Millions of people involved in car accidents each year seek help from emergency departments.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there was an average of 3.8 million emergency department visits annually in 2019 and 2020 due to car crash injuries. It adds that most of these injuries from vehicle collisions — 90.4% — are accidental and occur among vehicle occupants.
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, it’s easy to get frazzled. But that’s the wrong time to lose your cool. It’s essential to know what to do after an accident. If involved in a collision with a commercial truck, you should know the steps at the truck accident scene. You should also understand how to respond if you’re a passenger or pedestrian during a motor vehicle accident.
If you’re injured in a car accident, going it alone is not an option. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you might need surgery, physiotherapy, and time off work. All of that will cost you money. A reputable personal injury lawyer will help you get the compensation you need for medical care treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and anything else you’re entitled to.
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After dealing with the situation at the scene, your next order of business is to seek medical attention and then contact a personal injury lawyer. Trying to work with the insurance company independently is a losing proposition. You need a personal injury lawyer for these five reasons.
1. They Have Experience Assessing Claims
You need a personal injury lawyer in your corner to assess your claim. While any injury from a vehicle accident warrants contacting a personal injury lawyer, not all situations will lead to a strong personal injury claim. A personal injury attorney will sit with you, get the facts about your accident, and let you know if your car accident claim has a reasonable chance of success.
A case can take months or years. You don’t want a situation where you’re pursuing a case with a low probability of success. The right lawyer can help without sugar-coating anything.
2. They Can Recommend Healthcare Options
While personal injury lawyers aren’t healthcare professionals, they can recommend options. Your first order of business on that front is to see your primary healthcare provider. Your doctor will examine you, identify any problems, determine the extent of the injuries, and recommend a course of action. Your lawyer will advise you not to neglect medical care.
If an insurer sees that you refused treatments or were inconsistent, they may argue your injuries aren’t nearly as bad as you claim. Work with your personal injury lawyer for the best results.
3. They Can Find Expert Witnesses
A personal injury lawyer may hire expert witnesses if your injuries are catastrophic with life-long or long-term consequences. Medical professionals with the right credentials can speak on your behalf and explain the extent of your injuries in court. An expert witness can strengthen your case and demonstrate why your compensation request is reasonable.
4. They Can Work With the Insurance Company
One of the worst things you can do is work solo with your insurance company. Insurers often make lowball offers. But unless you have experience working out settlements, you might not know an offer is woefully inadequate. A personal injury lawyer will leverage their knowledge and study claims comparable to your case to determine a fair offer. You can count on the legal professional to leave no stone unturned in fighting for your cause.
5. They’ll Give You Peace of Mind
A personal injury lawyer working in your corner will give you peace of mind. It may be a long process, but the right legal professional helping you will help set your mind at ease. Doing everything yourself is bound to increase your stress level. That’s especially true when the insurer plays hardball and won’t budget beyond lowball offers. Your legal professional will counter lowball offers, keep you in the loop, and ensure you have the right information to make good decisions.
It makes sense to hire a personal injury lawyer following an accident. In addition to these five tips, you should seek help as soon as possible. There are deadlines for pursuing claims, so you don’t want to dilly-dally until the time to file a claim has expired. You can avoid these sorts of issues with the right lawyer in your corner. It’ll be a long fight, especially if the insurance company doesn’t want to budget, but a personal injury lawyer will know how to fight back.