If you were in a car accident that caused severe injuries or property damage or involved additional parties, it could benefit you to call a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can defend your legal position if other parties were involved. This can prove to be helpful, especially when dealing with other drivers’ insurance companies. Some insurance representatives use several common tactics aimed at downplaying the legitimacy and value of an accident claim. In some cases, an insurance company could seek to reject a claim altogether.
If you were in or partially responsible for a car accident, then contacting a lawyer can help you understand your options. No two car accidents are identical, and a lawyer can protect your legal rights as they build your case. Legal concepts such as comparative negligence may come into play depending on the details of your incident. According to the Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio’s comparative negligence law has been in effect since 1980. This law says parties can share responsibility or fault for an accident. This law helps determine how much a party can collect from the other driver or the insurance company.
When Calling a Lawyer May Be the Next Step After a Car Accident
Motor vehicle accidents happen in Ohio daily, but not every road collision requires legal action. After a minor accident, involved parties may be able to settle it without getting a lawyer involved. However, any accident that raises doubts about who is at fault or other issues is worth a consultation with a lawyer. If a road accident causes severe injuries, major damages, or complicated issues that could lead to accident lawsuits are enough to consider calling for legal help.
You could benefit from calling a personal injury attorney if the car accident:
- Causes serious, life-threatening auto accident injuries
- Damages your personal property, leading to expensive repairs
- Makes you lose income if you could not work so you could recover
- Involves multiple parties that could complicate determining who is responsible
- Involves potentially liable parties who were not at the scene when the auto accident occurred, such as a municipality responsible for maintaining the roads
- Occurs in a school zone or construction zone
- Involves parties with no car insurance or those who don’t have adequate car insurance (i.e., uninsured motorist coverage)
Even in the case of a minor car accident, you may find it is worth talking with an attorney if you have questions or lingering unresolved issues. You should reach out to an attorney as promptly as you can after a crash. Doing so can help your attorney preserve compelling evidence and gain more time to investigate the accident and determine which steps are next. Negligent parties should be held accountable for the damages they cause, and in many cases, securing legal representation is the way to go about doing that.
How Calling an Attorney Can Help With an Accident Claim
Lawyers who focus on car accidents can help you in a few ways. First, they will talk with you during an initial consultation to find out more about the accident. If you decide to work with a lawyer or law firm on your case, they will guide you throughout the accident process, taking care of any necessary communications with law enforcement officers, other drivers, and agents representing insurance companies. Their guidance can provide you with the space you need to reflect and recover from the trauma a car crash can cause.
Establishing Liability in the Auto Accident
An auto accident attorney can also assist in establishing a liable party. The subject of liability can get quite complex at times and involve federal, state, and local laws. Once other drivers and their insurance companies enter the picture, things can get even more confusing. Personal injury attorneys who focus on auto crashes will put their experience to work for you as they aim to establish liable parties.
When you have legal counsel at your side, they will also pursue any compensation that you may be owed. Medical bills, lost income, and other damages can add up quickly. A personal injury lawyer can seek maximum compensation for these damages and any others to which you may be entitled.
Collecting and Reviewing Evidence That Supports Your Car Accident Case
You will need compelling evidence to prove liability and negligence in an auto accident, and this is where an attorney can help. In addition to the evidence they could obtain from you, you can also ensure they receive:
- A copy of the official police report that responding officers wrote
- Photos, video footage of the accident scene, injuries suffered, vehicle damage, etc.
- Receipts, invoices, or billing statements that show the medical injuries and accident-related expenses you suffered because of the accident,
- Witness statements from people who can support your account of the collision
- Expert witness statements from experts, such as auto accident reconstruction experts, who can offer insight into your accident
Valuable evidence is anything that can help you prove damages against the party that caused your accident. You likely will be in a stronger position to demand financial compensation when you can prove you have critical evidence that proves your case for an accident settlement.
Seeking Your Recoverable Damages From the Liable Party
As an auto accident attorney works on your behalf to recover fair compensation, they will review your economic and non-economic damages, such as your:
- Medical care and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost or reduced income (missed paychecks) and benefits
- Lost earning ability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of companionship
- Wrongful death damages (if your loved one suffered fatal auto accident injuries)
An accident lawyer will seek every loss you suffered from the liable party. If they cannot negotiate compensation for you outside of court, they can file a lawsuit on your behalf and seek awards for you at trial.
There Are Strict Legal Deadlines for Taking Legal Action After a Traffic Accident
If you plan to take legal action against a negligent driver after a car crash, it does not hurt to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. A car accident investigation can be quite lengthy. In many cases, law enforcement, car insurance companies, and other parties will get involved in the process as they collect evidence from the accident scene and aim to establish a liable party.
When you contact legal counsel immediately after an accident, you give them time to begin compiling their evidence and constructing a case that represents your position. The aftermath of a traffic accident is often hectic and convoluted. However, having a lawyer by your side can help to provide you with some clarity as you pursue your personal injury claims. If you suffered physical injuries in the accident, you may not be in a position to handle a legal case and focus on recovery. An accident lawyer can help you with your case while you take care of yourself.
If you are planning to take legal action after an accident that resulted in an injury, remember that some state laws apply to your situation. As Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10 outlines, you face a term limit of up to two years after an accident to take legal action. If you are on the fence about calling a lawyer after a car wreck, just remember that you only have a limited amount of time to do so.
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If you are wondering if you should call a lawyer after a car accident, then you are likely experiencing pain and suffering. Car accidents are traumatic, and they can leave you wondering what to do during this difficult time. When you have legal assistance by your side, they can help to lay out your options and pursue justice on your behalf.
At The Fitch Law Firm LLC, our car accident attorneys are here to help if you were in a collision. We will build a case to represent your position and go after any forms of compensation that you may be entitled to. If we take your case, we work on a contingency basis, which means you will owe us no upfront fees or costs for us to handle your case. We recover awards only if we win your case. To speak to a member of our legal team about your situation, call us today.