“Should I get a lawyer for a car accident?” Answering this question and deciding whether to hire a car accident attorney in Denver after an accident can be a difficult decision. Hiring a lawyer takes time and can be expensive. There are also other factors to consider, such as the accident’s severity and who is at fault in your accident. However, consulting with an attorney to see what they can offer is wise. Reputable attorneys provide a level of consulting beyond telling you to take your case to court. They can also caution against taking your case to court.
Many car accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only accept compensation if they win your case. Having an experienced attorney in your corner when facing large corporations such as insurance companies can mean the difference between receiving your total settlement or no payment at all. However, many still wonder if getting an attorney for a car accident is worth it. It is usually worth hiring a lawyer to oversee your car accident injury case. But let’s get into more details, shall we?
Table of Contents
Two Major Considerations to Think About Following a Car Accident
The Accident Severity
When choosing whether to hire a car accident attorney, assessing the accident severity is one of the primary determinants. If you or your vehicle sustains extensive damage, you should at least consult an auto accident attorney to see what you can do.
Firstly, you need to examine your health. If you’re involved in a fender bender, there may be no need to hire a car accident attorney. However, it often takes longer for injuries to set in, even in minor accidents. For this reason, you should visit a doctor following an accident, regardless of the accident’s severity.
The At-Fault Party
The other factor you should consider when hiring a car accident attorney is who is at fault in the accident. Some states, such as Colorado, issue partial fault in accidents, which can affect your case.
Another outlying circumstance occurs when you get into an accident with an uninsured driver. In these cases, the legal process differs from instances where the at-fault driver is insured. These instances vary from case to case and require car accident attorneys to decide your entitled compensation amount.
The Pros of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
After a car accident, the last thing you want to do is assess a car accident lawyer’s pros and cons. However, the truth is that a lawyer can offer better representation and a more accurate understanding of your case. Moreover, they can provide critical legal guidance, gather and organize evidence to prove fault, and ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses. Let’s take a closer look so you can fully understand how car accident attorneys can help.
You Have a Better Chance of Receiving Compensation
Insurance companies will fight tooth and nail to pay as little as possible. Hiring a car accident attorney ensures legal representation that holds insurance companies accountable for what they owe. Your lawyer will gather witness statements, surveillance footage, accident scene photos, and even expert testimony to strengthen your case.
Personal injury is a complex branch of the law. Car accident and personal injury attorneys understand the court process and all statutes specific to your state. Many also have trial experience, meaning they have the expertise to take your suit to court if settlement negotiations fail.
In car accident cases, the plaintiff must often contend with companies and corporate entities. These companies can access financial resources and legal teams, but most individual parties don’t. An expert car accident lawyer will know how to counter aggressive insurance tactics, ensuring you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
When it comes to car accident attorney fees, many car accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, giving individuals access to affordable legal expertise. Attorneys who use contingency fee pay structures only accept payment if their clients win, meaning they always have a vested interest in your case.
You Have a Better Chance of Getting a Bigger Settlement If You Hire a Lawyer
Hiring a lawyer has been shown to increase settlement compensation in U.S. personal injury cases dramatically. For example, a nationwide survey found that injured individuals who hired a lawyer received an average payout of over four times higher than those who pursued the claim without legal representation. Even after accounting for typical attorney contingency fees, the net recovery for represented claimants was nearly 3 times higher on average than for those without a lawyer. Industry research by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) likewise found that settlements are nearly 3.5 times higher when a claimant has legal representation.
Industry data reinforce this trend: 85% of all insurance payout dollars for bodily injury claims go to individuals with an attorney, underscoring that having a lawyer increases payouts and improves the likelihood of a claim being successful.
In short, personal injury cases with legal representation are far more likely to result in recovery and receive much higher settlement amounts than cases pursued without a lawyer. Your car crash attorney will also present extensive documentation—medical records, repair bills, and expert analysis—to justify your damages and push for the maximum possible payout.
You’ll Have a Better Understanding of Your Claim
Personal injury lawyers give you advice on what to claim. They can determine whether you are entitled to any economic damages, property damages, compensation for emotional loss, or punitive damages.
