolutely imperative to follow whenever there has been an injury or property damage caused by an accident. The first is that you must call 911. This will ensure that the police will be dispatched to the scene of the accident. It will also prompt the arrival of medical first responders, who will take preliminary reports and administer treatment.
Many drivers who have been involved in serious accidents make the grave mistake of either not contacting the police or refusing treatment from emergency medical services personnel. It is critical to understand that either one of these actions will automatically make any later personal injury claim a steep uphill battle. That is why you should never refuse medical treatment at the scene of an accident, especially if the paramedics want you to accompany them to the hospital. Initial injury assessments are crucial in establishing that the accident was the proximate cause of the sustained injuries.
In the 48 hours after the accident, hire a proven personal injury attorney
Personal injury cases are usually quite complex. They often involve highly technical issues and may require expert testimony and a deep understanding of case law as well as specific medical conditions and injuries. The simple fact is that what attorney you hire will often decide whether you get a handsome settlement or are stuck paying off years of medical bills yourself.
Florida is a no-fault insurance state. This can throw another wrench in the spokes of any injury claim because certain fairly high thresholds must be met in order for a personal injury claim to proceed in the first place. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, you need a team of lawyers with a proven track record of winning no-fault claims and the willingness to take a claim all the way to trial if that is what the circumstances call for.
The list of preparatory work that needs to be done in order to ensure the viability of a personal injury claim is long. And the chance is high that someone who is inexperienced in dealing with injury-claim cases will make a potentially serious error. This is another reason to contact a proven personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident has occurred. An expert attorney will help you to secure the evidence that you’ll need to build a strong case, including the initial police report, medical reports from the on-scene paramedics as well as hospitals and doctors and the contact and background information of any witnesses. They will also help you to navigate the often-confusing initial claims process with both your insurance company as well as that of the other driver.
Final Thoughts
In no-fault states like Florida, it must be demonstrated that there is a permanent injury or that medical expenses or total losses due to injury exceed $10,000. Additionally, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the other driver was negligent, liable and the proximate cause of any injury that the client has suffered. These are high bars to cross. Only an experienced and skilled auto accident injury attorney can maximize your chances of succeeding.
Author’s Bio:
Scott Distasio is an auto accident attorney in Wesley Chapel and founder of his own law firm. His firm focuses on all types of personal injury cases and holds the responsibility to provide clients with outstanding service in high regard. Follow @scottdistasio on Twitter
Surviving the Aftermath of Semi Truck Wrecks: A Guide to Your Legal Rights
It is estimated that 10 million accidents take place due to vehicle operation each year. Many of these accidents are fatal and a shocking number of the most deadly accidents involve semi trucks.
That’s because some semi trucks weigh over 80,000 pounds.
If you’re the victim of a semi truck accident, count yourself lucky to be reading this article. Now that you’ve made it through the worst of your experience, it’s time to take action.
Taking the appropriate steps after a truck-involved accident is a little bit different than what you’d do after a standard car accident. Below, our team walks you through some general tips on how you should move forward after semi truck wrecks.
Get Medical Help
The first thing that you need to do after an accident, especially one involving a truck, is to get appropriate medical help.
It’s obvious that physical injuries will require medical attention. What many people don’t look to get help for is the psychological and emotional damages semi truck wrecks can cause.
If you’re finding yourself fearful of getting behind the wheel of your car or fearful of getting on the freeway because of your accident, do what you can to seek psychological help.
Be sure that your doctor(s) document all of your issues meticulously as these records will serve you well if you should choose to sue.
Understand Who to Sue
Being involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle can make understanding who to go after a little fuzzier than when you’re in a standard vehicle accident. In most cases, your legal action will be aimed at one of two parties…
The Trucking Company
If the driver who hit you works with a trucking company and is classified as an employee (not a private contractor) your legal action will likely be against the company they work for.
This is good since many truck drivers may not have the assets or the insurance to award you the compensation that you need to cope with your trauma.
The Driver
If the truck driver that hits you is a contractor or an “owner-operator”, you may have to direct your case at them personally.
While a driver’s assets are likely to be less than a trucking company’s, in many cases, owner-operators own their truck. This can give courts the option to liquidate that asset to pay for damages.
Sometimes though, truck drivers are borrowing the truck that they’re using. Consequently, the truck that caused your accident may fall out of the reach of legal action.
