If you’ve recently experienced a car accident that you’re sure wasn’t your fault, it’s easy to believe that there’s no need for legal counsel. Most plaintiffs assume that since they’re not to blame for the incident, everything will work in their favor.
However, working with a car accident attorney is a great idea to get adequate compensation for repairs and injuries. This is also the best way to avoid liability. An experienced motor vehicle accident attorney from Pacific West Injury Law will protect you, defend your rights, and get you the deserved compensation.
Situations Wherein You Must Work with an Attorney
Occasionally, it might make sense to try handling the car accident claim by yourself. But even if you’re confident that you’re not to blame for the accident, several situations could make it more likely to seek a lawyer’s assistance to achieve the best outcome. Let’s jump in!
The Accident Caused Significant Losses
If the incident resulted in significant property damage or serious injuries, you might want to work with an attorney regardless of who’s at fault. It’s always ideal that you protect your rights whenever an insurance company or individual has the potential to be liable for a massive amount of money.
When making a sizeable but justifiable claim, the at-fault motorist’s insurance company will likely deny the extent of your losses or dispute liability. They’ll try pointing the finger at you even if they’re obviously responsible.
Hiring an attorney is also a great idea, even when the insurer seems willing to compensate the damages. By accepting the company’s settlement offer, you must declare that you’ll not file the claim again. You need an attorney to review the settlement terms against your losses specifics.
Finally, insurance adjusters require more evidence for large claims. A car accident lawyer can address all these requests to ensure you’re better placed to achieve the best outcome.
Fault Is in Dispute
You may be confident that the other motorist’s actions caused the incident, but if the other party’s story contradicts yours, each insurance company will have to investigate comprehensively. And if there’s a significant amount of money at stake, your accident could end up in litigation.
A car accident attorney may be necessary if neither side is willing or ready to accept liability, and there’s a lot at stake.
The Insurance Company Is Bothering You
You may have to handle an insurance company that’s hard to deal with or acts in bad faith. They may employ unreasonable delay tactics requiring you to jump through several hoops to get the settlement check. Occasionally, insurers downplay plaintiffs’ evidence implicating their clients and make low-ball offers. In such circumstances, it would help to speak to an experienced attorney.
Your State’s Fault Rules Are Complicating Things
Negligence is the fault complex that determines liability in car accident cases. But not all negligence lies with a specific party. If the car accident claim goes to trial, the court will have to apportion liability based on the particular state’s fault rules. The judge or jury will use the comparative and contributory negligence theories.
Contributory negligence means you can only recover damages from the at-fault party if they’re 100% at fault. So you’ll recover nothing if the court finds you 1% at fault.
On the other hand, comparative negligence comes in two main versions, pure and modified comparative negligence. In pure comparative negligence, you’ll recover damages even if your percentage of fault exceeds that of the at-fault party. Modified comparative negligence sets a specific threshold for the degree of responsibility.
In Las Vegas, for instance, the courts will apply the comparative negligence rule in determining fault. Based on the facts of your lawsuit, even minor details could determine the direction of your case. A reliable attorney will build a strong case and ensure the best result.
Why You Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident that Wasn’t Your Fault
When filing an insurance claim with the responsible party’s insurer, the company will determine if its policyholder is liable. As a business, they’ll also be concerned about their profits and will try everything to minimize your claim’s value.
This tactic is the leading reason you need an attorney even if you’re not at fault for the accident. However, involving a personal injury attorney in your case has more benefits. These include:
- An experienced attorney will help you get the necessary healthcare services, link you with the best specialists, and handle all the documentation relevant to your claim.
- Your attorney will help you file the car accident claim.
- If the insurer denies their policyholder’s liability for the crash, your attorney will gather sufficient evidence to refute their claims.
- The attorney will step in if the other party or insurance adjuster claims that you’re partly to blame for the incident. They’ll decide the accuracy of the claims and determine your exact percentage of fault to ensure you’re fairly compensated.
- If the insurance adjuster undervalues your claim, your attorney will negotiate with them until they reach a fair agreement. This may delay the process, but you’ll be sure to get an amount that covers your economic and non-economic damages.
- While you can figure out the damages you’re owed, a car accident attorney will know everything you must include in the compensation value and will fight to ensure you’re adequately compensated.
How Much Do Attorneys Charge for Car Accident Claims?
Leading car accident attorneys, including those at Pacific West Injury Law, use the contingency fee basis, which means you’ll only pay them if you’re compensated for your injury claim. When preparing to work with an attorney, they’ll always discuss the fee agreement with you and the amount they’ll charge for their services once your case pushes through.
Typically, the charges are a percentage of the compensation amount. You may also have to address expenses like filing fees, travel costs, expert witness retainer expenses, and court reporter charges for transcripts and dispositions.
Speak with a Reputable Las Vegas Attorney Today
You need a competent attorney well versed with state and federal laws covering car accident claims. Pacific West Injury Law’s experienced personal injury lawyers have the right skills and resources to guarantee the best outcome from your claim. What’s more, they’ll review your case for free and will only require payment once you’re compensated.
Schedule your free case review today.