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Do you really need a lawyer if you have been injured in a car accident?
Yes. You will hear that you don’t, usually from the insurance company, but you must understand that insurance companies maximize their profits by minimizing their payouts to injured people like you. Insurance adjusters do this all day, every day. You will need someone who has experience dealing with adjusters, insurance companies, and the laws and regulations that apply to car accidents if you want to be fairly compensated.
How does a car accident lawyer help you receive fair compensation?
We help you prove liability and defend the insurance company’s attempts to place blame on you.
Who was at fault? Even in a no-fault state, there is still weight attached to who was at fault for the accident when it comes to lawsuit outcomes. Fault determines how much liability is on the table in terms of who should recover what and how much they should recover. If you were the person who caused the accident, odds are you won't get much. However, if someone else caused an accident that led to your personal injury, you have a strong case.
Insurance companies try to put the blame on you as much as possible. Even in cases where liability seems clear. An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to gather the evidence used to prove liability and defend the insurance company’s attempts to shift the blame.
We help you understand and calculate the various types of compensation that you are entitled to.
There are various types of compensation that you are entitled to seek after a car accident. The severity of your injuries is the leading factor in the value of your case, but you’re entitled to recover more than just your medical bills. You should also recover lost wages, future loss of earnings, future medical expenses, compensation for pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages. A skilled car accident lawyer knows what types of compensation apply to your case and how to make sure you are compensated fairly.
We understand the claims process, legal process, and common pitfalls.
One of the primary advantages of hiring a car accident attorney is accessing their knowledge in this highly technical area of law. These professionals understand the intricate details of car accident cases, including the nuances of local laws, insurance policies, and claims processes. Their knowledge allows them to provide tailored guidance and strategy to build a robust case on your behalf.
An experienced car accident lawyer guides you through these complexities, ensuring all paperwork, deadlines, and legal requirements are met. Their familiarity with court processes and protocols streamlines proceedings and minimizes any potential errors that could jeopardize your case.
We know how to build and present your case in the most effective manner.
A good car accident lawyer initiates a thorough investigation into the accident, collecting crucial evidence that will strengthen your case. This includes obtaining the police report, gathering witness statements, assessing medical records, and evaluating the extent of damages incurred. Their ability to gather compelling evidence often proves vital in negotiations or court proceedings.
Through experience, we know how to communicate and negotiate with insurance companies.
Dealing with insurance companies and legal representatives of the opposing party is daunting. Attorneys serve as adept communicators on your behalf, engaging in negotiations while safeguarding your best interests. They skillfully handle discussions, aiming to secure fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Important factors in your car accident case.
The cause of the accident.
As discussed, this is a highly contested issue, even when it seems it shouldn’t be. Both sides look for reasons why the other party is responsible for causing the accident. Sometimes factors outside the control of either party, like weather, come into play. A very important factor in the case is where the liability eventually lands and to what degree.
The severity of your injuries.
Your injuries are the primary factor in determining compensation after a car accident. If you’re not injured at all, be thankful for that and understand that you do not have a personal injury claim. If you are severely injured, you will incur substantial medical bills and substantial changes in your life going forward. If someone else impacted your life in those ways because they were texting, driving drunk, speeding, or just not paying attention, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. The more you lose, the more you should be compensated.
Insurance policy limits.
Insurance policies are another significant factor in car accident cases. People have their mandated PIP coverages, but you can receive more compensation from the negligent party's insurance company depending on their policy limits. Policy limits typically cap your potential compensation. For example, if the at-fault driver only carries a $25,000 insurance policy, and you have a $10,000 PIP policy but no underinsured motorist coverage, the most you will likely recover is $35,000. Even if your medical bills are $100,000 or more. The best car accident lawyers know how to find insurance policies that may apply to increase the amount you can recover.
Here’s an overview of the process of a car accident case.
The initial meetings and communications with your lawyers.