What Kinds of Damages Can You Sue for in Semi Truck Wrecks?
Understanding the kinds of legal grounds you have at your disposal when filing a lawsuit is important to make sure that you and your US Attorneys or other legal representation are seeking correct damages.
Common damages awarded during semi truck wrecks include:
- Medical Expenses – Any bills you incur from medical professionals that are a direct result of your accident.
- Pain and Suffering– Psychological and other less tangible damages that you incur from your accident.
- Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity – Money lost from not being able to work and future wagesw lost due to an inability to perform your trade.
There are many more categories of damages that you and your attorney can pursue. The list above should serve as a good starting point to build your case around.
Understanding Truck Laws that are Often Violated
There’s a reason why so many car accidents involve semi trucks.
Semi trucks are governed by a handful of core tenants that aim to prevent drivers from being negligent. Due to the prospect of monetary gains however, many of these tenants are violated by drivers which can cause dangerous situations.
Laws that are most commonly violated and may have been linked to your accident include:
Illegal Truck Logs
A truck log is where drivers need to keep track of their hours to make sure that they’re not driving too much within a 24 hour period. Many times drivers exceed log limits or cheat on them which can lead to complacency behind the wheel.
Driving With an Overweight Trailer
Chances are that you’ve seen truck “weigh stations” placed off to the side of major freeways. In order to access certain roads, trucks must be under assigned weights and these weigh stations aim to keep truckers honest.
Still, some drivers forgo weight limits and may end up losing control of their rig.
Driving Without Proper Credentials
Many small trucking companies hire people to pull their trailers that can’t legally work or that haven’t gone through proper training to drive large trucks. This represents an obvious risk to other vehicles and has lead to a number of accidents over the years.
Wrapping Things Up and How to Find the Right Attorney
Our team hopes that the insight we’ve provided on semi truck wrecks has added some clarity to your situation. At the end of the day though, reading an article online is no substitute for talking to an actual attorney.
Where can you find a qualified attorney that specializes in semi truck accidents?
Right here on Halt.org.
Halt hosts a database of attorneys from all over the United States that are taking on clients with your exact legal concerns right now.
Every day you wait to hire an attorney, your chances of getting the compensation you’re entitled to get slimmer. Don’t wait any longer and use our free tools at Halt to get the legal help you need today.
What to Do in a Hit and Run: 7 Simple Steps to Ensuring the Best Outcome
There’s little in life as infuriating as being the victim of a hit and run accident, and with an average of 682,000 happening every year, odds are you or someone you know has been a victim of one.
If this is the case, you don’t need to feel completely victimized. How do you take control of the situation? Do you think, “What to do in a hit and run?” It can be hard to think quickly and know what to do when you’ve been hit, but with a little preparation, you can come out on top.
What to Do in a Hit and Run Accident
We’ll help you get prepared beforehand so that in the case of such an unfortunate event, you’ll be ready to handle things.
Here are 7 simple steps for what to do in a hit and run to protect yourself from further injury or damage, and ensure the best outcome for yourself.
1. Stop and Call the Police
When you’ve been the victim of a hit and run, and you see that idiot speeding away, you may be tempted to drive after them.
Don’t.
Individuals who are dishonest enough to inflict injury or damage on someone else and then try to avoid the consequences, are not likely to greet you in a friendly (or safe) manner.
Your best first response will always be to pull over safely and immediately call the police. Even if you were unable to get a good look at the car or license plate of the offender, call the police right away to avoid insurance problems.
Failing to report the accident and all the resulting damage or injuries may lead to a lengthy insurance claims process or the worst–having your insurance agency deny you altogether.
2. Try to Gather Quality Evidence
As mentioned, it may be hard to get the license plate of the person who has hit you. If you can, without chasing after them, do so.
This will be huge in being able to get insurance to adequately cover the damages, or have police locate the person. You may even consider owning a dashboard camera if you don’t already as they can be very helpful in catching such important details when you cannot.
Be sure to photograph all the damage done to your car, from every angle. It’s best to have very clear pictures of high quality. Quality is also better than quantity in these situations.
If all you can do is remember some details like the color or model of the car that hit you, write this down and report it as well.
While the license plate number is your best hope for getting coverage, any information you can provide will help.