Car accident injury attorneys establish liability by proving who caused the accident and who is financially responsible. For example, while a negligent driver may be at fault, their insurer or employer could be legally obligated to cover your losses. Understanding these legal nuances ensures you receive compensation from the right sources.
Also, personal injury lawyers understand how much you should claim for pain and suffering. They also help with car accident insurance settlement negotiations. Without an attorney, you might not claim all the damages you are entitled to. You can also over-claim, put your case at risk, and reduce your chances for a successful out-of-court settlement.
You Can Save a Lot of Time
In the aftermath of a car accident, who wants to sift through complex legal documents or negotiate with insurance companies? If you’re injured in an accident, you likely won’t have hours to spend researching legal processes and tactics, so why not offload it onto professionals who already know them?
Denver car accident lawyers walk you through the legal process and make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way. Your car accident legal representative will also meet all filing deadlines, preventing missed opportunities for compensation. If negotiations stall, your attorney will draft and file a lawsuit well before the statute of limitations expires.
Reduced Stress About Financial and Physical Recovery
Numerous studies have shown the adverse effects of stress on physical recovery, the immune system, and the body’s healing process. Personal injury attorneys can limit your mental and emotional stress significantly. The last thing you want is to focus on legal document deadlines, stressful conversations with insurance reps, and questions about whether you’re going to receive your entitled compensation.
Your car crash attorney will handle every aspect of your case—from collecting evidence and calculating damages to negotiating with insurers and, if necessary, arguing in court. Even if a trial becomes inevitable, your lawyer will be fully prepared to fight for you. Leave that stress to attorneys with a vested interest in winning your case.
The Cons of Hiring an Attorney After an Accident
If your car accident attorney operates using contingency fees, the cons of hiring a car accident attorney are virtually nonexistent.
For most, the only drawback of hiring a car accident is paying for them if you don’t need their services. However, for minor accidents, you can save yourself the time and stress of haggling over compensation for limited return.
The Cons of Taking Your Case to Court
Can you sue for a car accident in Colorado? Yes, but it may not always be worthwhile. If you decide to hire a car accident attorney, you may be faced with deciding whether to take your case to trial. This may be best if you or your lawyer don’t believe the initial settlement adequately covers your damages.
If you decide to take your case to trial, you should be aware you might wind up losing the opportunity to accept the initial settlement, and you may walk away with nothing. However, veteran lawyers such as those at the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm have extensive legal and trial experience. They understand what constitutes fair settlement and compensation.
Things to Consider When Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
There are a few considerations when you decide to hire a car accident attorney.
Referrals
Talk to your family and friends about any attorneys they may know who have experience handling car accident cases. Of course, you shouldn’t hire lawyers without experience handling your case type, even if your family and friends recommend them. However, the attorneys your family and friends know might be able to recommend lawyers they trust who practice in your case field.
Reputation
When looking for a car accident attorney to represent you in your case, you should consider lawyers with established careers. There has traditionally been a reputation for seedy lawyers but the truth is most are committed to upholding the highest ethics in court. Nevertheless, the lawyer you choose will represent you, so finding a reputable one is crucial.
Pay Structure
Understand exactly what you stand to gain from hiring a car accident lawyer by closely examining their pay structure. The more details you can get upfront, the lesser the risk of hidden fees later in the legal process.
Resources
Many car accident cases take extensive resources to research. Therefore, you need to use an attorney with the necessary funds to handle severe, complicated, and expensive personal injury cases. In these instances, using an attorney who operates on a contingency fee basis can give you access to legal resources without having to pay out of pocket.
Conclusion: The Pros and Cons of Hiring an Attorney After a Car Accident
After getting into an accident, it is not always apparent whether hiring an attorney for your car accident is worth it. However, the time immediately following a car accident is often the most crucial. That’s why you should receive a medical evaluation and speak to an attorney before accepting any insurance settlement.
The attorneys at the Paul Wilkinson car accident law firm believe our clients have a right to their entitled compensation. We dedicate our time and resources to holding insurance companies accountable for those damages.
The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm’s attorneys have extensive experience fighting car accident cases like yours. With over $3,200,000 in motor vehicle accident case earnings, we demand our clients get the compensation they deserve.
Contact us today for a free personal injury attorney consultation to see if we can help with your car accident case.