The initial step in your case involves an introductory phone call, a video call, or an in-person meeting with a lawyer. This session aims to gather information regarding the car accident, injuries sustained, insurance details, medical treatment, and other pertinent facts of your case.
Your continued medical care and evaluation.
Prioritizing treatment for your injuries is crucial for your overall health and the evaluation of damages in your case. Your lawyer will encourage you to undergo treatment for a duration sufficient to determine the injury's permanence and estimate future care needs. This phase could range from the immediate completion of treatment to over a year for more extensive care.
Gathering evidence and building your case.
Your lawyer will obtain essential documents such as the police report, medical records, bills, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) payment logs, records of health insurance payments, proof of lost wages, and other crucial evidence. We typically look for videos of the accident, data analytics from the vehicles, cell phone records, and anything else that can be useful in proving what happened leading up to the accident. This phase typically lasts 60 days or more.
Demand Presentation
Once all evidence is collected, your lawyer compiles a comprehensive demand package to be sent to the relevant insurer's adjuster. This meticulous process generally takes about 14 days to finalize.
Negotiation Phase
Following the submission of the demand, your lawyer enters into negotiations. You'll be kept informed about each offer made by the adjuster, with your lawyer providing advice on the reasonableness of each offer. Ultimately, the decision to accept or decline an offer remains yours. This negotiation phase usually lasts less than 60 days.
Settlement or Legal Action
Should an agreement be reached, the settlement procedure involves signing an agreement, resolving any outstanding liens, and distributing the settlement checks. This process typically takes around 21 days. However, if the insurer's offer isn't reasonable, legal action through litigation will be necessary to pursue damages. Litigation is a complex and potentially lengthy process, which your lawyer will thoroughly discuss and guide you through if it becomes necessary.
We handle your property damage claim for free.
When you hire us to pursue justice for your injury claim, we will handle your property damage claim at no cost to you. You haven’t received complete justice unless you have been paid for the damage to your car or truck. If your property was damaged due to negligence, call us today and we will start your damage claim and your injury claim at the same time.
You don’t have forever to act.
Wherever your car accident occurred, it is governed by laws known as statutes of limitations. These laws vary greatly based on location and the parties involved. If you do not hire a lawyer, it is your responsibility to know when these deadlines are and to file your case within those deadlines or you will be barred from seeking justice. If you hire a good car accident lawyer, he or she will know and meet each and every deadline.
Hire the best car accident lawyers around.
At Roberts Lambert, we take pride in our experience and results in representing people injured in car accidents. With over 20 years of experience in dealing with insurance companies, the legal system, and all different types of car accident cases, we are confident that you and your case will be in the best hands at Roberts Lambert.
Meet our Car Accident Lawyers.
Some of our car accident results.
We answer your car accident questions.
Yes, in almost all injury cases. If you are injured, you can be sure of one thing - the insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as they can get away with. Insurance industry studies show that injured persons with attorneys get an average of $77,600 versus an average of $17,600 for those who represented themselves. Injured persons with attorneys end up with about 3x as much money in their pocket as those without an attorney.
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Roberts Lambert fight back against the unfair tactics that insurance companies routinely use against claimants. We can assess the value of your case and identify a strategy going forward so that you get full compensation.
At Roberts Lambert, our services are always free until we win.
- We offer free consultations and there is no obligation.
- We handle your vehicle property damage claim for free.
- We charge a contingent fee, which is a percentage of your recovery.
- We pay in advance for ALL case expenses on your behalf, including the hiring of all medical, scientific, engineering experts.
- We partner with you, if you don’t win, you don’t owe us a penny.
Any adult who has been injured by the negligence of someone else may file a claim. If a minor or a legally incompetent adult is injured, then their parent or guardian may file a case on their behalf and for their benefit.
In the case of wrongful death, spouses and children are preferred representatives. The district court where the victim lived makes the appointment when a relative applies to be appointed estate administrator or executor.
The value of any case depends on several factors, including insurance policies, your injuries, how the accident occurred, your medical costs and related medical costs, your lost wages or disability, and your pain and suffering.