3. Grab Witnesses
When you’re the victim of a hit and run, it’s important to record as much about the incident as possible. What happened leading up to the collision? What happened after?
If you can find individuals who witnessed the hit and run, ask them if they would be willing to give you contact information or record what they saw. Witnesses may also be helpful if they happened to catch the license plate number of the person who hit you.
Try to find witnesses who are willing to give you their contact information in case the police, insurance agents, or even injury lawyers need to speak with them.
4. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Agent
Your claim will be processed much faster and more smoothly if you report the accident immediately.
Give them as many details as you can, including witness contact information, or the name and badge of attending police officers. If necessary, call your insurance agency’s emergency line to make sure things get reported as close to the time of the accident as possible.
Your insurance agent may have useful resources like this blog, or others that you can visit for more ideas on how to process your claim or react in such an accident.
5. Seek Medical Attention
Depending on the severity of the crash, you may have to request medical attention at the time you first call 911. If however, you are not hurt badly enough to request an ambulance, be sure to report any injury no matter how minor.
For example, if you’re feeling a slight pain in your neck or back after the accident, it will do you little good to call your insurance company and report it unless you were able to have a doctor verify the damage directly following the incident.
So, no matter how minor the pain or injury, it’s best to see a doctor or visit an urgent care to get checked out. Better safe than sorry.
6. Contact Your Lawyer
If you are lucky enough to have the offender apprehended, and you find yourself needing to take them to court to pay for damages, call your lawyer.
If you don’t have a decent attorney or you need an experienced injury or accident attorney, do your research and find someone with a proven history of success.
7. Stay Calm
There are few problems in life that aren’t made worse by freaking out. Being the victim of a hit and run accident is truthful both incredibly frustrating and frightening.
However, one of the worst things you can do in such a situation is to lose your cool. Learn how to stay calm during a crisis.
Try not to react in anger. This can lead to making foolish choices like chasing the culprit down and getting into further accidents or even face to face altercations.
What may be a frustrating situation could quickly become an even more dangerous one. Police, lawyers, and insurance companies, even witnesses, are much less happy to offer help if you’re acting like a furious nut-case.
Finding the Right Legal Help
At the end of the day, knowing what to do in a hit and run accident is important–but will do you little good if you don’t have adequate legal help.
More than adequate, excellent legal help can be the most important step to making sure you and your loved ones are taken care of and treated fairly following an accident.
For help finding the best legal help near you, check out our extensive directory of the best attorneys near you.
Top 10 Personal Injury Car Accident Lawyers Texas
Have you been on the receiving end of a recent car accident? Hit and run collision? Drunk driving accident? Rear-end collision? If you answered yes, then definitely you’ll need a lawyer to deal with the insurance company and hospital bills for you.
However, finding the right attorney for yourself can sometimes be challenging. With hundreds of car accident lawyers in your area to choose from, hiring one with an impressive track record and years of experience in handling personal injurycases should be your best bet.
If you’re looking for the best personal injury and car accident lawyers in Texas, here are the top 10 lawyers for you:
- Legacy Car Accident Lawyers
These lawyers serve areas in Texas such as Houston, Austin, Fort Worth, and many more. If you’re in need of the best personal injury and car accident attorneys in the area, click here – legacycaraccidentlawyers.com
Legacy Car Accident Lawyers will take on your case with confidence to win maximum compensation for the damage you have incurred as they have years of experience in personal injury and car accident cases. Here are some of the benefits of hiring Legacy Car Accident Lawyers:
- Free consultations
- Reputable and trustworthy lawyers
- Years of experience in car accident cases
- Parker Law Firm
Involved in an accident near Bedford, Texas? Parker Law Firm will fight for your compensation. They will hold negligent car drivers accountable for your personal injury.
Parker Law Firm will help you fight back insurance companies who are more than willing to avoid paying out settlements. They will give you the representation to aggressively pursue the best compensation for your car accident case. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a Parker Law Firm attorney:
- Aggressive lawyers
- No fee unless compensated
- 30-day guarantee
- Lorenz & Lorenz
If you’re looking for car accident representation in the area of Waco, Texas, Lorenz & Lorenz are experts in handling only car and truck accidents.
Their lawyers have handled complicated car accident cases and recovered damages for fatalities and permanent injuries. This law firm does not limit its representation to high-value cases; they also represent soft tissue injury and other related cases. Here are some of the benefits of hiring the law firm Lorenz & Lorenz:
- In-house professional investigator
- High-value case experience
- The Carlson Law Firm
The Carlson Law Firm, with statewide offices, will get you just compensation for losses and injuries with a car accident lawsuit.
This law firm has handled thousands of complex car accident and personal injury cases for more than 40 years. They have a legal team that can provide you answers if you’re thinking of filing a car accident lawsuit. Here are some of the benefits of hiring the Carlson Law Firm:
- Statewide offices
- Experienced lawyers and legal teams
- Proven track record
- Carabin Shaw
If you’ve been involved in a car accident to no fault of your own in San Antonio, Texas, immediately contact a Carabin Shaw attorney.
This law firm has been recovering compensation through negotiated settlements or from a jury or judge through court trials. Their attorneys will help you file a personal injury case should you suffer injuries and damages from a car accident that’s not your fault. Here are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney from Carabin Shaw:
- Compassionate services
- Free consultations
- Specialty in “no-fault” cases
- Tate Law Offices, PC
Tate Law Offices, PC, with offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, can help you get the maximum amount of compensation for your losses.
Their lawyers are dedicated and highly skilled Dallas accident attorneys with years of experience in handling personal injury and car accident cases. Additionally, they will not charge any case costs or legal fees unless compensation is fully recovered.
Here are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney from Tate Law Offices, PC:
- Free consultation
- Lawyers will personally review your case
- Reyna Law Firm
If you’re in the area of Corpus Christi, a lawyer from Reyna Law Firm will be in your best interest.
Their lawyers are experienced in dealing with insurance adjusters and insurance companies. They will review your case and will provide you with guidance. Here are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney from Reyna Law Firm:
- Years of experience in car accident cases
- Proven track record
- Jim Adler & Associates
Jim Adler & Associates have offices in Houston, Channelview, and Dallas. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in these areas, you should be calling them.
Their law firm does not charge clients up-front fees but will work on the basis of contingency fees — 33.5% if the case doesn’t go to trial, and 40% if a lawsuit is needed. Here are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney from Jim Adler & Associates:
- Free consultation
- Experienced lawyers and staff
- Colley Firm, PC
Another law firm from Austin, Texas, Colley Firm, PC, will take care of your car accident case.
With millions of dollars’ worth of settlements recovered, this experienced law firm is a solid option to avoid the stresses and frustrations of car accident settlements. They will make sure that you get the compensation and proper care you deserve. Here are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney from the Colley Firm, PC:
- Compassionate services
- Experienced lawyers and staff
- Burress Law PLLC
Last but not the least, Burress Law PLLC is a highly rated law firm in McKinney, Collin County, Texas.
This law firm only accepts car accident and personal injury cases, and they focus on the quality of their strategy over quantity. Burress Law PLLC represented insurance companies before, solely practicing personal injury cases. This gives them inside knowledge of what insurance companies do. Here are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney from Burress Law PLLC:
- Personalized case strategies
- Free consultation
Closing Thoughts
Use this list of the most reputable and trustworthy law firms in Texas to help you with your personal injury and car accident case. Although these are the best of the best in the practice, remember that the services of one lawyer may differ from another. Always choose the one that you can fully trust and the one you’re most comfortable with.
Sympathy and Knowledge: 5 Ways that a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
According to Driver Knowledge, more than three million people in the US are injured in car accidents every year. If you’ve been the victim of a vehicle accident, chances are your life has been forever changed. Along with the mounting medical bills and the lost work it can be difficult to fend for yourself. Regardless of your situation, you can seek legal representation and get the justice you deserve. Here are five ways a car accident lawyer can assist you after an accident.
Deal with the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are known for being stubborn when it comes to paying claims for car accident victims. Like any other business, insurance companies are out to make as much money as possible, and to do this; they try to minimize what they will pay you for your injuries, according to The Social Magazine. A qualified car accident attorney will know how to deal with the insurance companies so that you get the compensation you deserve.
Ensure You Meet Important Deadlines
When it comes to civil cases, there is a statute of limitations that limits the time that you have to file a claim against negligent parties. Since not all claims on your case are guaranteed to have the same deadlines, it is essential to hire an experienced car accident lawyer, so you don’t miss any critical legal deadlines. Car accident cases can be complicated, with one or more critical deadlines that you must meet to receive compensation for your injuries. The last thing you want to do is miss out on the money you deserve because you didn’t file a document on time.
Help You Navigate the Legal System
The statutes of limitations, while critical in legal cases, aren’t the only challenging aspect of the legal system. If you don’t work in the legal field, you don’t have any way to know about the court system, and what is required regarding litigants in a case. An experienced lawyer, however, has a degree in the subject. If you want to see the best outcome for your situation, then the last thing you want to do is try to figure out the legal system on your own.
Help Gather Evidence
If you want to receive compensation from your injuries, you’ll need to present credible evidence to the courts. If you lack the relevant evidence, it may lead to your claim being denied. Your auto accident attorney will know what evidence will be relevant to your case and will help you gather it. Plus, an attorney has a better chance of gaining access to any police reports and expert reports that may help you win your case.
Allow You to Focus on Healing
Undue stress has been proven to be detrimental to the healing process. Having to deal with the insurance company, courts, and other parties after an accident can be extremely stressful. Any attorney can help you keep track of everything that you need to do and help guide you through the process.
If you’ve been in a car accident, a qualified auto accident attorney can help you navigate through the complicated legal process and secure you the compensation that you deserve. There is a lot at stake when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve making it essential to have an experienced attorney by your side.
Have You Thought of Hiring a Professional Car Accident Attorney? Below Are 3 Factors You Need to Consider
The number of accidents that happen in a year is surprising; this is according to budgetdirect.com.au. Some of these accidents happen due to negligence or ignorance by road users. Basically, if everyone took the responsibility of paying attention to what is expected of them, then the number of accidents would reduce. However, some accidents are unavoidable. When they do happen, you need your insurance company to undertake responsibility to take care of the damages. This might not be the case, especially when they suspect the accident was as a result of negligence. The only way you can handle such a case is by hiring an accident attorney who will provide the necessary knowledge and guidance. This is sometimes very difficult due to the many accident attorneys in the market. That shouldn’t worry you anymore. Below are some of the things you should always lookout for when hiring a car accident attorney:
- Location
This might be one factor that some people ignore but it plays a very big role. Did you know that some places have different rules and regulations when it comes to driving? One of the major reasons why you should always consider hiring someone from the same locality as you are is simply because they understand the law of where you are. In addition, an accident attorney from a car accident law firm in the same locality will find it easy accessing all the relevant information. Imagine if your car accident was in another state; how long would it take him or her to get to you or even launch investigation? If they are far from you, then it will mean that they have to undergo a lot of traffic issues before they can be in the same location you are in. Save yourself time and hire someone who is near you.
- Legal fee and needs
Every law firm or every lawyer charges differently depending on the case. In the case of a car accident attorney, you need to hire someone who you can afford to pay with ease. To avoid any financial constraints, it will be good if you sit down with the lawyer and come up with a figure that is comfortable to both of you. On top of that, you need to discuss on the terms and conditions of the payment. Some lawyers prefer an upfront fee. The upfront fee is there to show that you are committed to the case. In addition, you need to evaluate and see whether the charges are worth your needs. If the cost of hiring the lawyer is high, then he or she better meet all your needs. If the lawyer is just greedy for higher pay, then there’s no need of hiring him or her. You should try find a new lawyer.
- Background
One of the best weapons you can find around is information. Information can be used to benefit you or harm you. When you are scouting for a car accident attorney, you need to do you own research about him or her. The background information you get you to build trust towards him. It is through background information that you get to understand the specification of the lawyer. If the lawyer is specialized in car accidents, then you can hire him.
Losing Control of Your Vehicle: Is It a Good Idea to File an Accident Report?
Accidents happen, and when they happen, anything can happen – injuries, damages, or worse, death. You may find yourself panicking and not knowing what to do next. Filing an accident report may not even cross your mind at this time. Or you may want to just assume filing one. But did you know that, in most situations, filing an accident report can be very essential? Well, yes it is. Please read on to know why.
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Could be a State Law Requirement
Every state has their own unique rules and requirements concerning auto claims. In some states, you’ll be required to file a report if there were injuries or property damage of a certain value. Some states require you to file a report if the accident resulted in personal injuries or death. Driving off without filing a police report could be treated as a hit and run – and you’ll not like the consequences. Personal injury lawyers, such as the Coye Law Firm car and truck accident attorneys, are very aware of these requirements and can guide you on the legal steps to take.
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Contains Important Information
A police report contains the most important information about the accident. It contains the date, time, location of the accident and the damages and injuries, if any, sustained by the passengers or drivers. It also contains details of the drivers, witness statements, and the possible cause of the accident. And if you lost control because of bad weather or poor road condition, this is a good chance to file a police report as this will be indicated in the report. This will help you should you or the other party files a lawsuit in determining the percentage you were at fault and hence appropriate compensation.
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Acts as Evidence
Evidence is very important to winning any claim. And a police report is one of the evidence that you’ll need to present to the court as your defense. The other party could be giving false information about the cause and outcome of the accident, but the report will help clear any confusing information. The report is valued because it signifies an unbiased third-party report about the accident as it clears what appears to be hearsay stories. Your attorney will get the report for you from the police.
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Increases Your Chances for a Higher Offer
Soon after the accident, the insurance adjuster will approach you with some offer. And since insurance companies are there to make as much profits as possible, there’s a high chance that this offer will be much lower than your rightful compensation. Your insurer will hardly pay for anything without enough proof and this is why the police report is essential. Otherwise, the insurer may easily dismiss your claim and you’ll have nothing to defend yourself. Will you really want this to happen to you? Of course not. So, ensure to file a police report as soon as possible should you find yourself in such a situation.
Conclusion
Auto injury claims are among the most common legal matters reported in all the states. Filing an accident report after losing control of your vehicle is the best idea because of various reasons explained above. In any situation, consulting your personal attorney will be important to ensure that you take the right legal steps.
Motorcycle Accident Attorney: Get the Best One out There with These Tips
We all know how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle – even more dangerous than riding a car. Accidents happen every day and you cannot be sure when is going to happen to you.
In case it really does happen, (and we’re so sorry about that!) you’ll need a lawyer to defend yourself. With his help, you can get compensation in case there were some damages to your health and bike. If it already did happen to you, don’t just throw yourself in there and hire the first one you find. You need to find the best one for the case. Jonathan Genish is the person you need to give a call if an accident happens.
We’ve written this article to help you in this matter. Ask these next few questions to your attorney before deciding to hire him.
Auto or motorcycle defense: is this your specialty?
You need to keep in mind that not all the attorneys are specialized in these cases. There are some certain firms that only specialize in family law, immigration or worker’s compensation. Make sure you ask about the specialty. An attorney that specializes in these cases will know how to look at it from every angle, so they will be prepared to make a strong case for you.
Your success rate: how is that going on?
After you made sure that the lawyer specializes in motorcycle accidents, then you need to ask them about their success rate. They work in this specific field, but it does not mean that it’s the best one you can get. However, try to understand the situation, too. An attorney who doesn’t have 100% success is not necessarily a bad one. Just make sure that this attorney knows what he’s doing.
Referrals: can you prove you’re good?
Always ask about referrals. Many companies have testimonials prepared to hand you. Understand that these are some real examples of some real people who won cases with this attorney and his services. These referrals are detailed, which is a good thing, since it will give you insight about the attorney’s approach.
My insurance company: will you get in touch?
When you are in a motorcycle accident, you might fill an insurance claim, as well. When you choose a lawyer, you also need to make sure he will take a look in both sides of the situation. Some of the companies will ask you to file the claim, then pass along the papers. This is not something that you should be doing. You might have to take care of your health or your bike. After an accident, you need to put yourself first in order to heal, so the attorney needs to prepare the case and make a claim, find pieces of evidence for your case.
Don’t Get Wrecked: Common Reasons to File a Car Accident Lawsuit
Motor accidents are the leading cause of death in persons under the age of 55 years old given the millions of accidents that take place each year in America.
Even if a person doesn’t suffer fatal injuries in an accident, injuries that do occur could lead to an inability for the affected person to manage their responsibilities.
“How will I continue to work with my injuries?” “How will I pay my bills?”
The above questions may be along the lines of what you’re asking yourself if you’ve been in a car accident. If that’s the case, another important question you should be asking yourself is whether or not you should file a car accident lawsuit.
Filing a car accident lawsuit can sometimes be integral to your getting the compensation you deserve.
Below are a few reasons why you might want to consider filing suit.
1. The Other Driver is at Fault
Fault or liability is the key factor that courts and insurance companies will consider when determining compensation awards. For that reason, if you’re 100% sure that you were at fault in an accident, it’s fruitless to attempt to sue the other driver.
On the other hand, if the accident took place through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to significant damages.
Liability is determined in different ways depending on what state you live in. A qualified auto accident attorney can help you navigate the intricacies of legal negligence to help you better understand possible case outcomes.
2. The Other Driver’s Insurance Company Won’t Pay Up
The other driver’s insurance company will likely make you a settlement offer if it’s determined that you were not at fault for your accident. The settlement an insurance company arrives at will be based on a multitude of factors, but ultimately, will attempt to pay you as small of an amount as possible.
That’s why it’s important to have a vehicle accident lawyer in your corner to help you negotiate offers.
If you can’t get a fair settlement offer from an insurance company, filing a car accident lawsuit could be worth your while.
3. The Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance
If a driver hit you without insurance coverage, in order to get money for your damages, you’ll likely need to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately though, if the person that hit you doesn’t have insurance coverage, chances are they don’t have much in the way of assets to sue against.
If the person you’re suing doesn’t have any money to claim, you can try to contact your insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits.
Wrapping Up Reasons to File a Car Accident Lawsuit
In a perfect world, after an accident, the motorist at fault’s insurance would make the victim a fair offer and legal action would not be required.
We don’t live in a perfect world.
For that reason, if your car accident situation falls into the categories above, you may want to consider filing a car accident lawsuit with the help of a qualified attorney.
To that end, our team at Halt.org can help.
Halt.org hosts a comprehensive directory of the best car accident lawyers in your area. Finding the perfect representation is as easy as hitting “search”!
Start your legal search with Halt.org today!
Protecting Your Uber Accident Claim
Accidents can happen any time you’re in a moving vehicle—and that includes vehicles you summon through Uber.
Should you ever find yourself injured in an Uber accident, you’ll naturally want to file an insurance claim to ensure adequate compensation for any medical expenses you incur.
Depending on who’s deemed to be the at-fault driver, you may need to file your claim with Uber’s insurance, or with your driver’s personal insurance provider; alternatively, you may need to file with the other motorist who was involved in the accident.
No matter which insurance company you file with, it’s important to do everything in your power to ensure a strong claim. Remember that insurance adjustors will seek any excuse to dismiss your claim, or to pay only the bare minimum.
The question is, what can you do to ensure your claim is strong? Here are three basic tips from an Uber accident lawyer.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Even if you don’t think you were injured in the accident, you’ll want to head to your doctor’s office or to the closest urgent care facility right away, just to get checked out.
There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that many accident injuries only appear days or even weeks later—meaning you could have serious ailments and not realize it. A doctor will identify them and provide treatment before you start experiencing pain or other symptoms.
Additionally, seeking care strengthens your insurance claim. You don’t want to give the insurance adjustor a chance to say you caused your own injuries through negligence. Rather, you need to show that you’re doing everything in your power to get better and to receive the proper clinical care.
Follow the Doctor’s Orders
Along the same lines, it’s important to follow through on whatever your medical caregiver recommends.
This might mean going back for follow-up visits. It might mean taking prescription medications. It might even mean physical therapy.
Do what your doctor suggests—again, even if you feel like you don’t need to. This is another important way you can show the insurance company that you’re doing everything you can to take care of yourself.
We’d even recommend keeping track of any medical documents or receipts; create a “paper trail” that you can submit to the insurer, if needed.
Get an Uber Accident Attorney
Finally, we’d recommend speaking with an Uber accident attorney about maintaining a strong insurance claim.
Simply put, an Uber accident lawyer knows all the tricks—all the ways in which insurance adjustors will try to trip you up, or get out of paying their fair share.
An Uber accident lawyer can help you avoid common pitfalls, and also eliminate a lot of the headache for you. In fact, your lawyer will handle the process on your behalf, leaving you to focus on recovery.
With these steps, you can keep your Uber accident insurance claim as strong as possible—maximizing your odds of proper compensation.
